Na Baaligh Afraad (NBA), set in the 1990s, is directed by Nabeel Qureshi of Na Maaloom Afraad fame and, quite perplexingly, doesn’t feature a screenwriter’s credit — at least not one that this reviewer could find. If there had been a name, then one could have singled out that person for embellishing a rather meagre premise with a bucket-load of outlandish scenarios.

These “conflicts” — a big requirement for good storytelling — lead to messy situations for Mazhar and Fakhar (Aashir Wajahat, Samar Jafri), two conniving schoolboys who feel that the time has come to grow up.

Growing up, for them, however, means watching a pornographic movie. In the age of VHS tapes, where 21-inch televisions and VCRs were mostly placed in lounges for the whole family to see, that is a tall order and, as it turns out, their family doesn’t even own a VCR!

The boys’ schemes to watch an adult video puts them through a series of escapades that are best left unwritten. The escapades, coming in fast one after another, aren’t that earth-shattering, nor do they heighten one’s interest in the story.

With Na Baaligh Afraad, Pakistani cinema gets its very own raunchy teen comedy … without the raunchiness or the comedy

NBA is the closest Pakistani equivalent to John Hughes’ cinema from the 1980s — though that doesn’t make it Ferris Buller’s Day Off or other feel-good teen movies of that day and age.

Shot in a span of 17 days, one can spot compromises here and there, though nothing that would irk an everyday viewer. Some scenes are longer than necessary, and some storytelling decisions feel as if they were forced, to take the narrative on a road less taken.

NBA’s production design doesn’t evoke the feel of the ’90s, because most of Karachi has remained the way it was for way longer. Rana Kamran’s cinematography and his choice of lenses and camera moves certainly doesn’t turn the clock backwards.

This doesn’t mean that the cinematography is bad — far from it, one can see that both Nabeel and Kamran have discovered a visual signature. But shooting medium and close-ups on longer focal lengths, and on what appears to be a large-format camera, gives the film a distinct and modern look.

On the other hand, the light design is natural, and consistent even when camera angles are shifted. When it comes to Pakistani films, consistent lighting is a big plus.

The acting department is no slouch either for that matter. Mani, as the lewd school administrator, is one of the only two semi-okay actors in the film — the other is Aadi Adeal who plays the two brothers’ older cousin who almost gets caught in their predicaments.

But the rest of the cast — Saleem Mairaj as the owner of the video store that also rents adult films, Irfan Motiwala as the (lewd) videographer, Mohammad Ehtashamuddin and Faiza Hasan, the mother and father of the two kids — deliver ace performances.

Pakistani actors are probably among the most talented in the world who are given the worst material to work with. With NBA, however, Nabeel and producing partner Fizza Ali Meerza finally deliver quirky, larger-than-life characters that are also well-rounded. One hopes that this knowledge becomes a mainstay in their upcoming films.

Mairaj, in particular, raises the film’s calibre by playing a semi-threatening villain who is enamoured by Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt — who at that time, was at the peak of his celebrity (before his subsequent resurgences in Vaastav and Munna Bhai MBBS).

The two young actors, Aashir and Samar, though, are not to be outdone. Aashir, born into the film business, is a smart and intelligent actor who continues to showcase his versatility, especially after a very serious and very different portrayal in John last year. Samar, on the other hand, is simply a natural.

The two leads — who according to the story have a 10-month gap between their birthdays — have great chemistry. The film also has a love-interest — a girl-next-door played by Rimha Ahmed — though for whom, one shouldn’t divulge here.

Unfortunately, the romantic side-story and some plot points — such as the high cost of renting an adult VHS tape — aren’t convincing. Also, for the most part, NBA doesn’t have the laughs or the emotional engagement one expects. Still, it is a well-made movie that doesn’t leave plot threads hanging.

Far from perfect, NBA is, nevertheless, a mature production with a good message in the end. Given the quality of this Eid-ul-Azha’s line-up, the film stands tall on a pile of mess that’s bigger than any shenanigans Mazhar and Fakhar may have gotten into.

Na Baaligh Afraad is rated “U” and is suitable for audiences of all ages. There is no raunchiness in the story, in case one is wondering

Published in Dawn, ICON, June 30TH, 2024