JOHN, the first film by director Baber Ali, tells the tale of a young Karachi resident who belongs to the Christian minority. The injustice the Christian community encounters on a daily basis is discussed in the movie along with gangs and target killings. It is accurate enough to qualify as a genuine study of the hostile and occasionally dismal environment Pakistani Christians are raised in.
‘JOHN’ is forced to make decisions throughout the movie in order to live and prosper in Karachi’s competitive atmosphere. He discovers that his aspirations to become a musician and his existence as a common sweeper and marginalized Christian are at odds. Instead, he must choose between accepting fate and participating in Karachi’s game of chance.
Following a tragedy that disrupts his world. He joins the hitman Dawood and sets out on his journey.
Babar Ali, the director, did a respectable job. The storyline of JOHN is too similar to those of many other crime thrillers.
In my opinion, the movie doesn’t actually support the main character’s faith all that much. Yes, there are specifics, such as how Christians are considered as second-class citizens and compelled to work in certain occupations. But the finer points of a Christian’s existence in Pakistan could have been useful to include in the screenplay. Nothing in the movie “JOHN” comes off as a shocker because most people are aware of how Christians are treated in Pakistan.
The performances are what set ‘JOHN’ apart from Pakistan’s typical fare such as;
Aashir Wajahat
Aashir Wajahat does a passable job as John, although he’s only , although he is only now beginning to discover his talents. His voice and body language, which rather well matches that of a street kid, are his strong suits. He sings “Tu Theher Ja,” a song he performs for his mother, inadvertently in an empty classroom, and it’s a lovely scenario.
Saleem Meiraj
As always, Saleem Meiraj excels in his role as the hitman Dawood. He plays his role with perfection.
Raza Samo
Raza Samo is flawless as Fazal. He offers some lighthearted relief and some much-needed pauses in the otherwise cynical film.
Romaisa Khan
The most surprising performance, nevertheless, belongs to Romaisa Khan as Maria. She portrays a local school employee who develops feelings for John. Romaisa infuses the part with authenticity. She has a lot of acting potential.
Music:
‘JOHN’ has a musical quality that goes well beyond that of the majority of current Pakistani films. There isn’t a lot of cinema music in Pakistani films worth discussing about, except from a few masterpieces like “Kamli.” With songs like “Tu Theher Ja,” “Chitthiyaan,” and “Tu Who Qaatil Hai,” “JOHN” emerges and destroys the competition.
