As an Indian, I will go on record to state that Pakistan was as right in banning Phantom as the Arab countries were in banning Borat and Iran was in suing the makers of Argo. Phantom, which makes Hafiz Saeed look (and feel) bad, was rejected by the Pakistani censors. After all, no nation wants to be reminded of its bitter and uncomfortable truths by another; especially not by a neighbour. That is a blow to the ego. What was disturbing though was a Pakistani television presenter’s reaction to Saif Ali Khan’s statement that he doesn’t have faith in Pakistan. By all means, express your disappointment but do so in a manner that doesn’t smack of gutter. Faisal Qureshi broke into an obnoxious and delusional rant in an online video, as tacky as his comments. I wish he had kept his diatribe terse and to the point — the way Saif had done. Instead, in a not-so-sparkling display of his peculiar English accent and effete mannerisms, he moved way beyond the film to squander 12 precious minutes of his life and devote them to India (or “anda” as he called it) — bashing, which entailed gibberish about Pakistanis consuming Bollywood movies in pirated form to deliberately destroy the Indian economy!
He stooped lower as he hit below the belt by calling Saif “sahiba”, “bachi” and “beti”, including a remark that “little girls don’t stay awake after 8pm, and if they do, they don’t watch films like James Bond and Mission Impossible”. Someone remind Qureshi “sahib” that in the past, his own countrymen have hugely patronised “sahiba” and turned some of his “naalayak” and “naajayaz” films into money-spinners that earned infinitely more than most Pakistan-grown products. Qureshi’s video is as disturbing for its obvious sexism and misogynistic overtones as it is for trying hard to be witty and sardonic, but falling flat as a piece of lame jingoism. His garbled hate speech is an example of the hollow pugnacity and chest-thumping that is fuelled less by a real argument and more by a misguided notion of patriotism that is only exacerbating matters between the warring neighbours.
Joining the ranks of Qureshi sahib, Hamza Ali Abbasi and Shaan Shahid, while sticking to the moot issue, forgot that watching a movie that’s against one’s country doesn’t make one any less patriotic. Abbasi said that he was losing faith in India (considering that more than half the industry he belongs to would briskly discard such national pride to catch the first flight to Mumbai if an acting opportunity came their way), while Shaan heaped anathemas on a certain Mawra Hocane who had dared to suggest that the viewing public were mature enough to decide for themselves if they wanted to consume Phantom or not. How dare a woman air her independent thoughts and not subscribe to his narrow-minded notion of nationalism! Interestingly, Shaan, who proclaims to be against anti-Pakistan films, has no issues about having featured in an anti-India film like Waar. In this circus of clowns, my heart goes out to Mawra, who seems incredibly measured, and has come out sounding and looking more mature than the 22-year-old she is. She stood her own despite inviting the unfounded wrath of two men — a fading superstar and a self-proclaimed public figure, Ashraf Chaudhary, who called her a “slut” on social media.
Even as Phantom bares the blatant misogyny that is prevalent in Pakistani society, a video released by Pakistani director Sohail Javed comes as a breath of fresh air. He is intrepid to slam hate-mongers for falling to appalling levels and adds rightly that it would only widen the existing divides. Sadly, stars like Javed and his ilk are in a minority.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2015.
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Great article, I am really impressed. Maybe some others should learn from your forthright commentary.
Mawra the new #auntie Pakistan??? The lives of 1.5billion are affected by such thought process. But then how do you react to the obsessive cacophony on ‘indrani’ in Indian media? For TV channels it may be TRPs but to the country it is phobia. Like Mogambo will remain in our memory more than MR INDIA.
I have read Saif Ali Khan remarks and I feel nothing wrong about that.If I compare his remarks with response from an average Pakistani celebrities or some media clowns I see him standing tall amongst all.Not every Pakistani is bigoted but yes there is no dearth of it.
As far ban on movie is concerned no comment!
Well written article. There are extremists on both sides of the border. Peace.
“Abbasi said that he was losing faith in India (considering that more than half the industry he belongs to would briskly discard such national pride to catch the first flight to Mumbai if an acting opportunity came their way)”
Well done Tanuj
Excellent article by the author. Fair enough. True.
Gutter Grab for TV ratings. By TV hosts and pseudo
intellectuals who will sell their mother downriver for
two dollars [US]
Mr Garg, being an Indian you can call Faisal Qureshi’s reply to Saif Ali Khan, ‘obnoxious and ‘delusional’ but if Saif Ali Khan’s ‘loosing faith in Pakistan’ statement can also not be considered something delivered in good taste. The question asked by Hamza Ali Abbasi still remains unanswered; Did any Pakistani actor said after Waar was banned in Pakistan that they have lost faith in India? It is true that more than half the industry hamza belongs to would “briskly discard such national pride to catch the first flight to Mumbai if an acting opportunity came their way” but Mr Garg, believe it or not, there are some still left in the industry who would not grab that opportunity but they sadly few in numbers. This however does not give any Indian actor justification to issue anti-Pakistan rants does it? Actors, singers are musicians are supposed to bring people together not promote hatred.
Mawra is a celebrity in Pakistan and fame comes with lots of responsibilities. She should have had considered national sentiments before writing those tweets (considering the fact that she had not watched Phantom’s trailer at that time) but she didn’t and bashed a senior actor and tried to convert it into a misogynistic issue when thing went against her.
It takes two hands to clap, Hamza might be wrong in many things but he has rightly pointed out to Indian actors, ‘don’t bash my country and I will not bash yours.”
Et, hope this gets published.
A bit generalized argument, since most Pakistani’s snubbed FQ, Shaan and others. Also, the fact that Express Tribune published your article can only happen in Pakistan and is an evidence to the fact that vast majority in Pakistan is tolerant. Not sure, if I could say the same for India – the last I checked, it was India that banned our cricketers and musicians from coming to India.
Bollywood movie has global market, larger audience and it has billion dollars business annually, so banning indian movie in pak doesn’t matter to us, pak hardly gives 5-10 cr profit, compared to global 200 cr profit per movie from other countries…
and because of indian movies, theatres in Pakistan are running otherwise they’d get closed
@MB:
sorry not all of us. Some of you. those who dont or refuse to see and accept when some pakistanis are misrepresenting the country men. unfortunately we all get somehow dragged into it whether we like it or not. i totally agree with you Tanuj. i believe we both neighboring countries have to face embarrassing moments when so called patriots pull up stunts and comments like these. (i wish they would realize how much damage their so called patriotism is bringing to their respective countries) – All we can hope and pray that people look ahead their rigidness and view things from a broader perspective and get off each others backs.
@celeste Are you sure that its some of us and not the majority? You might need some reflection on this. People sitting in air conditioning rooms are not the face of pak but its the poor ppl who are. Ask those residing in Sialkot near the border as to what they feel on this issue. Embarrassing comments? What was embarrassing about that comment above or which others made over this jingoistic film? The author has made some personal snide remarks against the ppl of Pak and yet you see embarrassment in that comment-bravo. If you want to close your eyes and sing ring around the rosie with them and with kashmir in the middle im sorry thats not gonna happen.. Kashmir remains the bone of contention between the two. And yes we need to get off each others back but what Pakistan did was a “reaction” to an “action”!!
Entire issue blown way out of proportion. Shan, Faisal Qureshi and that unknown person Chaudhry acting out of midlife crisis (read old age crisis)
@MB, you & I can think but majority just follow hence FQ reaction to Saif action could have been to the point & more professional & sophisticated but instead it was cheap & inciting more hatred. And that’s were more damage to Pakistan, hence I agree with Celeste.
For me patronism of these guys is like loyalty of suicide bomber towards his handler. You cannot question that but their action cause more damage to country.
ET finally found an Indian writer who reflects majority indian thinking unlike all the rest of indian writers who write for ET.
The issue recalls me about the tale of sour grapes; ridiculous comments / rant by all the three gentle (?)men Hamza, Shaan, Faisel showed their sheer desperation for unfolding their hidden patriotism . Actually they consider themselves as superstar only on basis of their performance in sub-stranded TV plays / Pakistani movies but failed to get due fame as their counterpart Fawwad (after going to India). Now they have no choice other than to join ghariat brigade under of heroic command of Hafiz Saeed.
This is pretty strange. Express Tribune did not publish my previous comment against this article which confirms Express Tribune following a kind of censor policy which only effects Pakistanis. And of course if some one gives anti-Pakistani opinion over here then his opinion will be given priority. WOW!!! Salute to unique double standard.
Pakistanis may be at the bottom of the list of perfect people, but nothing is more funny than when this is pointed out by the scum of earth Indians.