Star Cast: Sharib Hashmi, Inaamulhaq, Kumud Mishra

Director : Nitin Kakkar

Rating:***1/2

Like every career, passion is the most important ingredient in cinema. Coupled with self-belief, the artists can deliver extra-ordinary cocktails which can be an appetizer for the movie buffs.

Filmistaan is also one such movie which seems to have been made on a shoe-string budget. Add to it, almost unheard star-cast, the movie is bound not to get good opening. And 'Filmistaan' seems to be no different.

Filmistaan is a story of a movie-buff and an aspiring actor Sunny Arora (Sharib Hashmi) who wants to get a break in movies. Even after 100s of auditions, he fails to get a break. The opportunity that he eventually gets is behind the camera as an Assistant Director for a documentary film. This movie is to be made by an American team on porous borders of Rajasthan.


One day after pack-up in the late evening, an Islamic terrorist group abducts Sunny. When the group leader finds that the inept terrorists had mistaken their prisoner for the American crew-member, he decides to keep him hostage until they locate their original target. The house where he is held captive in the Pakistani village is taken forcibly over on gunpoint by the abductors. They leave Sunny in that house under the eyes of two of their operatives, Mehmood (Kumud Mishra) and (Jawwad) Gopal Dutt.

The movie takes an interesting turn when Aftaab (Inaamulhaq), the elder son of the owner of the house returns home. Aftaab indulges in Bollywood movies piracy to support his family.


Being an ardent fan of Bollywood himself, he grows pally with Sunny. Due to his affable personality, Sunny wins the hearts of everybody in the family and the village. Left with just 5 days to his ultimate elimination, he tries to escape but is soon caught by the captors. However, he doesn't lose hope and he keeps the villagers engaged and happy with his filmy persona and antics.

His camera comes to his aide when Aftaab promises to help him escape from the clutches of the terrorists. They decide to shoot a movie featuring local talent and make the Mehmood fall in their trap. However, this plan also comes cropper. When the leader returns, he is informed of Sunny's misadventures during his absence. The father of Inaamulhaq requests forgiveness for Sunny and the leader agrees that Aftaab helps Sunny to cross the border. It is followed by a very though-provoking climax.


The movie has been pretty well made and deserves all kudos for the tight script, story, cinematography and direction. The dialogues are by the main lead Sharib Hashmi and are pretty filmy as the movie's name suggests. The humorous scenes though limited shall sure keep you engrossed throughout the run-time of the movie. The movie is slow paced at times and it seems to be the only limitation.

The acting of debutant Hashim Hashmi shall attract rave reviews and he is bound to go places. Even Inaamulhaq and Gopal Dutt are flawless and they belnd effortlessly with the characters. Kumud Mishra deserves special mention and he performed exceptionally well.

The movie must be watched for riveting performances, humor, story and very good direction!

Audience Review:
Adlin Maria who came with her daughter to see the movie was moved with the climax and rated it 4 stars.

Padam Sandhu liked the movie and rated it 3 and a half stars.