Pakistan army and the latent power of cinema – The Express Tribune Blog
Pakistan army and the latent power of cinema
Ali Usman 6 hours ago
The show is based on the true stories of the soldiers who stood firm in their fight against terrorism
Its safe to say that as a nation we dont believe in the power of cinema. While its true that currently Lollywood doesnt offer us much in terms of cinematic thrills, it doesnt mean it has lost the power to deliver.
Recently, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in collaboration with a private production company launched Faseel-e-Jaan Se Aagay, a drama series based on the true stories of the brave Pakistanis who stood firm in their fight against terrorism. The principal objective of this drama series is to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives in the name of their country and to create awareness among the masses about the terrorists nefarious tactics.
In my opinion, this project is a great step in the right direction, but I wonder if someone in the corridors of power will think to highlight these stories through the larger screens of cinema. The impact of a certain message becomes manifold if conveyed skillfully through a film.
Rang De Basanti, a 2006 Indian film, brought many non-resident Indians (NRIs) back to India many of whom said that after watching the film they felt the need to serve their own country and fight corruption instead of enjoying facilities in developed countries.
Just one movie stirred an entire society and was followed by a clutch of television productions centered on real local heroes to salute them for their services. Pakistan also has excellent examples of creating awareness through films, such as Khuda Ke Liye and Ramchand Pakistani.
Pakistan is fighting terrorism and has sacrificed more than any other country in the world. The stories of sufferings deserve to be highlighted across the world. Our unsung heroes deserve to be praised and acknowledged worldwide and no medium can be more suitable for this than motion pictures.
Its true that we dont have adequate facilities, but we have excellent stories. All we need to do is trust our directors; to rejuvenate, even the slightest, belief in the power of cinema and show the world what Pakistan has in store!