Khuda Haafiz

Faruk Kabir's direction is quite good. On the positive side, the film is quite fast-paced. There are some great dramatic and action moments that sustain interest. Also, the director deserves praise as he doesn’t make the film looks sleazy despite the fact that it deals with trafficking and sex trade. Also, no item song is added for the heck of it. On the flipside, the film has its share of cinematic liberties. The manner in which Sameer manages to escape from the brothel and even from the airport raises eyebrows. Sameer’s very final fight could have been better thought of. Lastly, the courtship period of Sameer and Nargis is shown too quickly and perhaps a little more time could have been taken to explore their relationship for a better impact.

The plot of Khuda Haafiz - missing wife in a foreign land - sounds exciting on paper. We have seen a similar plotline in Liam Neeson's 2008 film, Taken, where we saw Liam make inroads in the underworld to find his missing daughter. Faruk Kabir's film, however, isn't as sharply written as the Hollywood blockbuster. Right after quickly setting its premise, the film slows down, only to gain pace in the end. The film is also marred by some starkly visible loopholes. Once again, the leading lady is shown as a fragile figure who needs to be rescued. The presence of Aahana Kumra and Shiv Panditt in supporting roles is of no help either, especially because of their forced, bad accents. Apart from these few faults, Khuda Haafiz makes for a good one-time watch. From action to drama, the film has it all. You might want to pick this over the weekend.