Chalay Thay Sath (2017) User Reviews

Feel good movie filmed at stunning locations!

[imranahmedsg · 6/10 · 18 July 2018]

Pakistani films have come a long way from 'Khuda Ke Liya' released in 2007. This film is an example of the technical, artistic and overall progress made by the Pakistani film industry in the last decade. Surely, there is still some way to go before the average Pakistani films can compete with Holloywood (or even Bollywood).

Chalay Thay Sath is filmed amidst the magnificient scenery of Gilgit-Baltistan. Indeed, the scenery is woven into the plot as the film revolves around a tour group visiting the area's sights. (Note to filmmakers: can we see some creativity in choice of filming locations and move away from the scenery of GB, etc. to other locales within the country?)

The tour comprises of several Pakistanis and one Chinese tourist in Pakistan to visit the grave of his father who died during the building of the Karakoram Highway. During these few days the Chinese man falls in love with a local GB girl.

Although the story develops around the relationship of these two there are side distractions through the pther members of the group, including a mother having problems with her son and a married couple on the verge of divorce.

The plot is weak. The acting? Well, it's getting there but not quite there. The cinematography is good.

The movie is watchable though not worth more than six stars. Pakistanis will enjoy the film but so will non-Pakistanis wishing to get a gimpse into parts of Pakistan's geography.

Note: The fim is available on Netflix in many locations at the time of writing (July 2018).

Good premise, stretched story...

[haris27 · 6/10 · 15 July 2018]

Finally Pakistani cinema is at a place, where it is taking liberties to the type of films it is attempting and this falls right in the category of such an experiment. Might have alienated local audiences with the Chinese parts and very modern approach but on the other hand it was somehow the demand of this sort of film. The premise of a cross border story has been a tried and tested concept in a lot of Bollywood films but this cross border romance explores the Chinese-pakistani relationship. The dialogue and situations are kept simple and the storyline follows a straight forward line but is a bit stretched to be a full feature film. This might have been alright on paper but doesn't translate well onto film, as the last portion of the film seems rather labored and boring just to get to the eventuell climax of the film. Still the interesting cast and overall beautiful locations provide a great experience and is a good watch.

Excellent

[usamah95 · 10/10 · 22 April 2017]

Chalay thay saath is a beautiful film and contain every ingredient of a good romantic film. It has comedy, romance, tragedy and good locations. The music is not so good but the light music suits the film. Overall, it is an amazing effort and every movie lover should watch this movie. The film picturized the beautiful northern areas very well and it makes the overall feel of the film more effective.

Worst movie I've seen this year

[dzero169 · 1/10 · 11 May 2017]

Judging from the other reviews, it seems I'm in the minority and I'll probably get ostracized for what I'm about to write but I just had to put my two cents in. I've been lurking on this website for nearly 12 years but this is the first time I am writing a review...that is how much I hated this movie that I just had to come here to vent my frustration. I went in hoping for a decent entertainer somewhere along the lines of 2016's Janaan but ended up leaving traumatized and possibly scarred for life. This movie wasn't even worth the traffic jam I got stuck in trying to get to the Cinema.

All in all Chalay thay sath is a disjointed mess with characters being introduced at random with no back story whatsoever and absolutely no character development to lean on towards the end. I'm all for the suspension of disbelief when watching movies but when the 2 leads fall in love a couple of days after meeting each other after having a single (horribly translated) conversation you have to wonder what the director and writer were smoking during pre-production.

There were moments in this film that just made me sit up and yell out "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!" in utter disbelief (the cinema was mostly empty)like the aforementioned leads not having each other's contact details despite being in love and the male lead walking around with a cell phone in hand 24/7.

Ridiculous sub plots existed in the movie only for the sake of giving it some length. Acting was laughably bad. Background score was mostly forgettable. The only decent thing about this movie is Syra Shehroz: someone pretty to look at while this disaster of a flick circles the drain. Mercifully, the movie ends before turning into torture outlawed by the Geneva Convention.

Final Verdict: 0/10 Wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy

The beat of our hearts is louder than words - A true love story

[uzairadil · 10/10 · 24 April 2017]

Excellent, marvelous, great execution

"Chalay Thay Sath" is a romantic comedy with action taking place in Hunza, Gilgit, a province in Pakistan. The film has a peculiar magic to it, and because of its pace the richness of its sense of detail often goes unobserved. Audiences will make generalizations about "Chalay Thay Sath" because of how all those little specifics add up. Film lovers will discuss it with a glittery look in their eyes, as if they were describing their first kiss or a lost love, because something in the film that will touch them, perhaps its theme of dignity and decency, of remembered romanticism.

Great Work for the director as it seems he is narrating this own life story

Sasti Copy of Yeh Jawani Hai deewani

[achteeseem8 · 1/10 · 27 July 2018]

This film is cheap copy of yeh jawani hai deewani writer has done just one thing to write this movie watch YJHD.

The very best of Pakistan!

[nophe · 10/10 · 24 May 2017]

Recently I had the opportunity to watch the much-anticipated Pakistani production 'Chalay Thay Saath' in Karachi.

I'm not going to go into plot details as it is quite evident from the trailer but its a very simple romance between two people who meet in the unlikeliest of places under not- so-simple circumstances, in company of some close friends who are struggling against challenges of their own.

The movie is a rare little gem in the mundane formulaic productions that one comes across so frequently these days. Primarily a romance, the movie's exploration of loss is what sets it apart; loss of a parent, loss of a friend, loss of the childhood home and all memories associated with it, loss of love and possibly something even more precious & tragic....all this set in the breathtaking locales of Hunza and Chitral in the north of Pakistan.

The highlight of CTS is definitely the cinematography, and boy is this movie gorgeous! Hats off to the DOP for doing an excellent job in capturing not just the best of Pakistan but also the beauty of the simple folk who inhabit that region. I was watching the movie and found myself subconsciously planning a trip to these gorgeous valleys at the earliest possible opportunity....that, and the inexplicable desire to have lots and lots of Pepsi! 😉

The film score is another achievement that deserves to be celebrated, truly phenomenal! Abbas Ali Khan creates magic with his take on regional instruments and traditional music with the tracks being relevantly buoyant, moving and tragic at the right places.....the soothing music during the street procession scene just made my day (attached below). I could listen to it all day (and have) and never get tired of it!

With a relatively fresh cast the director has managed to get some excellent performances from the young protagonists without them being overshadowed by legendary thespians such as Behroze Sabzwari and Shamim Halai. Syra Shehroze in the lead role of Resham was a surprise and I mean that in the best way! The supporting cast were all very believable in their roles with some performing slightly better than others. The chemistry between Resham and Chinese-origin Adam was believable and entertaining.......something I feel we are going to see a lot more often as a side-effect of the CPEC development throughout Pakistan.

I have read mixed reviews about CTS but personally I really, really liked this film. Is it perfect? No, but nothing really ever is. Agreeing with Hussain Tariq I feel the relationship development between Resham and Adam could have been explored in more detail....they fell in love too soon! I would have liked to see more of their struggles towards overcoming the cultural gap before even considering spending their lives together.

What really matters at the end is that I walked out of the movie feeling elated and still thinking about the beautiful score & lovely vistas of Northern Pakistan...... wanting more of both! If anything else, I am really looking forward to seeing what this combination of talent will create next. The visual eye candy that is CTS just makes me want to see more from Umer/Beenish, the DOP and Abbas Ali Khan as a team.

Watch this film! There has never been a more kid-friendly Pakistani movie and this one makes for a great weekend activity for the entire family.

What did i watch?

[coatesbarret · 1/10 · 15 August 2018]

I tried to watch this movie but it carried on and the story went no where. the acting was a D- at best. I don't know who would fund movies like this. I am sure there are better projects to produce then this.

Beautiful, brave and bashful

[maqsooda · 10/10 · 25 April 2017]

I am normally scared to walk into a Pakistani movie. The industry is struggling to find its way out of the darkness but I was pleasantly surprised with Chaly thay sath. The visuals were stunning and the music suited the overall mood of the film. I was happy that there were no forced scantly clad ladies dancing on item numbers. The actors did really well and at times I wished that more time was given to some characters than others. Like Adam who had very little lines, he came across as a cute lovable fellow. Behroz Sabzwari was another one I wanted to see more in the film the fact that he appears in the second half of the film felt kind of wrong to me, may be because I am such a big fan of Qabacha.

There was no bathroom humor or PG 18 moments which has become an easy thing to do in our movies. While I was watching the film I had one thought, how did the makers gather the courage to go against the tide and pull this off. Yes it has faults, there are places where the makers seems ambitious about some story angles and they would have been better off not doing them, but the industry would not have been better off if they had not done this. I hope that others will follow suit and not follow the trends of Bollywood. For me this is 10/10 and i am going again to see it.

Relaxing slow film for a sunny Sunday with a message

[tourniquet711 · 9/10 · 17 November 2019]

This was an excellent masterpiece. True to the Pakistan methods of filmmaking this is not your masala film. It reminds one of the award winning independent parallel cinema films which speak more emotions and less words. Absolutely captivating and beautiful. Watch it when you are relaxing with coffee on a lazy day to relax and rethink about life.. very very well made. It's superb to see Pakistani cinema having its own unique style different from mainstream commercial garbage.

Amazing movie.

[jawadahsan256 · 10/10 · 7 July 2018]

Absolutely classic. Beyond expectations. Please watch this.

Made for big screen

[mariapatel · 8/10 · 27 April 2017]

Beautifully shot movie with an amazing acting and quite an engaging story-line. Cross border romance seen with in cultural and social norms has a well-calculated depiction. Addressing the fear of a single parent and showing women who can decide for themselves is the actual translation of Pakistan's urban settlers.

It is purely a treat to viewer's eyes. Overall a grand experience. Must watch in cinema alone.

A journey into the heart of Northern Pakistan to remind you of Love, friendship and reason.

[kanzul_fatima91 · 10/10 · 26 April 2017]

Chalay Thay Sath will force you to laugh out loud, shed a few tears and physically want to root for each and every character as they invite you into their world. Reshum, the female lead, is endearing and you will find yourself relating to most of her emotions. She is hope and solace, she balances the film swiftly upon her shoulders. The rest of the characters, each with their own complex narratives, never bore, they give you hope to keep going, to understand the beauty at the heart of life's complexities.

This film is a loud cry, it is fierceness of Lollywood and the beauty of Pakistan combined into a cinematic visual treat. The punch lines are original, family friendly and hilarious. The obstacles are painful but you enjoy rooting for these amazing characters that reflect youth, struggle, innocence and so much more. The script is original, the sound memorable and the editing invisible, what more can we ask for a film coming out of an infant industry?

I give this a 10! For being a great watch, a film I can watch at least 4 to 5 times without being bored of it. Some scenes and visuals will resonate with you long after the film ends. As the credits roll you will want to thank the makers of this film.

An Enthralling Film.. The best from 2017...

[m-82962 · 10/10 · 16 November 2018]

Chalay Thay Saath is simple.. Simple enough that due to its simplicity, its charm traps you and doesn't leave you until the you leave the cinema with a smile on your face. The main strength of the film lies in its storyline which is by far one of the best love abd family story in a while.. As the rest of contemporary Pakistani films, the makers does not treat the story on a superfacial level, rather it is explored with enough depth and sensibility. Simply brilliant.

Casting is spot on.. All the actors making their debuts shine bright and the Canadian actor the brightest..

The director and the cinematographer both do a masterful job and leave you enthralled..

Watch the film for its simple amd Pakistani storyline, brilliant performances and Pakistani humour which actually makes you laugh.. The films finds it tone in simple scenarios and turns thems into larger than life experiences.. Oh did I mention the soundtrack is amazing too.. Watch it you won't regret...

Fabulous movie

[unk-91741 · 9/10 · 16 November 2019]

Masterpiece of natural beauty and simple life events.

A wonderful true story mired by poor storyboarding

[rohitviao · 8/10 · 22 June 2018]

This is my first review and as an Indian reviewing this great Pakistani true story, I really wanted to love this and rate this very high however, I have to objective. The story is inspired by true events though I was never able to find the names of the real people on whom this story is based. The cinematography is fabulous and the direction is good. The movie also succeeds in adding lot of humor on the way and the story ends up as a feel good romantic movie. This is where the good part ends.

The chemistry between the Ken and Syra is under developed on screen and initially it seems that Syra is just infatuated with Ken. The biggest put off in this movie was the same things that Indian soap operas suffer from. Like the hindi serials where women will wear the latest designer dresses & the most expensive jewellery and then do the dishes, similarly, in CTS, you suddenly become aware that the set is artificial and this is a story shot in urban novae rich settings rather than a mountain village in Pakistan.

Secondly, the movie takes on a filmi touch when the hero leaves the girls house leaving a note on the window (which flies away) and the father has a change of heart who wows to bring back the prince of his daughters dream back.

Towards the end, one starts doubting whether the movie was based on real story or was it the figment of imagination of the director.

This movie could have had been so much better if the narrative was grounded in reality, the attire of the actors did not seem like coming from the Paris fashion show and the directors would have spend a little more time building the chemistry between Ken and Syra.

That said, I still liked the movie and it is one time watch for sure.