Critical reception
In a review by Trending In Social, Bilal's directorial brilliance was praised by the author who wrote, "Credit for the film's success also goes to director Iram Parveen Bilal, who skillfully navigates the blend of masala-style and art-house elements. Bilal's direction brings out the activist streak in the second half, adding layers to the narrative and elevating the film beyond conventional storytelling." The review also highlighted Faryal Mehmood's "spectacular performance," stating that her "portrayal of a single mother navigating the challenges of societal norms is both poignant and powerful," and concluded that the film "boldly breaks the mold of Pakistani cinema by addressing a controversial theme with fearlessness and authenticity."
Sara Danial of Dawn Images heavily praised Mehmood's performance and wrote, "Mehmood's portrayal of Noor is nothing short of brilliance, seamlessly encapsulating the nuances of her character, resonating with authenticity and depth." However, the Dawn (The Icon) review by Mohammad Kamran Jawaid offered a more critical perspective, writing that "Wakhri is a brazen, 'statement' film against close-minded conservatism and that is its precise problem as well." The review noted the film's lack of subtlety, stating that "as far as words go, 'subtle' — both the word and the execution — is not a part of the film's vocabulary; in its place resides the word 'power'."
The News International (You! magazine) highlighted the film's significance, noting it was the "first time in the film history of Pakistan where a woman is playing a drag queen." In an interview, director Iram Parveen Bilal explained the inspiration behind the film, stating, "Well-behaved women seldom make history. She was that quote personified... Most people only learned about her life two weeks before she was killed, and not being able to forget about her made me pay attention to what it was about her that was so personal to her." A separate review in The News International (TNS) gave the film 3 stars, praising its "beautiful" visuals and calling the character "potentially iconic," but criticised the film for being "far too ambitious," noting that "in all the noise of every issue raised, Wakhri loses her voice."
The Austin Chronicle (SXSW review) praised the film's courage, writing that "despite the script's wobbles, Bilal's efforts to boldly bring this feminist and queer story to a larger audience deserve accolades." The review also noted that the film "screened for seven weeks in most Pakistani theaters, both tremendous markers of success in their own right."
PakistaniCinema.Net was highly critical, stating that "Faryal Mehmood's effortless performance is what makes 'Wakhri' work," but that "she can't save this film from a disjointed screenplay and amateurish direction." The review criticised the film for committing "the cardinal sin of being boring" and noted that the screenplay "suffers from a lack of detail which prevents the characters in the film from being fully fleshed out."
