The true promise of science fiction and fantasy (SFF) lies in its capacity to absorb paradoxes. As a genre, these ambitions unfold in varying degrees. There is the time-bending multiverse of Everything Everywhere All At Once. The techno dystopia of Black Mirror. Then there are the superhero films of the Marvel and DC universes. Whereas Batman has his mechanical trickeries and lifelong stealth, Superman defies gravity in his shoddy disguise.
What’s exploratory and what’s nonsensical is a ratio never set in stone in fiction but especially in SFF. Over the years, the way Clark Kent evades recognition from his lover and peers with the power of common spectacles has come to amuse many. Or the elevator that is always conveniently empty for his last-minute change of clothes. Most importantly, Superman does not need a cape but Umro Ayyar needs his armour.
As the story goes
In Azfar Jafri’s directorial Umro Ayyar – A New Beginning, armour is many things. It is the heritage of Ayyars, a class of warriors with superpowers who go all the way to medieval Persianate empires. It is certainly generational wealth, what Amar reclaims as his late father’s keepsake. Armour is also a way for a persecuted community to feel like one.
Usman plays the awkward prodigy Amar, a college professor who teaches quantum physics during the day and indulges his scientific curiosities as a pastime. Earlier seen in the cop thriller Chikkar, the 38-year-old actor seems intent on driving Pakistan’s budding affair with newer genres. As Umro Ayyar, he stumbles through conversations and battles alike, yet there’s an irresistible charm in his bumbling mannerisms.
A staunch advocate of science, his world is turned upside down when one fateful night at the library transforms into an adrenaline-fueled escapade involving jinns and ayyars. Amar learns that like his great father (Adnan Siddiqui), he is the Umro Ayyar of his time. Under the tutelage of legendary Manzar Sehbai’s ‘Guru’, he must train to harness his superpowers to defeat the rising evil forces led by Laqqa (Faran Tahir), who is both comical and ruthless.
Sanam Saeed shines as Meena, a ‘knower’ with the ability to access knowledge from other dimensions. As one of Amar’s greatest champions, Meena’s character is refreshing, standing as a major figure without being reduced to a romantic interest. Sana Fakhar’s portrayal of the sorceress Cheno sends chills down the spine with a restrained yet impactful performance.
Ali Kazmi dazzles as Maaz, a courageous warrior, alongside a supporting cast of Simi Raheel as Amar’s aunt Farhana, Daniyal Raheel as Babar, and Salman Shaukat as Azam. In a much-anticipated cameo, Hamza Ali Abbasi dons the cap of Idrees, a waggish guardian of Koh e Kaf.
Promising new start
Umro Ayyar brings many great tidings. Finally, local cinema has reached the point where a decent production design can be taken for granted. Where good acting performances are not always a cause for exaggerated praise. The cinematography does the needful as does the sound design.
The cast of Jafri’s film is likely not running for the Academy soon but at last, Pakistani cinema seems to know how to keep a good show running without disconcerting theatrics. Same goes for the VFX team that is able to infuse Amar and Laqqa’s world with an immersive sense of doom and foreboding. Swirling towers of smoke, clinker-brick flesh and Amar’s tunnel vision upon tapping into his powers uphold the required subtlety.
However, Umro Ayyar’s biggest trump cards are the script and a crisp edit. Usman plays his Amar to perfection, a character already well-written. While there are many templates to consult for the transition of an ordinary man into a formidable superhero, Usman fills his own shoes. His comedic timing is perfect and for the most part, delivered with a natural readiness. Until the very end of the film, his heroism is a work in progress – his fear and confusion terminal.
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