Taxali Gate (film)

Taxali Gate is a 2024 Pakistani crime thriller film directed and written by Abu Aleeha. The film was co-produced by Ayesha Omar who starred in it alongside the ensemble lead of Yasir Hussain, Mehar Bano, Nayyar Ejaz and Umer Aalam.

Plot
Set in Taxali Gate, it is the complex narrative of the residents who face betrayal and injustice, and ultimately stand up against the societal norms for their rights against the flawed judicial system.

Cast

 * Ayesha Omar as Muskaan
 * Yasir Hussain as Shafiq
 * Mehar Bano as Zainab
 * Nayyar Ejaz as Abdul Hameed/ Meeda
 * Umer Aalam as Kamran
 * Babar Ali
 * Iffat Omar
 * Alyy Khan
 * Iftikhar Thakur
 * Sheheryar Cheema

Music

 * Mera Haq Kidhar Hai by Eva B

Production
The film was shot in Lahore's Taxali Gate, and the shooting was wrapped in May 2023. Omar who was the co-producer of the film as well, shared that they wanted to keep the film's details under wraps till the major shoting. Abu Aleeha told a local publication that the film, a combination of dark humour and tragedy with the locales of Heera Mandi, revolves around the investigation and events surrounding a murder.

The official teaser of the film was released on 9 January 2024, and the official trailer was released on 19 January.

Release
The film was theatricality released on 16 February 2024.

A special free of cost screenings for women on the occasion of International Women's Day were held in Karachi's Cinepax Ocean Mall, Islamabad's Cinepax Jinnah Park and Lahore's Cinepax Packages Mall. The full length version of the film titled 'Director's cut' is slated to release in April 2024 on Eid-ul-Fitr day.

Critical reception
Mohammad Kamran Jawaid of Dawn praised the film for the acting performances of Ayesha Omer, Alyy Khan and Babar Ali but noted the rushed screenplay and some technical flaws in direction. Sara Danial of DAWN Images praised the performances of Omer, Khan and Yasir Hussain, the background score and Aleeha's portrayal of the societal issues, but noted the rough flow of the film. While reviewing for The Express Tribune, Manahil Tahira noted the performances of the lead actors and Eva B's background score but criticised it for its technical flaws.