(By Mirza Mubashir Hassan Baig) The red carpet rolled out amidst a whole lot of excitement at Nueplex Cinemas as the highly anticipated Pakistani horror film DEEMAK held its grand premiere, drawing in celebrities, film critics, and media. The event marked a new milestone for the genre in Pakistan, with rave reviews and thunderous applause.
Directed by Rafay Rashdi, presented by Syed Murad Ali & WahWah Productions, in media partnership with GEO Films, and distributed by Mandviwalla Entertainment, DEEMAK is a gripping supernatural horror, written by Ayesha Muzaffar of Abu’s Jinns fame, which delves into the haunting consequences of repressed trauma and dark secrets. With its chilling visuals, compelling performances, and eerie soundtrack, the film’s trailer has already been hailed as a trailblazer for horror in South Asian cinema.
The star-studded premiere was attended by DEEMAK’s leading cast members Sonya Hussyn and Faysal Quraishi, veterans Samina Peerzada and Javed Sheikh, and Aariz & Anaya Abbas. Present on the event were notable figures from the Pakistani entertainment industry including Wajahat Rauf & Shazia Wajahat, Yashma Gill, Deepak Perwani, Saqib Malik, Ushna Shah, Usman Peerzada, Aijaz Aslam, Zara Noor Abbas & Asad Siddiqui, Sunita Marshall & Hasan Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Sidra Iqbal, Osama Tahir, Adnan Shah Tipu, Sultana Siddiqui, Yasir Hussain, Ehtesham Ansari, Masarrat Misbah, Shamoon Abbasi, Nadir Toosy, Madiha Naqvi, Hassan Zia, Ahmed Hassan, Nida Yasir & Yasir Nawaz, Saife Hassan, Shahzad Nawaz, Noor ul Huda Shah, Danish Nawaz, and Sana Hussyn who were all praises for DEEMAK’s bold narrative, brilliant casting, striking cinematography, and its ability to authentically tap into your fears.
Speaking to the press on the occasion, the leading lady Sonya Hussyn expressed, “I’ve always wanted to do something in this genre but was waiting for the right team. When Rafay Rashdi approached me for DEEMAK, looking at the legendary cast consisting of Samina Peerzada, Javed Sheikh, Bushra Ansari and Faysal Quraishi, and seeing Rafay’s passion for the project, I was ready to take the plunge. We have worked really hard to bring you something special and it has our tears and fears in it as a family. What you will witness now is a sum total of all of this and I hope you love it as much as we do”.
The much-loved actor Faysal Quraishi shared his excitement, “DEEMAK is an exploration into the unseen forces that shape our lives. Pakistan mein horror genre ko nayi soch aur quality ke saath revive karna zaroori tha – and I believe yeh film daikhne waloun ko sirf darayegi nahi, balkay unhein acha sochnay par bhi majboor karegi”.
“As the director of DEEMAK, I set out to execute a story that delves into the quiet horrors of generational trauma and mental health issues often brushed under the rug in our society”, said Rafay Rashdi during a pre-screening interview. “Through the lens of supernatural thriller, we explore how negativity festers when left unaddressed, and how healing begins when we confront our fears. DEEMAK is ultimately a story of resilience and the power of breaking cycles.”
“DEEMAK sirf aik horror film nahi, balkay mitti ki mohabbat ka izhar hai. Yeh film poori tarah Pakistan mein banai gayi — hamare artists, hamare technicians, hamari kahani. Har frame mein is dharti ki khushboo basi hai. Aaiye, Pakistani cinema ka saath dein — apni film, apne logon ke liye. DEEMAK meri taraf se qaum ke liyee Eidi”, stated Executive Producer, Syed Murad Ali.
The legendary actress Samina Peerzada commented, “DEEMAK is not just a horror film, it’s a labour of love. DEEMAK is about family torn apart by negativity, DEEMAK will scare you and also bring tears to your eyes”, while speaking to the press.
The audience in attendance on the premiere described DEEMAK as “a hauntingly original take on horror” and commended the film’s atmospheric storytelling and layered characters. The film’s sound design and visual effects were also widely lauded for elevating the viewing experience of Pakistani cinemagoers.
Following its stellar premiere, DEEMAK is set to infest cinemas nationwide this Eid-ul-Adha, with high expectations for both box office performance and audience acclaim.
The writer is a free lance film journalist and contributor for this website. He can be reached at mubasherbaig1994@gmail.com
