View source for Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor
| image          = File:Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor Poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Uzair Zaheer Khan]]
| producer       = Usman Iqbal
| writer         = Uzair Zaheer Khan
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
<!-- Order per the film's billing block -->
* Anum Zaidi
* Natasha Humera Ejaz
* [[Ali Noor]]
* [[Azfar Jafri]]
* Abdul Nabi Jamali
* [[Arieb Azhar]]
* [[Hareem Farooq]]
* [[Ali Rehman Khan]]
* [[Arshad Mehmood (composer)|Arshad Mehmood]]
* Amjad Chaudary
* Ahmed Ali
}}
<!-- Order per the film's billing block -->
| music          = Ahmed Ali
| cinematography = Arooj Azam
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* Muhammad Azeem
}}
| studio         = 3rd World Studios
| distributor    = [[ARY Films]]
| released       = {{Film date|df=y|2018|2|2|Pakistan|ref1=<ref>[https://aryfilms.com/ary-films/allahyar/ Allahyar & The Legend of Markhor's page at ARY Films]</ref>}}
| runtime        = 90 minutes
| country        = Pakistan
| language       = Urdu
| gross          =
}}
'''''Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor''''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|اللہ یار اور مارخور کی کہانی}}}}) is a [[Cinema of Pakistan|Pakistani]] animated [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[adventure film]] directed by [[Uzair Zaheer Khan]]. It depicts the story of a young boy and his relationship with animals. The film is produced by 3rd World Studios and distributed by [[ARY Films]]. The movie aims to shed light on the preservation and [[poaching|illegal hunting of wildlife]], with main characters Mehru (a [[markhor]]), Hero (a [[Chukar partridge]], known as chakor in Pakistan), and a [[snow leopard]] named Chak'ku being [[endangered species]].
The film received a largely positive reaction by the general audience but received mixed to positive reviews by critics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rehman |first=Sonya |title=Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor Wows Pakistani Audiences |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sonyarehman/2018/02/04/allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-wows-pakistani-audiences/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
==Premise==
Set in the northern regions of [[Pakistan]], the story follows Allahyar, a young and mischievous boy who ends up dealing with circumstances he never thought possible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gluco Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor |url=http://aryfilms.com/ary-films/allahyar/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=aryfilms.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Cast==
* Anum Zaidi as Allahyar
* Natasha Humera Ejaz as Mehru
* [[Ali Noor]] as Mani
* [[Azfar Jafri]] as Hero
* Abdul Nabi Jamali as Chak'ku
* [[Arieb Azhar]] as Bablu
* [[Hareem Farooq]]
* [[Ali Rehman Khan]]
* [[Nadia Jamil]]
* [[Arshad Mehmood (composer)|Arshad Mehmood]] as Master Jee
* Amjad Chaudary
* Ahmed Ali
==Production==
The movie was produced by 3rd World Studios, for which the studio was awarded a dev grant by [[Epic Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://80.lv/articles/epic-games-announces-new-round-of-unreal-dev-grants-totaling-over-200000/ |title=Epic Games Announces New Round of Unreal Dev Grants Totaling over $200,000 |publisher=80.lv |date=2018-01-16 |accessdate=2018-02-02}}</ref> It is the first movie produced entirely in [[Unreal Engine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowley |first=Dana |date=February 13, 2018 |title=Visually stunning animated feature ‘Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor’ is the first produced entirely in Unreal Engine |url=https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/developer-interviews/visually-stunning-animated-feature-allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-is-the-first-produced-entirely-in-unreal-engine |website=[[Unreal Engine]]}}</ref> The first song of the movie, a rendition of [[Zohaib Hassan]]'s 1982 song "Muskuraye Ja", song by Natasha Humera Ejaz and produced by Ahmed Ali, was officially released on 13 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-01-15 |title=This latest track from 'Allahyar and The Legend of Markhor' is a treat for the ears |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1609030/4-latest-track-allahyar-legend-markhor-treat-ears/ |accessdate=2018-02-02 |publisher=Tribune.com.pk}}</ref>
The film was directed by Uzair Zaheer Khan, a Pakistani [[film director]], [[screenwriter]], and [[CG Artist|computer graphics artist]].  He was the director and writer of the 2018 film ''Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor'', and its 2023 sequel ''[[Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Teaser for ‘Allahyar and 100 Flowers of God’ is out |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2403854/four-years-after-the-legend-of-markhor-teaser-for-allahyar-and-100-flowers-of-god-is-out |access-date=30 June 2024 |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |date=1 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception==
The film received attention by the media even soon after the initial teasers and trailers. It was admired for its theme on the awareness about [[wildlife conservation]] as well as being a movie featuring a child protagonist, which is not common in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 October 2017 |title=2nd teaser alert: 'Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor' is undoubtedly Disney/Pixar level |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1543670/4-2nd-teaser-alert-allahyar-legend-markhor-undoubtedly-disneypixar-level/ |accessdate=2018-02-02 |publisher=Tribune.com.pk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1178221 |title=This new animated film will make you proud of Pakistan's natural heritage - Film & TV - Images |publisher=Images.dawn.com |date= 16 August 2017|accessdate=2018-02-02}}</ref><ref>[https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/08/14/teaser-trailer-of-allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-is-out-and-its-impressive/ Teaser and trailer of Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor is out and its impressive], ''Pakistan Today''.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Aijaz |first=Rahul |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1525094/pakistan-goes-pixar-esque-allahyar-legend-markhor/ |title=Pakistan goes Pixar-esque with 'Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor' - The Express Tribune |publisher=Tribune.com.pk |date=2017-10-07 |accessdate=2018-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Entertainment |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/223645-First-teaser-trailer-of-Allahyar-and-the-Legend-of-Markhor-is-out |title=First teaser trailer of 'Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor' is out &#124; Entertainment |publisher=thenews.com.pk |date=2017-08-15 |accessdate=2018-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1179229 |title=Allahyar's trailer sets expectations high for Pakistan's latest animated film - Film & TV - Images |publisher=Images.dawn.com |date= 11 January 2018|accessdate=2018-02-02}}</ref><ref>* {{cite web |date=2018-01-11 |title=Trailer of 'Allahyaar and The Legend of Markhor' is out and it is mesmerising |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1605707/4-trailer-allahyaar-legend-markhor-pixar-level/ |accessdate=2018-02-02 |publisher=Tribune.com.pk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Animal kingdom: Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor trailer impresses |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/267632-animal-kingdom-allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-trailer-impresses |accessdate=2018-02-02 |publisher=Thenews.com.pk}}</ref>
Maleeha Mengal from [[Dunya News]] noted that the movie would "remain one of the most memorable stories for children for many years".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-02-14 |title=Review: Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor will leave you mesmerised |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Entertainment/426225-Review-Allahyar-and-the-Legend-of-Markhor-will-leave-you-mesmerised |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Dunya News |language=en}}</ref> It was also well received because producing animated movies is harder and costly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1364713/living-colours-producing-an-animated-film-is-harder-costlier-than-producing-a-live-action-film?preview |title=LIVING COLOURS: 'Producing an animated film is harder, costlier than producing a live action film' - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2017-10-19 |accessdate=2018-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2017-11-17 |title=Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor: 'Raising the bar' for animation in Pakistan - Entertainment - Dunya News |url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Entertainment/414906- |publisher=Dunyanews.tv}}</ref>
==Accolades==
The film won the prestigious Monolith Award for Content at the Infinity Film Festival at Hollywood.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.infinityfestival.com/awards2019#WINNERS%20-%20IF%20MONOLITH%20AWARDS%E2%84%A2%202018 |title=WINNERS - IF MONOLITH AWARDS™ 2018 |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602020630/https://www.infinityfestival.com/awards2019#WINNERS%20-%20IF%20MONOLITH%20AWARDS%E2%84%A2%202018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theweeklypakistan.com/2018/11/09/allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-bags-first-ever-international-award/ |title=Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor bags first-ever international award |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819201419/https://www.theweeklypakistan.com/2018/11/09/allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-bags-first-ever-international-award/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was also screened at South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) at New York,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor |url=https://saiff.org/2018/films/allayhar-and-the-legend-of-markhor/ |website=saiff.org}}</ref> where it received Best Feature Film in the Audience Choice category.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2018 |title=Allahyar and The Legend of Markhor wins Best Feature Film at South Asian International Film Festival |url=https://somethinghaute.com/allahyar-and-the-legend-of-markhor-bags-award-film-festival/ |website=somethinghaute.com}}</ref>
== Sequel ==
{{main|Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God}}
A sequel titled, ''[[Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God]]'' was released in 2023<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=A. B. |title=Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God ready to hit cinemas on Eid |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/17-Jun-2023/allahyar-and-the-100-flowers-of-god-ready-to-hit-cinemas-on-eid%3fversion=amp |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=www.nation.com.pk |date=17 June 2023}}</ref> with returning director, Uzair Zaheer Khan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Allahyar’s latest escapade |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/amp/1092024-allahyars-latest-escapade |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=The News International |date=21 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Afzal |first1=Areej |title='Allahyar And The 100 Flowers Of God' to have a 3d release |url=https://www.bolnews.com/latest/2023/02/allahyar-and-the-100-flowers-of-god-to-have-a-3d-release/amp/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=BOL News |date=20 February 2023}}</ref>
3rd Worlds Studios returned to produce and provide animation for the film.<ref>{{cite news |title=3rd World Studios Launches Pakistan’s First Stereo 3D Toon ‘Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God’ |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/08/3rd-world-studios-launches-pakistans-first-stereo-3d-toon-allahyar-and-the-100-flowers-of-god/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=Animation Magazine |date=August 9, 2023}}</ref>
The film featured Anum Zaidi, and [[Azfar Jafri]] reprising their roles from the previous film with [[Ali Zafar]], [[Iqra Aziz]], [[Humayun Saeed]], [[Bushra Ansari]], and [[Meera (Pakistani actress)|Meera Ji]] joining the cast as new characters.
== See also ==
* [[List of Pakistani animated films]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt7955106}}
* [https://aryfilms.com/ary-films/allahyar/ Movie Page at ARY Films]
* [https://3rdworldstudios.com/ 3rd World Studios]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=162VCDUndT0 Official Trailor]
[[Category:2018 films]]
[[Category:2018 computer-animated films]]
[[Category:Pakistani animated films]]
[[Category:Animated films about cats]]
[[Category:Animated films about goats]]
[[Category:Animated films about birds]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Asia]]
[[Category:2010s Urdu-language films]]
[[Category:Urdu-language Pakistani films]]