KARACHI: During this Eidul Azha cinemagoers will finally be able to enjoy the much-anticipated Pakistani action-thriller Waar, starring Shaan as the protagonist and also featuring prominent television actors such as Ayesha Khan, Shamoon Abbasi and Hamza Ali Abbasi with ex-Junoon band member, Ali Azmat.

Director Bilal Lashari’s debut film is set to be released on Wednesday in the city in seven cineplexes and cinemas, including Atrium, Universe Cineplex, Cinepax Ocean Mall, Cinepax City Auditorium, Nueplex, Capri and Zeenat.

The film has also been garnering much interest since the release of its two theatrical trailers earlier this year so much so that industry insiders say that Waar’s advanced bookings are extraordinary. The owner of Atrium Cinema and film distributor Nadim Mandviwalla said,

We opened the advanced booking for Waar in Atrium just a day ago and already it has crossed a million rupees.

The Nueplex PR manager said that Waar’s advanced bookings were going exceptionally well with tickets for the film in their Royal Cinema having been sold out.

However, there has been a bit of a damper with regards to Waar as it has been given an adults-only certificate by the Sindh Board of Film Censors. According to Umer Khitab Khan, an SBFC member, this is because of obscene language and violent scenes in the movie.

Multiplex representatives said that they had had to turn away families because of this certification.

Families have been disappointed as they were looking forward to watching this film.

Mr Mandviwalla also pointed out to an anomaly with regards to Waar’s certification which has been given a U certificate by the Central Board of Film Censors. “We believe this film should be seen by as many people as possible hence a U certificate would have been more desirable.”

Other than Waar, three Pashto films are also being released on Eidul Azha. Orbal (Man on Fire) will be screened at Musarrat Cinema in Nazimabad. It stars Shahid Khan and Meera. This is film star Meera’s first Pashto film. Shahid Khan, one of Pashto film industry’s busiest actors, is also starring in Meena Kawa 302 Ma Kawa (Love, Don’t Kill) that will be shown at Nasheman Cinema. Ghairat, directed by film and TV actor Ajab Gul, with a strong cast of Arbaaz Khan and Babrik Shah will be shown in Afshan Cinema.

Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha’s Boss will be the only Indian film to be shown on Eid in seven cineplexes and cinemas — Atrium, Universe Cineplex, Cinepax Ocean Mall, Cinepax City Auditorium, Nueplex, Bambino and Zeenat.

Industry insiders expect Waar to whitewash Boss this Eid.

Action icons Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger come together for the first time in action thriller Escape Plan, which also stars Pakistani-born actor Faran Tahir. It will be screened at Atrium, Nueplex and Cinepax. The Smurfs 2, an animated movie, will also open on Eidul Azha in Cinepax, Atrium and Universe Cineplex.