Muslims upset with Gadar
Habshi
Ever since Lagaan and Gadar - Ek Prem Katha the two films released
last week, there has been constant speculation as to which of the two
would steal the thunder at the ticket counters – Aamir Khan’s
extravagant Lagaan or Sunny Deol’s Partition drama Gadar - Ek Prem
Katha.
Seven days later, the verdict seems to be rather clear.
Both the films have done exceedingly well at the BO. But, quite
obviously, the surprise packet between the two has been the Zee
production, Gadar - Ek Prem Katha.
In most places in Northern India, the film seems to have created such
a phenomenal impact that there has been an excessive demand for
screening extra shows. In some places in Punjab, screenings begin from
as early as six am in the mornings!
As well-known filmmaker Rajiv Rai puts it, "The film has completely
wiped out Lagaan in the Northern belt. I was speaking to the
distributor from Delhi and he said that he had never seen such a
mammoth crowd ever before. In fact, he asked me, 'I wonder where all
these people are coming from'. The response to Gadar - Ek Prem Katha
has been overwhelming."
The success of Gadar comes as a surprise primarily because it had
nothing going in its favour, especially when pitted against the
much-acclaimed and much-publicised Lagaan. The film was sold to
distributors for a far higher price than Lagaan.
And then, leading hero Sunny Deol has had a spate of flops behind him
-- his star status was itself in jeopardy. The music of the film also
hadn’t really rocked the charts -- it paled in comparison with A R
Rahman’s spectacular score in Aamir’s home production.
Even post-release, most critics preferred to sideline the film in the
midst of the unprecedented hype that surrounded Lagaan.
And still, despite all the odds, Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has scored. In
North India, it has completely overpowered Lagaan. In the rest of the
country, it is on par with its contemporary. That, in itself, is no
mean achievement.
According to industry folk, the reason behind the stupendous success
of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha is the feeling of patriotism that the film
evokes in a rather boorish manner. "The fact that a single Sunny Deol
battles Pakistanis on his own has appealed immensely to the masses,"
says well-known producer Boney Kapoor.
In the film, Sunny’s vehement verbal tirade against the neighbouring
country has been received with thunderous applause from all quarters.
By saying that Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has taken the BO by storm, one is
certainly not underestimating the roaring success of Lagaan. The Aamir
Khan venture will probably go down in history as one of his best
efforts.
His gamble has certainly paid off, what with the movie doing
exceedingly well at the BO in all the major cities.
However, being an Aamir Khan film and with the kind of promotion and
publicity that the film garnered even before its release, one did
expect a favourable response. Besides, in the overseas market, Lagaan
has definitely created a bigger impact.
For Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, it has been a different story. Between the
two films, it was certainly the underdog. That’s why the film’s
success is so stupefying.
As trade analyst Taran Adarsh, editor of Trade Guide, says, “Both the
films are major hits but in the North, it’s Gadar - Ek Prem Katha all
the way. What works for Gadar - Ek Prem Katha is that it has a very
strong script and the people of Punjab can identify with it. And of
course the Sunny factor.
"But what is making the people go back to the theatres for this film
are the confrontation scenes between Amrish Puri and Sunny Deol. I
loved Gadar. I think it is a brilliant, captivating film -- even
though it has one or two fllaws.. on the whole, it makes for great
impact.
"Lagaan, too, is a very well made and a polished film, though the
length is a problem, according to me. Whenever two big films release
together, they eat into each other’s business. And, in this case,
Gadar has definitely won the race."
The controversies around the film post-release have only helped the
movie arouse more curiosity. Some days ago, in Bhopal, the screening
of the film was stopped due to local protests. And now, prominent
citizens in Lucknow have also demanded a ban on the film, claiming
that it hurts the sentiments of the minority community.
For the leading hero of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, Sunny Deol, this is
more than just a professional triumph. The Deols have been busy
celebrating all of last week.
On last Friday itself, Gadar - Ek Prem Katha was declared a huge hit.
And just a day later, younger brother Bobby turned proud papa of a
baby boy.
All through the last seven days, the Deol household has been flooded
with congratulatory calls, both for Sunny as well as Bobby.
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Fiery ire over Gadar
Miscreants set afire the cinema screen during the screening of the
film Gadar - Ek Prem Katha and damaged seats and furniture on Sunday
night at a theatre at Sarkhej, in the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
They were protesting against some "objectionable" dialogues, police
said.
Over 15 miscreants allegedly threw some petrol-filled plastic bottles
at the screen causing fire and later burnt two motorcycles parked
outside the hall.
A case has been registered against them, police said.
'Gadar portrays Muslims in a derogatory manner!'
Close on the heels of angry protests over the screening of Hindi film
Gadar - Ek Prem Katha in Bhopal recently, the Muslim Jagriti Manch has
taken strong exception to some portions in the film saying it was a
deliberate attempt to create a wedge between Sikhs and Muslims.
"The film, set in the pre-Independence era, depicting the mayhem of
the Partition, portrays Muslims in a very poor and derogatory manner,"
says Sayyed Kalbe Hussain, president of the Manch.
The Manch has already given an ultimatum to the government to withdraw
the objectionable scenes from the film by June 28. Otherwise Muslim
youths would forcibly stop the screening of the film, especially in
the Muslim-dominated cities.
Hussain, who is also peeved over the mention of his father and noted
Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Sadiq's name in the acknowledgements of the
film, said he was filing a Rs 100 million defamation suit against the
director and producer of the film. He said notices would be served to
them on June 26.
Questioning the relevance of the Censor Board that has passed the
film, he demanded that a review committee of religious leaders from
all communities should analyse the film and decide whether it should
continue to be screened or not.
The film, which was extensively shot in the state capital and its
adjoining areas, invited lot of wrath last year during its shooting
with several Shia organisations raising an objection over the
picturisation of songs at the holy Bara Imambara. The controversy had
later subsided when the script of the film was passed by the Shia
clerics.
When contacted, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, who is also the vice president of
the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said he was not aware of
these things as he was out of the country.
Sadiq, who had passed the script before the shooting last year, said,
"I had suggested some amendments in the script while it was being
filmed here last year. But I am not aware whether they had been
carried out or not." He said that, if need be, other senior Muslim
leaders and theologians would be taken into confidence before deciding
on a course of action.
Several other Muslim leaders like Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, Agha Roohi and
Sajjad Nomani, said the community would sit and think over the issue.
While Nomani, who is also member of the All India Muslim Personal Law
Board, visualises a deep rooted conspiracy to divert people's
attention from the real issues and create law and order problem, Agha
Roohi has appealed to the people to maintain calm and peacefully
protest screening of the film.
Manch president Kalbe Hussain said a memorandum against the film has
already been sent to some Union ministers, state Chief Minister and
the Lucknow District Magistrate.
The Lucknow district administration has taken remedial measures and
enhanced security arrangements in and around the cinema halls showing
the film. Policemen in plain clothes have been posted at strategic
points, a senior official said, adding that the situation was under
control.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal, Master Tara Singh, today joined
the protest against the screening of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha saying it
was a "deliberate attempt" to create a wedge between Sikhs and
Muslims.
"What the film depicts is ridiculous. Sikhs and Muslims have lived in
amity and there is a deliberate attempt to create tension between the
communities," Party President Rachhpal Singh told reporters in New
Delhi.
The party demanded a temporary ban on the film till the objectionable
portions are censored.
This is for the first time that a Sikh organisation has demanded the
banning of the film, the screening of which has evoked widespread
protests in Delhi, Lucknow and Bhopal.
PTI
Tell us what you
Habshi
(Somashukla Sinha Walunjkar)
It could be the beginning of a long celebration for Anil Sharma,
Sunny Deol and Amisha Patel, whose careers take an upward swing with
the success of Gadar – Ek Prem Katha. If indications are right, Gadar
could well surpass the box office record of Sooraj Barjatya's Hum
Aapke Hain Koun!. So what if Gadar is factually erroneous (Amisha
plays the mid-'50s hit, Que sera sera on the piano in the '40s, Sunny
fights the Pakistani Army single-handedly, while almost overnight
Amrish Puri and his family turn India-haters when they arrive in
Pakistan) and projects the Partition without any sensitivity. But then
Mathura-bred Anil Sharma has been known in the industry as the man who
made loud, blood-splattered action flicks, Elan-e-Jung and Hukumat.
Gadar could well be his ticket to the A-list. Admits Uday Kaushish,
Lagaan's Delhi-UP distributor: "In north India and smaller towns,
Gadar is a bigger hit, while Lagaan is a superhit in big cities." Says
director Anil Sharma: "Gadar was an ambitious project. We spent a year
scouting for locations, getting accessories like the grand piano, the
truck and the steam engine. We tried to be as accurate as possible.
Despite all the controversies, Gadar's box-office collections picked
up from the second week by word-of-mouth publicity."
"The last time two big films released on the same day was during
Diwali 2000 when Mission Kashmir and Mohabbatein hit the screens,
although later Mission Kashmir's collections dropped. Lagaan and Gadar
have both notched up 100 per cent collections and are doing
consistently well," says Ashish Saksena, programming head, PVR
Cinemas. "Gadar's target audience is in northern India and this is
also where the film is breaking all records. Lagaan has a very urban
flavour, while Gadar appeals to both the classes and the masses. Also,
the fact remains that this is the first action film since Bobby Deol's
Badal that has turned out to be a huge hit," says distributor Sanjay
Mehta.
Meanwhile Tusshar Kapoor's candyfloss romance Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai
continues to run to house-full boards in most city halls. Looks like
the good times have really begun for Bollywood's dream merchants.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Habshi
"Aamir isn't the only one who confronted a running train, I did it
too. And I walked."
Amisha Patel missed colliding with a train by a few seconds while
shooting for Gadar - Ek Prem Katha.
Move over Aamir Khan.
Today her movie, Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has edged ahead of Aamir's mega
project, Lagaan.
After .Kaho Naa..Pyaar Hai failed to get her the recognition she
deserved, she shot back with Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, a film she says
that has marked her as an actress.
Working on a wet Sunday afternoon, Faisal Shariff caught up with
Amisha Patel at Subi Samuel's studio for a tête-à-tête.
What is your reaction to the various protests against Gadar?
There is nothing anti-Hindu or anti-Islamic about it.
A leading newspaper, made a silly statement, saying that, 'one of the
actresses named, Sakina…', which meant they didn't even know that the
main protagonist of the film was Sakina.
They say Sunny said, 'Hindustan Murdabad', when he hasn't even
mentioned it in the film.
I think a lot of uneducated people, by that, I mean those who haven't
seen the film, have passed judgment on it and have made factual
errors.
Our film says love passes all boundaries and unites.
Sunny Deol never asks his wife to convert to Hinduism in the film.
Even when she is away from him she offers her namaaz.
Sunny agrees to convert to Islam and stay back in Pakistan. When you
have a Sunny's character, a strong Hindu, ready to convert to Islam
for the sake of love, it conveys that his only religion is the safety
of his wife and child. How can there be anything controversial about
it?
I received calls from Lahore and Karachi, telling me how much they
loved the film there. A few even wanted to meet me, if they ever come
to India. When Pakistanis have loved the movie, how can there be
anything anti-Islamic about the movie.
Another allegation against the film is that it confuses nationality
and caste?
Not at all!
Who decides that a man and woman cannot be united despite religious
differences?
Tomorrow if I fell for a Muslim man, I would marry him. Love is the
essence of any religion.
Shabana Azmi found the film provocative.
I think her sentiments are uncalled for. When a similar issue marred
her film, wasn't she the first one to say that the Hindus objected to
it?
What happens now? We made a good sincere film.
Her film couldn't even be shot. At least ours has.
People have given us permission to shoot at certain locations and the
censor board has gone through with our film. It meant that very
intelligent decision-makers there allowed it because they saw nothing
wrong with it.
I think Ms Azmi has made a religious discrimination. I'm sad that
someone as distinguished as she is supposed to be, could do what she
did. I am sorry to say this; but she has been very petty.
She created a hue and cry with her film, Water. What is she doing now?
When the tables turn and it hits home, it really hurts.
When did Amisha Patel become Sakina for Gadar?
The day I signed the film. From the 500 girls selected, only 22 were
screen tested. My audition lasted 12 hours!
We had to enact some key scenes without knowing the entire graph of
the film. I had to be spontaneous. I had to dance, had to change into
costumes, to look the period. My process of thinking started then.
When I eventually was signed on, I had 20 sittings with the director
where we worked on hair, costume, make-up and body language. I was
given books on Lahore and Islam to read and movies to watch.
I also visited Haji Ali, watched how the people prayed, as part of my
study of the Muslim culture.
I did a lot of research. We used to sketch diagrams of hairstyles we
liked. From the six finalised, there was a specific one, which looked
best.
A series of sittings with my wig-maker Kailashji followed. He tried to
give me the Nargis-Madhubala, look, but I ended up with my own hair,
all curled for the movie.
It was a long journey prior to the shooting; they were sittings with
my writer Shaktimanji who would run me through the role of Sakina,
we'd cover even costumes and color combinations beforehand.
The first scene that I actually did was the one where I'm already in
Pakistan. At that point in the film, I'm already a mother and I tell
my father "Hum Hindustan nahi jayenge, khat nahi likhenge, telephone
nahi karenge, hum sirf intezaar karenge".
It was tough to channelise my thoughts to post-interval, separated and
confronting my father.
And this was a year before Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai had even released. I
returned to the Simla portion of the school and college, later.
When I donned on the costumes and make-up and walked onto the set, I
wasn't acting, I was Sakina. For most of the scenes, I did not use
glycerine.
I think what helped me, were on the locations; the atmosphere created
was very authentic. My director and producer had faith in me, I wasn't
a star, I didn't have a Kaho Naa…
What did you assimilate about Islamic culture and Pakistan from the
books you read? How did they help you?
What I essentially learnt was that Islam and Hinduism preach the same
thing.
Many preconceived notions that I had about Islam, were cleared.
I interacted with lots of Pakistanis, when I studied in America and
became the best of friends. A high hypothetical geographical line in a
map, doesn't make you different people.
We eat the same food, speak the same language; they love our Hindi
movies. I am not ashamed of playing a Pakistani girl, I love the
Muslim culture. I felt a kinship, found an understanding with them. It
felt absolutely foolish to point out differences, that was the most
amazing revolution I ever went through.
How did the character of Sakina affect you?
It affected me deeply.
When you understand Islam culture, you'll know that the body language
of their women is unlike that of bold Punjabi women. A Muslim girl's
eyes are always lowered, she is softer, she possess an understanding,
that only culture can give.
A Hindu girl from an affluent educated background would perhaps speak
to her father directly, but a Muslim girl bow her head down, in
respect. That angle, made all the difference to my character.
What does Gadar - Ek Prem Katha mean to you?
Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has been my heartbeat, my breath, my passion, my
life for the past two years.
How would you compare Gadar and KNPH?
KNPH was a very different film. You can't compare it with Gadar.
I played myself in KNPH, a college kid who had been through heartaches
and crushes.
Gadar called for perfection. I couldn't walk onto the sets not knowing
what I was going to wear and pull on a pair of jeans. Gadar was a very
big film...we shot at original locations with huge crowds.
KNPH gave me a platform, an acceptance, it made me popular. Gadar has
marked me as an actress. It have been compared with Madhubala and
Meena Kumari...that alone is a big feat. KNPH will go in the portals
alongside Dilwale... and Dil To Pagal Hai. Gadar has a different
niche. It goes down along with the Mughal-E-Azam and Pakeezah.
Not every actress gets what I have managed to, in their second film.
You don't see period films or classic films like this made every year.
You won't see another Gadar for another 20 years. KNPH was a
candyfloss film of today, full of colour. Gadar was true reality.
Why the long break between KNPH and Gadar?
I was committed to Gadar before KNPH was released. For all ethical
reasons it was to be my second film because they had signed me on. I
walked out of many films, for Gadar. But I couldn't ask for a bigger
hit, could i?
Weren't you afraid that the long sabbatical would erase you from
public memory?
If your work is good, it doesn't matter if you do only film. Aamir
does one film a year and he's more famous than any other.
But Aamir has 15 years of stardom behind him?
That doesn't matter! I'm starting a new trend. But, I feel one good
film is worth more than five which don't do anything for you. I will
have three to four releases, this year, though.
You've had three upto now KNPH, Badri and Gadar. And scored with all
of them. Does this pressurise you or does it make you over-confident?
I feel lucky. I have gotten used to having hits now. People keep
tagging me as a lucky charm for their films.
But, I know my little bubble will burst soon and I will be snapped out
of my dreams. I'll take that in my stride as well. All I know, is that
I am blessed. I didn't have a big banner backing, Anil Sharma was
written off as a director; Sunny was a little too old for me.
When you think of Sunny, you don't think of a love story. When you
think of Amisha Patel you don't think of her playing a mother to a
five-year old. Also we were catering to a mass audience. But we went
ahead and did it and it worked. I took the risk because I had
conviction and it worked like magic.
And no, I am not over-confident.
Do you think you have never really been given your due?
As long as the dark horse is winning, I don't see the problem. The
public will give me my due.
It would have been tougher if I had the backing of a Subhash Ghai or a
Yash Chopra banner. That would have given them half the credit for the
success.
When you have everything working against you and yet you beat every
record, you feel real victory.
What is your definition of acting?
Acting is reacting, feeling, being. It's about reacting to people and
being sensitive to emotions. If you are a sensitive person you can be
a better actor. Acting can't be taught. There isn't a right or a
wrong.
Did you read the original story for Gadar? Did you see
Shaheed-E-Mohabbat?
No, I didn't.
It was an inspired story. I didn't want to go into the film with some
pre-conceived notion. I knew that I had to put in my own homework not
someone else's effort. I could have watched Shaheed-E-Mohabbat and
been that girl but I didn't want to. I wanted to make Sakina an
original. It was my decision.
Compare your stints with Hrithik, the latest craze and Sunny, the
seasoned actor as actors.
Hrithik has a long way to go. He has a lot of learning to do. He will
improve with every film. He is still a newcomer, he still is my buddy.
Sunny is a superstar. A National Award winner with 18 years in the
industry. But he made me feel so comfortable. He was never insecure
about his role.
Is this part of the journey or is this the destination? Is it going to
be movies now?
I don't know. I don't know tomorrow. I am doing well, now. That
matters most. I have been accepted, I have been loved.
I have an 'A' grade on my report card. I might see an 'F' on it
tomorrow and then I might just have to exit gracefully.
Have you seen Lagaan?
No, I haven't. My parents have, and in many ways they thought it was
better than mine and in many ways they thought my film scored over it.
But, they said that the two could not be compared. Lagaan is an
entertainer Gadar is a serious film. But I am happy that the film did
well because Aamir is my favourite actor.
ALSO READ:
Amisha Patel enters Bollywood
Amisha Patel,post Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai
Do tell us what you think of
Habshi
done for Border will be deleted before it comes out on DVD or in the
west .
Sarita Tanwar
www.rediff.com
Ever since Gadar - EK Prem Katha and Lagaan released on June 15, they
have been running neck and neck.
Lagaan had everything going for it. Aamir Khan left no stone unturned
to make sure his first step into production created as much curiosity
as man’s first step on the moon.
There were many rounds of the press; there was TV and online
publicity; there was constant coverage in all national dailies, thanks
to the efficient PRO, the backing of a huge publishing house like the
Times Of India and the cherry on the pudding -- a cover story in India
Today. Of course, A R Rahman’s scintillating music was a big plus,
too.
In comparison, Gadar - Ek Prem Katha had nothing going for it. Its shy
hero wanted his film to do the talking... And it turned out to be the
right decision -- the film turned out to be a dark horse.
No one expected the Sunny starrer to run neck and neck with Aamir’s
XI, but it happened.
Besides proving to be the surprise hit of the year, Gadar - EK Prem
Katha also came in for a controversy.
Some theatres in the US deleted inflammatory parts of the film. There
was a case of rioting at a theatre in Ahemdabad and the Muslim lobby
asked for a ban on the film.
Sources say that Sunny Deol wanted Gadar - EK Prem Katha released on
the same day as Lagaan. In fact, insiders insist that Deol laid down
this precondition before he dubbed for the film.
We nailed the director of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, Anil Sharma, for some
answers. He crushes the rumour with a moment's hesitation: "We had
decided we would release our film on June 15. It had nothing to do
with Lagaan. And before you ask me, I never even considered postponing
the release of my film to avoid the clash. I was that confident of my
product.
"I had told the producer that this film would be a winner. Anyway, our
country's population is so high that even if ten films released
together, the theatres will all be full if the audiences liked the
film."
Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has smashed records and has left Lagaan panting
behind in North India.
In fact, many theatres are going in for extra screenings of the film.
Says Sharma, "Why just the North circuit, C P and Berar? My film is a
hit everywhere. It is a big hit in Bombay. There have been many
requests to start a early morning show in Bombay as well.
"But I don’t think we want to do that. Earlier, we were running the
film at matinees in some theatres. We stopped that and ran them as
main shows. Now, theatre owners are demanding that we bring the film
back for the matinee show as well, to control the long queues.
"The second week business of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha was better than the
first week and the third week is better than the second. In Bombay
alone, Gadar - EK Prem Katha will do a business of Rs 200 million.
"Gadar is the biggest hit in Bombay. Overseas, too, in UK, USA and
Cananda, Gadar is a big hit. In Canada, people are throwing money in
the theatres -- they love the film so much."
How did the director feel about certain sections of people being
offended by Gadar - Ek Prem Katha and asking for a ban on the film? "I
am aware of that. But these people haven’t seen the film -- they are
just reacting to hearsay.
"My film is not communal. It is about patriotism. It is about the way
the people of India feel.
"I am aware that some miscreants tried to create trouble in Ahemdabad,
too. I am very aware of what is happening wherever my film is running.
But these incidents are being highlighted out of context. If the film
is running in 1,000 centres and if there is a problem in three of four
theatres, I don’t think it is anything to worry about."
Anil’s detractors allege that he used sensationalism to sell his film.
He deliberately chose a subject that was delicate. To which he says,
"I would request people to go and see my film, not to listen to any
rumours. There is no sensationalism in my film.
"Gadar IS a Prem Katha. It has a certain earthiness about it. People
identify with the film. Both for those who have been through the
Partition and for the new generation, my film is a chapter in history.
They can learn from my film,” stressed the film-maker.
There have been rumours that many portions of the film that hurt the
sentiments of the minority communities have been deleted from the film
in the overseas market to woo the Muslim audiences.
Anil Sharma states, “No, that’s not true, to the best of my knowledge
besides, there is no reason to delete anything. There is nothing
controversial about the film. If people are finding certain scenes and
dialogues offensive, they are merely situational and are not meant to
be for effect.
"I would urge the people to see the film and decide for themselves."
Has he seen the 'other' film? Anil Sharma hesitates: “No, I haven’t
seen Lagaan. But I want to. I have been very busy. And am overwhelmed
by the reaction and love of the people of the industry.
"My phones haven’t stopped ringing. I want to call everybody and thank
them personally for their wishes. But I have just been too tied up...”
islamisgrowing2000
Becoming Muslim
Natassia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was raised to believe in God from childhood. I attended church
nearly every Sunday, went to Bible school, and sang in the choir. Yet
religion was never a really big part of my life.
There were times when I thought myself close to God. I often prayed to
him for guidance and strength in times of despair or for a wish in
times of want. But I soon realized that this feeling of closeness soon
evaporated when I was no longer begging God for something. I realized
that I even though I believed, I lacked faith.
I perceived the world to be a game in which God indulged in from time
to time. He inspired people to write a Bible and somehow people were
able to find faith within this Bible.
As I grew older and became more aware of the world, I believed more in
God. I believed that there had to be a God to bring some order to the
chaotic world. If there were no God, I believed the world would have
ended in utter anarchy thousands of years ago. It was comfort to me to
believe there was a supernatural force guiding and protecting man.
Children usually assume their religion from parents. I was no
different. At the age of 12, I began to give in depth thinking to my
spirituality. I realized there was a void in my life where a faith
should be. Whenever I was in need or despair, I simply prayed to
someone called Lord. But who was this Lord truly? I once asked my
mother who to pray to, Jesus or God. Believing my mother to be right,
I prayed to Jesus and to him I attributed all good things.
I have heard that religion cannot be argued. My friends and I tried to
do this many times. I often had debates with my friends about
Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism. Through these debates I
searched within myself more and more and decided I should do something
about my emptiness. And so at the age of 13, I began my search for
truth.
Humankind is always in constant pursuit of knowledge or the truth. My
search for truth could not be deemed as an active pursuit of
knowledge. I continued having the debates, and I read the Bible more.
But it did not really extend from this. During this period of time my
mother took notice of my behavior and from then on I have been in a
"religious phase." My behavior was far from a phase. I simply shared
my newly gained knowledge with my family. I learned about the beliefs,
practices, and doctrines within Christianity and minimal beliefs and
practices within Judaism.
A few months within my search I realized that if I believe in
Christianity I believed myself to be condemned to Hell. Not even
considering the sins of my past, I was on a "one way road to Hell" as
southern ministers tend to say. I could not believe all the teachings
within Christianity. However, I did try.
I can remember many times being in church and fighting with myself
during the Call to Discipleship. I was told that by simply confessing
Jesus to be my Lord and Savior I would be guaranteed eternal life in
Heaven. I never did walk down the aisle to the pastor's outstretched
hands, and my reluctance even increased my fears of heading for Hell.
During this time I was at unease. I often had alarming nightmares, and
I felt very alone in the world.
But not only did I lack belief but I had many questions that I posed
to every knowledgeable Christian I could find and never really did
receive a satisfactory answer. I was simply told things that confused
me even more. I was told that I am trying to put logic to God and if I
had faith I could simply believe and go to Heaven. Well, that was the
problem: I did not have faith. I did not believe.
I did not really believe in anything. I did believe there was a God
and that Jesus was his son sent to save humankind. That was it. My
questions and reasoning did, however, exceed my beliefs.
The questions went on and on. My perplexity increased. My uncertainty
increased. For fifteen years I had blindly followed a faith simply
because it was the faith of my parents.
Something happened in my life in which the little faith I did have
decreased to all but nothing. My search came to a stop. I no longer
searched within myself, the Bible. or church. I had given up for a
while. I was a very bitter parson until one day a friend gave me a
book. It was called "The Muslim-Christian Dialogue."
I took the book and read it. I am ashamed to say that during my
searching never did I once consider another religion. Christianity was
all I knew, and I never thought about leaving it. My knowledge of
Islam was very minimal. In fact, it was mainly filled with
misconception and stereotypes. The book surprised me. I found that I
was not the only one who believed there was a simply a God. I asked
for more books. I received them as well as pamphlets.
I learned about Islam from an intellectual aspect. I had a close
friend who was Muslim and I often asked her questions about the
practices. Never did I once consider Islam as my faith. Many things
about Islam alienated me.
After a couple months of reading the month of Ramadan began. Every
Friday I could I joined the local Muslim community for the breaking of
the fast and the reciting of the Quran. I posed questions that I may
have come across to the Muslim girls. I was in awe at how someone
could have so much certainty in what they believed and followed. I
felt myself drawn to the religion that alienated me.
Having believed for so long that I was alone, Islam did comfort me in
many ways. Islam was brought as a reminder to the world. It was
brought to lead the people back to the right path.
Beliefs were not the only thing important to me. I wanted a discipline
to pattern my life by. I did not just want to believe someone was my
savior and through this I held the ticket to Heaven. I wanted to know
how to act to receive the approval of God. I wanted a closeness to
God. I wanted to be God-conscious. Most of all I wanted a chance for
heaven. I began to feel that Christianity did not give this to me, but
Islam did.
I continued learning more. I went to the Eid celebration and jumua and
weekly classes with my friends.
Through religion one receives peace of mind. A calmness about them.
This I had off and on for about three years. During the off times I
was more susceptible to the temptations of Satan. In early February of
1997 I came to the realization that Islam was right and true. However,
I did not want to make any hasty decisions. I did decide to wait.
Within this duration the temptations of Satan increased. I can
recollect two dreams in which he was a presence. Satan was calling me
to him. After I awoke from these nightmares I found solace in Islam. I
found myself repeating the Shahadah. These dreams almost made me
change my mind. I confided them in my Muslim friend. She suggested
that maybe Satan was there to lead me from the truth. I never thought
of it that way.
On March 19, 1997 after returning from a weekly class, I recited the
Shahadah to myself. Then on March 26, I recited it before witnesses
and became an official Muslim.
I cannot express the joy I felt. I cannot express the weight that was
lifted from my shoulders. I had finally received my peace of mind.
...
It has been about five months since I recited the Shahadah. Islam has
made me a better person. I am stronger now and understand things more.
My life has changed significantly. I now have purpose. My purpose is
to prove myself worthy of eternal life in Jannah. I have my long
sought after faith. Religion is a part of me all the time. I am
striving everyday to become the best Muslim I can be.
People are often amazed at how a fifteen year old can make such an
important decision in life. I am grateful that Allah blessed me with
my state of mind that I was able to find it so young.
Striving to be a good Muslim in a Christian dominated society is hard.
Living with a Christian family is even harder. However, I do not try
to get discouraged. I do not wish to dwell on my present predicament,
but I believe that my jihad is simply making me stronger. Someone once
told me that I am better off than some people who were born into
Islam, in that I had to find, experience, and realize the greatness
and mercy of Allah. I have acquired the reasoning that seventy years
of life on earth is nothing compared to eternal life in Paradise.
I must admit that I lack the aptitude to express the greatness, mercy,
and glory of Allah. I hope my account helped others who may feel the
way I felt or struggle the way I struggled.
as salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahee wa barakatuhu,
Natassia M. Kelly
aryanviking
Habshi wrote:
>
> "Aamir isn't the only one who confronted a running train, I did it
> too. And I walked."
>
> Amisha Patel missed colliding with a train by a few seconds while
> shooting for Gadar - Ek Prem Katha.
---> how really sad --- :-(
Habshi
Faryal Awan beseeches filmmakers to create art, not hate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new Pakistani movie, Tere Pyaar Main, provoked various responses,
ranging from amusement to disgust and plain old outrage. Since it came
highly recommended, having swept the Pakistani Film Awards this year,
I took the opportunity of watching it at a local club on Friday night.
The pairing of rough and ready Shaan with ravishing Jazz girl Zara
Sheikh, sounded like a surefire recipe for success. Using Kashmir’s
volatile political climate as a backdrop, this was Lollywood’s first
attempt at touching upon the Indo-Pak relationship in the last couple
of decades. The end result was a depressingly jingoistic run of the
mill saga with the main thread of plot dedicated to the dashing hero
saving the beautiful damsel in distress.
While watching this film, Indian films like Border and Mission Kashmir
came to mind. This film was obviously intended as a rebuttal against
them. The question, however, is did these people actually believe that
they could beat Indian propaganda with their own?
The second half of the movie went to great lengths to not only depict
the Indian army as mean, rapacious, selfish scoundrels, but also
dim-witted in the extreme. This half of the horrendous tale showed the
love struck fugitives effectively dodging the entire Indian army who
were dispatched to scour the whole country for them. This game of hide
‘n’ seek, which could easily have been wrapped up in five minutes,
drags on interminably. The powerful, not to mention, lengthy climax,
is caused not out of fears of national security, but because one
unfortunate Indian soldier is also in love with the heroine. It’s
nothing short of comic to imagine the entire army pouring their
resources into one man’s love life.
Although several Indian films are guilty of blatantly fascist tactics
regarding Pakistan, there are some which have taken the trouble to
show a level of sensitivity when dealing with this fraught issue.
Dahek , is one example; another being Deepa Mehta’s Earth 1947 , based
on Bapsi Sidwa’s, The Ice-Candy Man , which attempted to depict Hindu
and Muslim behaviour and reactions during the devastation of the
Partition.
A movie like Tere Pyaar Main was crafted (and I use the term “crafted”
generously) for the consumption of the masses, fuelled throughout by
high octane hatred and anger, portraying India as ‘evil’ personified.
I vividly recall the destruction of the Babri mosque some years back.
Like the rest of the Muslim community, I was enraged by this atrocious
sacrilege. The rage turned to horror when I heard what Pakistani
citizens had done in protest. Some maverick factions, having destroyed
numerous Hindu temples went as far as burning down Hindu homes. Are we
supposed to pat ourselves on the back for such shocking behavior? I
don’t advocate passivity, but this is not the answer. I am a proud
Pakistani, and this is not what my country stands for.
My request to filmmakers is that they should let cinematography be the
art form it deserves to be, before relegating it to the status of
cheap propagandist tool. Especially when the end product is a
cinematic embarrassment. As a further tip for filmmakers, propaganda
is at its most effective when used subtly.
Intervention: Seema Alavi
Why ‘Gadar’ offends me
The film is disturbing because it confirms that a Muslim can never be
a loyal friend
The film, Gadar, a love story set in the tumultuous times of
partition, has raked a controversy all over India. The romance between
a Muslim girl (Sakeena) and a Sikh boy (Tara Singh) has been subjected
to public scrutiny. While in Bhopal the hooligans of the Indian Youth
Congress vandalised the theatre on the grounds that certain scenes are
offensive to the Islamic faith, in Lucknow, the Shia Muslim clergy has
demanded an immediate ban on the film. The leader of the Shia
community, Kalbe Sadiq, has demanded its ban on the grounds that its
producer acknowledges his help even though he was opposed to it being
shot in Shia religious sites of Lucknow.
Objections have been raised to the heroine being named Sakina — the
revered daughter of a martyred imam, and to the fact that she is shown
not only marrying a Sikh but also offering namaaz with vermilion on
her forehead. Muslims all over India are agitated also because the
film suggestively shows the Sikh hero being forced to chant,
‘‘Hindustan murdabad’’, soon after his conversion to Islam. This they
find objectionable on grounds that it suggests the anti-national
character of Islam.
As one viewed the film in a Lucknow theatre one felt uncomfortable for
other reasons as well. The film offends the sensitive viewer, not only
because its characters contravene the narrow juristic interpretation
of the Islamic Shariat, but because it confirms that a Muslim can
never be a faithful loyal friend, a Muslim family can never be
tolerant and accommodating of others, and the community can never be
loyal to the nation. In Hindi cinema, this film marks the beginning of
the creation of a ‘new’ stereotype of Muslims. The old stereotype was
that of the Muslim being always a faithful friend, a trustworthy
employee and one possessing basic humaneness. Indeed, in the past,
politicians were projected as creating a divide between Hindus and
Muslims who shared basic human feelings towards each other. Gadar
clearly rejects this Bollywood projection of the past.
It creates a new one: the Muslim heroine ( Sakina) is the daughter of
an anglicised Khan family of Punjab; the Sikh hero (Tara Singh), in
contrast, is more rooted in ‘indigenous’ tradition. Sakina’s family is
rigid, intolerant and unaccommodating; the Sikh family she marries
into is just the reverse. The Muslim friends of the Sikh hero turn out
to be traitors and unfaithful; the Sikh friends are loyal and rational
even in their belligerence towards Sakina. The strangers who help Tara
Singh and Sakina in Pakistan, do it for financial gains. In India, it
is the ‘basic goodness’ of people that triggers such helpful gestures.
It is ironical that a film which portrays a divide between Sikhs and
Muslims, is shot to a large extent in the city of Lucknow, which is
known for its eclectic political culture. A city which remained
unscathed even in the black days of 1947. The most unsubtle scenes of
a Muslim family’s intolerance are set in the background of the
historic 18th century French adventurer Claude Martin’s sanctuary —
the LaMartinere Collee. Martin with his entourage of Muslim
mistresses, Hindu craftsmen and Pathan soldiers epitomises the
political culture of the city that provides a space for all. The
historic Lucknow Imambaras — a living example of Hindu-Muslim
participation in popular Muslim ceremonies — provides another backdrop
to the Islamic intolerance that the film projects.
It is in this context that the Muslims of the city feel offended. It
is not surprising that moving beyond the clergy, a major chunk of the
city’s Muslims object most to the fact that their local airport is
shown in the film as Lahore airport. This idea does not gel with the
popular sentiments of the Muslims, who are entrenched in the syncretic
Awadhi culture.
Set in Lucknow, Gadar is yet another example of how, in the recent
past, Lucknow’s political culture is being torn apart by vested
political interests. The film makes no qualms in revealing to the
viewer those who are the biggest threat to the syncretic ethos of the
city. It prominently acknowledges the help of BJP MP, Vinod Khanna,
and state BJP president, Kalraj Misra. That probably makes the
anti-Muslim slant in the film understandable.
(The writer is an associate professor of history, Jamia Millia
Islamia)
excerpt hindustantimes.com
On the way back, sardarji defeats the entire Pakistan Army, grunting
all the way to the border.
All of this is jingoistic, preposterous and deeply unconvincing. But
is it anti-Muslim? The first half, certainly, is completely
even-handed. The riots are shown to be the work of Hindus and Muslims.
Amrish Puri and family flee to escape mobs of marauding Hindus;
another Hindu mob subsequently massacres a trainload of Muslims. And
the hero (Sunny Deol, who, to his credit, rises above the material)
has to save the heroine from being raped by Hindus who are portrayed
in a completely unsympathetic manner.
So, how does Gadar become anti-Muslim? Judging by what I have read,
there are four broad objections to the movie. The first two come from
politicians. They say that the heroine’s name is Sakina. Sakina is
also the name of a person of religious consequence in Islam.
Curiously, the protestors are not saying that nobody should be called
Sakina; it is, in fact, a fairly popular name. They are objecting to
the fact that this particular character is called Sakina. And why is
that offensive to Muslims? Because Sakina marries outside the faith to
a sardarji?
No secular person will take such an objection seriously.
The second objection is similar. In one scene, Sakina is shown doing
the namaz with sindoor in her hair. This, they say, is anti-Muslim. In
fact, the point of the movie is that, even though Sakina becomes a
good wife to a Sikh, she never gives up her religion. To object to the
scene that embodies this message tells you something about the
mentality of those raising the objections.
The third and fourth objections come from liberals. Says Shabana Azmi,
“I question the sagacity of making a film at a time when efforts are
being made to ease the tension between India and Pakistan.” This is
plain silly. At the time the film was made, no effort was being made
to ease tensions. In fact, not only were we refusing to talk to
General Musharraf, we weren’t even willing to play cricket with
Pakistan. It is not the film-maker’s fault if India suddenly changed
its policy just as the film was being released.
And anyway, why should film producers be chamchas of the foreign
office? If a man wants to make a film in which Pakistanis are
villains, he has a right to do that regardless of the status of our
diplomatic initiatives. And why single out Gadar for being
anti-Pakistan? Why not Border? Why not Mission Kashmir? Why not Roja?
But it is the fourth objection that, I suspect, explains why liberal
Muslims are really upset. Why, ask the critics, does Amrish Puri ask
the sardarji husband to say ‘Pakistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’
while converting? Shabana says it “reinforces the canard that any
Muslim is automatically a Pakistani”.
This is an over-statement. The film’s heroine is a Muslim and she is
not “automatically a Pakistani”. The ‘Hindustan Murdabad’ sequence is
explained in terms of Amrish Puri’s post-Partition hatred of India; it
is never suggested that all Muslims say ‘Hindustan Murdabad’ in
private.
And yet, I can see why Muslims are concerned. For Indian Muslims, the
Partition was a defining moment. Till 1947, nobody could call Muslims
anti-national; undivided India was their only home. But from 1947
onwards, after Pakistan was created, communalists began to allege that
those Muslims who stayed behind in India had a secret loyalty to
Pakistan.
From a Muslim perspective, the problem with Gadar is that it focuses
on that defining moment. Till Amrish Puri and his family leave
Amritsar, they are Indians. When they get to Lahore, they are
Pakistanis. The logic of Gadar is that in the first half, when they
are Indians, they are sympathetic characters. But in the second half,
when they are Pakistanis, they are villains. It is that sudden
transformation (absent from Border, Mission Kashmir, Roja etc) that
makes Indian Muslims uneasy, and insecure. At some subliminal level,
the manner in which the film suddenly turns against Amrish Puri’s
family, emphasises the fragility of their position.
The tragedy of Partition was that your neighbour suddenly became your
enemy. Your friend suddenly became a foreigner. A loyal Indian
suddenly became an enemy of India. A Muslim who stayed behind went
from being regarded as a patriot to being suspected of anti-national
sympathies.
For many Muslims, any movie that relives — so crassly and in such a
jingoistic manner — that moment of transformation is bound to be
disturbing. Not only does it awaken their insecurity, it also carries
a subliminal message to a Hindu audience: the Muslims in this movie
went from being our neighbours to becoming our enemies — are you sure
that you can trust the Muslims who are your neighbours now?
Liberal Muslims have, I fear, not presented their case well. Their
objections are being confused with the communal protests of the
politically motivated rabble. In fact, not one of the movie’s liberal
critics wants any kind of censorship or ban. Nor do they say that
their religion has been insulted. What they want to say is this: is it
a good idea to relive memories of Partition in this crass manner?
My problem is that while I sympathise with the liberals, I don’t see
what can be done about their objections. It is no use complaining that
a blockbuster like Gadar does not have the finesse of an art film like
Garam Hawa. Yes, Gadar grossly trivialises Partition. But then it
trivialises everything. It is that kind of film.
However, I have no sympathy for the communalists, for those who
complain about the heroine’s name and her sindoor. We succumbed to
this blackmail over the Satanic Verses and we are still paying the
price — both in terms of the encouragement to fundamentalists and the
Hindu backlash that resulted.
There are three lessons to be learnt from the protests. One: even if
you can’t address liberal Muslim concerns with bans and censorship, at
least try and understand them. Two: be firm with fundamentalists;
never give in to politically motivated rabble.
And three: never walk out of a crappy movie. You never know when
you’ll have to write a column about it.
Nusrat Rizvi
>
>The controversies around the film post-release have only helped the
>movie arouse more curiosity. Some days ago, in Bhopal, the screening
>of the film was stopped due to local protests. And now, prominent
>citizens in Lucknow have also demanded a ban on the film, claiming
>that it hurts the sentiments of the minority community.
>ALSO READ:
>Cops on the alert in Bombay
>Fiery ire over Gadar!
>'Gadar shows Muslims in a derogatory manner!'
>Sena terms Muslim protestors of 'Gadar anti-national
>Fiery ire over Gadar
>Miscreants set afire the cinema screen during the screening of the
>film Gadar - Ek Prem Katha and damaged seats and furniture on Sunday
>night at a theatre at Sarkhej, in the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
>
>They were protesting against some "objectionable" dialogues, police
>said.
>
>Over 15 miscreants allegedly threw some petrol-filled plastic bottles
>at the screen causing fire and later burnt two motorcycles parked
>outside the hall.
>
>A case has been registered against them, police said.
>'Gadar portrays Muslims in a derogatory manner!'
> Close on the heels of angry protests over the screening of Hindi film
>Gadar - Ek Prem Katha in Bhopal recently, the Muslim Jagriti Manch has
>taken strong exception to some portions in the film saying it was a
>deliberate attempt to create a wedge between Sikhs and Muslims.
>
>"The film, set in the pre-Independence era, depicting the mayhem of
>the Partition, portrays Muslims in a very poor and derogatory manner,"
>says Sayyed Kalbe Hussain, president of the Manch.
>
Perhaps the Indian police can take a lesson from the NYC PD.
Back in the 80s a British film "My Favorite Launderette" or some such
name was premiered in NYC. Soon the local Muslims protested
on the grounds that the films shows Muslims in the bad light.
When the protesters tried to block others from entering the cinema
the cops moved in, beat a whole lot, send many to hospitals and sent
a few dozens to jail for a day or two.
There after the movie ran for couple of more months without incidents
The taxi trade also went back to normal after a few days of
inconvenience to the riding public.
Habshi
The super success of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha and Lagaan has brought back
the big smile to the Hindi film industry. One now is confident that
good films (overall - performance, script, music, and screenplay) will
definitely work at the box-office - it does not matter whether it is a
patriotic film or a period film or a love story.
Looking at the collections of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha the film is
marching towards becoming the biggest grosser of all times surpassing
Hum Aapke hai Koun and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. It is always
seen that the second week's collections of the film are always lower
than the first week. But Gadar took everyone by surprise, the second
week's collections are higher than the first week. It is breaking all
records everywhere. The second week's collections of the film were 97%
in Mumbai (from 16 cinemas) and 96% in Delhi (from 16 cinemas -
crossing the collection figure of 1 crore). In many centers the film
is doing 100% collections in the second week. The countrywide
collections of the film for the second week has crossed Rs 4 crore
whereas it had collected Rs 3.80 crore in the first week.
With the success of Gadar Sunny Deol is back with a bang. He is in
demand and so are the patriotic and period films. It is appreciable
that newcomer Amisha Patel's both the releases are blockbusters - her
debut film Kaho Naa..Pyar Hain and now Gadar. Her mature performance
in Gadar has been appreciated a lot .
Aamir Khan's Lagaan is doing excellent business in metros. The film is
also been highly appreciated in UK and USA. The second week's
collections of the film were 97% in Mumbai (from 13 cinemas). A
different film in a real sense is been highly appreciated by all the
top film makers of Bollywood. After his superlative performance in
Lagaan, Aamir Khan will now be seen in Farhan Akthar's (son of Javed
Akthar) Dil Chahta Hai starring Aamir, Akshaye Khanna, Saif Ali Khan,
Dimple Kapadia, Preity Zinta and Sonali Kulkarni. The promos of the
film look very slick and the music is very modern and youthful.
The fifth week's collections of Mujhe Kucch kehna Hain were 55% in
Mumbai (from 8 cinemas).
Last week E Niwas directed Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karenga and Prakash
Mehra's Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao were released. Love Ke Liye.. got a
good opening in Mumbai and other cities but was just average in small
centers. The film will definitely get affected by the two giants Gadar
and Lagaan going strong at the box-office.
This week is the release of Rose Movies' Bas Itnasa Khwaab Hain
starring Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Rani Mukherjee and Sushmita
Sen. This film is important for Abhishek as none of his films have hit
the bull's eye. Lets hope that this film might give Abhishek the hit
he so desperately needs.
Habshi
By contrast, Gadar is a wonderful film. The theme is real: the
Partition of India which cost so much blood on both sides and has left
wounds which are so deep, two or three generations later, that I could
feel the anguish of my wife, whose Sikh father fled Rawalpindi hiding
in a trunk in a train that barely made it to Delhi.
Gadar has an eye for detail; the costumes are right, the cars and
trucks are vintage, the lighting is perfect. On top of that the acting
is superb: for once, Sunny Deol does not over-perform in great
outbursts of pseudo-violence, but is sober, restrained and can be both
wonderfully touching and angry, portraying single-handedly the
terrible anguish of Partition.
Amisha Patel renders beautifully the extraordinary Indian-ness of the
Indian woman (the nuptial scene is both sensuous and leaves a lot to
the imagination), and re-enacts the tearing apart that many Indian men
and women, be them Muslims or Hindus, felt in themselves in 1947.
Split between their religion and nationality, their attachment to
India and the mirage that was Pakistan.
Finally, contrary to Lagaan, where you are treated with more than two
hours of cricket of which the outcome is highly predictable, Gadar has
an intricate scenario with twists and suspense and we leave it to the
reader to discover this magnificent film for herself/himself.
Unfortunately, of the two films, there is no doubt that Lagaan (which
is at the moment breaking all attendance records) will reap more
popular success: it appeals more to ordinary sentiments, touches a
certain jingoistic nerve in people and uses cricket the vampire to tap
the masses. But the truth is that not only does the Indian team not
beat England (nor even Zimbabwe!) very often, but that the British do
not even need to beat India in cricket. By having imposed upon India
cricket, a game not suited for Indian conditions, they won anyway!
They also won because they managed, better than Aurangzeb even, to
divide India. By attacking cinema halls in Delhi, Ahmedabad and
Lucknow, certain Muslims have shown, once more, that they are still
resorting to the old tactics of the Mughals, regardless of the
genuineness of the issue.
Gadar is a non-partisan film, as it treats the Hindu-Muslim problem in
a non-judgmental way; and if the heroine does namaaz with her nail
polish on, it is a very small matter, that does not warrant riots.
On July 14, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pervez Musharraf will sit down in
Agra and try to hammer down their differences -- which have only one
name: Kashmir. But they should remember Sri Aurobindo's words in 1947:
'The old communal division into Hindu and Muslim seems to have
hardened into the figure of a permanent division of the country. It is
hoped that the nation will not accept the settled fact as for ever
settled, or as anything more than a temporary expedient. For if it
lasts, India may be seriously weakened, even crippled: civil strife
may remain always possible; possible even a new invasion and foreign
conquest. The Partition of the country must go...'
Unfortunately, since Independence, all Indian and Pakistan leaders
have thought that Kashmir can be solved separately from the other
problems. But the truth, as shown in Gadar, is that Kashmir, Ayodhya,
Kargil, the unrest of the 120 million Muslims, all spring from that
great gaping wound that is Partition, which the British wilfully and
consciously left behind as a parting gift (remember the words of
Churchill when he learnt of the chaos following Partition: 'At last,
we've had the last word').
As long as Pakistanis and Indians do not become conscious of the need
to reunite, in whatever form, under whichever framework, they will be
other Ayodhyas or Kargils. Kashmir will remain a festering and
dangerous wound in the face of South Asia.
ALSO READ:
Lagaan is not about cricket, Gadar not about love
'Gadar not communal, it's patriotic!'
The ten Samurai
Phew, What a movie!
Francois Gautier
Shyamal Pain
Habshi <hab...@anon.com> wrote in message
news:MOm17.29474$Do6.1...@nnrp4.clara.net...
> July 6
> By contrast, Gadar is a wonderful film. The theme is real: the
> Partition of India which cost so much blood on both sides and has left
> wounds which are so deep, two or three generations later, that I could
> feel the anguish of my wife, whose Sikh father fled Rawalpindi hiding
> in a trunk in a train that barely made it to Delhi.
Gadar started very well. But it ended in Sunny Deol behaving like a Rambo
and single handedly killing all Pakistani soldiers and not getting punished
for that. It is too farfetched . I think the film is a hit because of the
Rambo-like
behavior of Sunny.
Ratnendra Pandey
Astronomical collections at the box office notwithstanding, this movies
is certainly historical in another way. It has opened a new way for
film producers who till now shied away from taking the islamic nature of
Indo-Pakistan conflict head on. Now that it has been established --as
supported by the boxoffice collection -- that the theme and the subject
underlying the Gadar has been overwhelmingly accepted by moviegoers of
India, more and more filmakers will be gravitated towards producing
similar movies. In other words, Gadar may just be the begining-- more
Gadars may be in pipeline.
This reminds me of what happened to soc.culture.indian newsgroup. Untill
as late as 1996, readers were uncomfortable in openly discussing
conflict between muslims and non-muslims. But then someone took the
initiative, and now people openly do that. Gadar may do same to film
industry.
Sincerely,
Ratnendra Pandey
aryanviking
Nusrat Rizvi wrote:
---> Nusrat saab -- I seldom watch movies -- but after all this hype and
after reading your repeated hijra mandi love stories of mullah babies and
mard sikhs -- thought I should give a shot -- saw it -- now I really
appreciate your stories even better -- all muslim girls are fit to be
married only to sikhs --- sat sri akal ---
scorpionic
I'll add, WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH!!!!!!!
BBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHH
SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL,
SSSSSSAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT SSSSSSSSSSRRRRRRRIIIIIIII
AAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
Now get ready to take the prasad (Halva).
Regards, SCORP.