A few weeks ago, a host of film makers and directors very enthusiastically announced that they were making films on legendary romantic folk tales of Heer Ranjha, Laila Majnun and the like. But, today, it seems that none of the directors is making any headway regarding the same, and that is why all the news about such films being made have died down on their own today.

Basically, it was Syed Noor who announced 'Heer Ranjha', and after that many other directors followed suit. But Noor has backed out of the race. In a recent interview to a television show, Noor confirmed the news that he was making film on another classic story - 'Umrao Jan Ada'. He was of the very view that as other directors were also making Heer Ranjha, he backed out of it. But Shahji never had the slightest idea that at the moment two of the leading tube directors are making a play on this classic story as well. While Raana Sheikh has been re-making it for a private channel, Najam-uz-Zaman has been doing it for another channel.

So, if Shahji presumed that there would be no competition on Umrao front, he is not being very wise. He is almost done with his Umrao script, and he is fast finalizing other pre-production things. But, today, the million dollar question is not as to who else is re-making the old classic, but as to who is going to play the legendary girl in Noor's film and have the guts to stand in comparison with Rani and Bollywood's Rekha, both of whom immortalised the character of Umrao on screen.

Well, who else but Saima could Shahji think of casting in the lead. But, the interesting thing is, he has not yet disclosed his choice of the leading lady. There has been buzz regarding Meera pulling her clout to bag the much-coveted role. But, the heroine is yet to be finalised.

Visually the film is quite appealing in the first half but as soon as the second half starts the colors are no more that attractive. The dubbing at times is very bad but locations have been used in a very beautiful manner, especially the Jinnah Garden and Library over there have been used in an excellent manner. I wish Shan could have made the entire film as good as the few good opening and closing shots of the film, which promise you the real elements of good cinema and experience. But you come out of the theatre in search of good cinema in spite of the deep involvement of a young director who undoubtedly wanted to make a good film.