Ho Mann Jahaan (2016): A slow, but meaningful build
After watching it on and off for a few days, including on my train commute to and from work, I finally finished Ho Mann Jahaan, a 2016 Pakistani film. While part of the reason it took me a while to finish was the comparatively slow pacing throughout the middle of the film, all in all, I’m very glad I saw it.
Ho Mann Jahaan focuses on three musically-inclined friends (played by Mahira Khan, Adeel Hussain, and Sheheryar Munawar) whose dreams of stardom meet resistance as they move from college to the working world, with all its obligations and societal norms.
One thing that I found really interesting about the film was how it was able to cover some of the most dominant themes within South Asian cinema in a coherent and meaningful plot. Such themes include:
- The exploration of the parent/child relationship, especially as it relates to the ambitions of both for the latter.
- The transition to adulthood, and specifically how the dreams of youth interact with the demands of adulthood and societal norms (and even more specifically within the realm of careers).
- The difficulties of multiple people competing for the affections of one person. (I will say, though, that while this third theme was certainly present, I think it could have been explored in more depth).
As these themes are fairly common within South Asian cinema, I found that this movie reminded me of many other others that I’ve watched. Some that come to mind include Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Dil Chahta Hai, and Wake Up Sid, as well as the Pakistani television show, Humsafar (I’m sure Humsafar fans were also pleased that Fawad Khan made a cameo appearance in Ho Mann Jahaan, thus bringing the famous Fawad Khan/Mahira Khan duo together again). Importantly, while these themes are common, Ho Mann Jahaan captured them in its own unique way.
And as in every Pakistani production I’ve seen, the acting is phenomenal.
Here is the trailer:
Happy watching!