''Gunjal'' is a 2023 Pakistani

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

film inspired by the true story of a Pakistani child labour activist

Iqbal Masih Iqbal Masih (; 1 January 1983 – 16 April 1995) was a Christianity in Pakistan, Pakistani Christian child labourer and activist who campaigned against abusive Child labour in Pakistan, child labour in Pakistan. He was assassinated on 16 April ...

, who led a movement against

child labour Child labour is the exploitation of children through any form of work that interferes with their ability to attend regular school, or is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such exploitation is prohibited by legislation w ...

in 1990s before his tragic murder. The film is directed by Shoaib Sultan, produced by Nighat Akbar Shah and written by Nirmal Bano and Ali Kazmi. Zonaib Zahid and

Xarb Xarb is a five-member band from Lahore, Pakistan. The band was formed in 2008 and achieved its current membership in 2011. The band received increased public attention in 2018, when they performed on the third and fourth seasons of the show " Pe ...

are the music directors, while the background score is performed by

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (, ; born 9 December 1974) is a Pakistani Punjabi singer, primarily Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music. Khan is one of the most popular and highest paid singers in Pakistan. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Kha ...

, Qamar Parvi, Mobeen Zahid and Zonaib Zahid. It features

Ahmed Ali Akbar Ahmed Ali Akbar () is a Pakistani actor who primarily works in Urdu television. He marked his television debut at the age of thirteen in PTV's drama ''Stop Watch''. He guest-starred in the 2013 drama film '' Siyaah'' and started his professional ...

Resham Resham ریشم(Born: Saima Shah صائمہ) is a Pakistani film and television actress and model. She made her film debut with ''Jeeva'' in 1995, and was a leading actress of Lollywood during the 1990s. Her notable film credits include ''Je ...

Amna Ilyas Amna Ilyas () is a Pakistani film and television actress, and model. She is the younger sister of models Salma Ilyas and Uzma Ilyas. Amna began her modeling career at the age of twenty, and a few years later, she moved on to acting in 2013. She ...

and

Ahmad Ali Butt Ahmad Ali Butt () is a Pakistani actor, comedian, keyboardist, rapper, singer-songwriter, voice actor and television host. Early life and family background Ahmad Ali Butt was born on 6 March 1976 in Karachi into a family of Kashmiri ancestry. ...

in leading roles. The film release on 15 December 2023.

Plot

The film revolves around the traverse the journalistic odyssey of Shahbaz Bhatti, a relentless seeker of truth, as he immerses himself in the intricate investigation surrounding the lamentable demise of

. Iqbal, a courageous child activist, had ardently and fearlessly battled against the pervasive practice of child labor in the tumultuous landscape of 1990s Pakistan. Bhatti's quest unfurls against the backdrop of a society ensconced in hidden secrets, where the palpable tension of concealed truths interweaves with the complexities of intricate conspiracies. The film artfully peels back the layers, inviting the audience to navigate through the labyrinthine corridors of a world fraught with shadows and half-revealed realities. As the story unfolds, it invites viewers into a nuanced exploration of not only the investigative process but also the socio-political milieu that shrouded Iqbal's activism. The poignant narrative delves into the depths of a society grappling with its own dichotomies, making each revelation a poignant brushstroke on the canvas of a larger, more profound story.

Cast

as Shahbaz Bhatti *

as Sarwat Rehman *

as Mehar * Syed Muhammad Ali as Irfan Masih *

as Salman Habib * Razia Malik as Maryam Bibi * Arham Khan as Iqbal *

Omair Rana Omair Tahir Rana (born 31 January 1978) is a Pakistani actor and theatre director. He also directs plays in educational institutes, notably ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'' (2014) and ''Life of Galile ...

as Daily Payam Editor *

Samiya Mumtaz Samiya Mumtaz () (born 1970, Karachi), is a Pakistani film and television actress. She has performed in several TV dramas. Her accolades include two Hum Awards and three Lux Style Awards nominations. Early life Mumtaz was born to Khawar an ...

as Najma *

Ali Aftab Saeed Ali Aftab Saeed (born 28 August 1985 in Lahore) is a Pakistani musical artist, journalist, and analyst. He was the lead vocalist for the band Beygairat Brigade. Career Aftab founded the band Beygairat Brigade in 2011. He was the lead vocali ...

as Mazhar * Fahad Hashmi as Hawaldar * Ahsen Murad as Arshad * Habiba Sufyan as Saba * Munir Khan as Ejaz Ullah * Syed Tanveer Hussain as Nadeem * Sardar Nabeel as Pervaiz * Ebtisam Mustafa as Luqman

Production

Development and Filming

In April 2023, it was reported that

working on an upcoming project which is based on the Social issues of Children's and which is produced by Nighat Akbar Shah. The primary film shooting took place in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

and Rural areas of Pakistan.

Release

Trailer for the film released on 30 September 2023. The film is set to release on 15 December 2023 in Nationwide and Internationally. The film also made a pre-launch event on 20 November 2023 at UMT University,

on the occasion of

Children's Day Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...

Notes

References

External links

*
Gunjal Official website
Pakistani action films 2020s Urdu-language films Urdu-language Pakistani films 2023 films {{Pakistan-film-stub