Finally, there is a movie about a superhero of our own. Yes, you all have heard the stories about the adventures of Umro Ayyar from your parents. The adventurer, and a kind-hearted thief famous for stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor, now has a film of his own. However, it’s about one of his descendants and not the original character who lived in the 13th century. Through this film, we have an Avengers kind of superhero team, a villain right out of Lord of the Rings, and a Kung Fu Panda-inspired candidate who doesn’t want to be a superhero.

The story begins with Professor Amar (Usman Mukhtar) experimenting with cross-dimensional techniques. He believes science is the absolute truth and that jinn and ghosts are not real. The evil forces of Laqqa (Faran Tahir) attack Amar one night, on his way back home. He is eventually saved by the Ayyars and brought to their hidden world.

Here he meets Guru (Manzar Sehbai), the powerful sorcerer who tells him that Ayyars have been hiding for years and will only come to the surface when they find a leader.

The film, directed by Azfar Jafri, has a stellar cast and equally stunning visual effects. However, the story is not related to Umro Ayyar. Usman Mukhtar can be seen in the title role, whose father, played by Adnan Siddiqi, was also a legendary warrior. Manzar Sehbai, the guru, is the one person who has kept the identity of Ayyars safe, by erecting a force field around their den. His daughter Meena, played by Sanam Saeed, inherits her dad’s abilities and helps Amar become the leader her father wanted him to be.

Ali Kazmi, as Maaz, is also part of the team of heroes who initially don’t trust an outsider, but grow fond of Amar when the going gets tough. In the climactic moment of Umro Ayyar, Maaz stands tall among his companions and delivers a speech that reminds the viewers of Captain America’s iconic ‘Avengers Assemble’ call from Avengers Endgame.

Laqqa is portrayed by Pakistan-American actor Farhan Tahir, someone who we have seen in Hollywood flicks like Star Trek, Escape Plan, and none other than the first part of Iron Man. He has complete control over his character and looks menacing throughout the film. Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi also appears in a special role and you will have to watch the film to know what he is playing.

Produced by VR Chili Productions, the special effects of Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning were excellent and make you wonder whether they were done at home or abroad. The fights looked real, the performances were top notch and there is also a possibility of a sequel. The movie is a visual treat to watch, and the entire team did a commendable job. Let’s hope the director takes the audience to Koh-e-Qaaf the next time Umro Ayyar returns to cinemas.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 29th, 2024