'Umro Ayyar' trailer blends adventure and fantasy

In a much-anticipated reveal on Monday, the trailer for the upcoming Pakistani superhero film Umro Ayyar – A New Beginning has sent waves of excitement through audiences. Promising to breathe life into the historic legend of Umro Ayyar from Tilism-e-Hoshruba, the Urdu rendering of renowned Islamic epic Dastan-e-Amir Hamza, the film aims to captivate viewers with its fusion of folklore and contemporary storytelling.

Directed by Azfar Jafri, at the heart of the film lies Usman Mukhtar's portrayal of Amar, a spirited college professor whose allegiance to Science is only matched by his scepticism towards the supernatural. However, his world is turned upside down when a Mysterious smoky entity, engulfed in flames, crosses his path one fateful night, thrusting him into a battle of cosmic proportions between good and evil.

Identified as an Ayyar, a term referring to warriors from the realms of Iraq and Iran between the 9th and 12th centuries, Amar's destiny takes an unexpected turn as he is compelled to join forces with fellow Ayyars to fend off relentless adversaries. Sanam Saeed's character assumes the role of a mentor, offering protection and guidance as Amar grapples with his newfound identity.

Central to the plot is the imminent threat posed by the Laqqa clan, who seek to unleash a powerful demon during the upcoming lunar eclipse, threatening to plunge the world into chaos. As the only hope against this malevolent force, Amar must harness his newfound abilities to thwart the nefarious plans of his adversaries. Hamza Ali Abbasi, playing the ominous demon, also makes a brief but impactful appearance.

The trailer showcases a blend of high-octane action, mystical elements, and promising VFX, bound to turn the film into an immersive cinematic experience. In an interview last year, Jafri emphasised the conscious decision to adopt a contemporary approach, while adding that certain concepts presented in Western books and films are derived from Umro Ayyar's verses, leading to the misconception that these ideas are entirely original.  

“Some Western books and films incorporate elements derived from Umro Ayyar’s verse, leading our younger audience to believe that these concepts are entirely their own,” Jafri told Arab News. “We have aimed to shed light on the true source of inspiration and made the decision to create a film centered on Umro Ayyar.”

Aside from Saeed, Mukhtar and Abbasi, Umro Ayyar – A New Beginning will star an ensemble cast of Faran Tahir, Ali Kazmi, Adnan Siddiqui, Simi Raheal, Sana Fakhar, Manzar Sehbai, Daniyal Raheal, Salmaan Shaukat, Osama Karamat, Uloomi Karim, Asad Chaudhary, Atif Rehan Siddique, MuhaMMAd Imran, Bilal Jutt, Ruman Ali and Shehroz Sanaullah.

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