Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

The Indian Film Festival in Afghanistan

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The Indian Film Festival  in Afghanistan

The Institut Francais d'Afghanistan and the Embassy of India in Afghanistan, on the occasion of 100th anniversary of Indian Film Industry in Bombay, have organized a Film Festival in Afghanistan. The festival will take place in the Institut Francais d'Afghanistan, Kabul from May 5-22. Six famous Indian films namely; Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Shajahan, Iqbal, Jodhaa Akbar, Umrao Jaan and Pakeezah, have been selected for the festival.

The movies, because of their historical relevance to Muslims, are in some way close to Afghan society as well. Most of them are related to Mughal era in Indian Subcontinent, which included some parts of Afghanistan as well. Even the historical Bagh e Babur is in Kabul Afghanistan that is a remnant of the same era. Bagh-e Babur is a historic park in Kabul, Afghanistan, and also the last resting-place of the first Mughal emperor Babur.

The gardens are thought to have been developed around 1528 AD (935 AH) when Babur gave orders for the construction of an 'avenue garden' in Kabul, described in some detail in his memoirs, the Baburnama. This festival, in a way, is also a strive to bring Afghanistan and India closer to each other culturally.

A short synopsis of each film is given below to mention how they are interesting for audience in Afghanistan.
Chaudhvin Ka Chand is a 1960 Hindi feature film. The setting of the film is the city of Lucknow in northern India, where Islamic culture flourished. Two of the three best friends who live in this city have fallen in love with the same woman named Jameela unknowingly. Aslam and Nawab are the two friends caught in this love triangle with Jameela. An integral part of any Guru Dutt film, comic relief was provided by Johnny Walker who plays Mirza Masaraddik Shaiza.

Iqbal is a 2005 Hindi Bollywood film. The story follows a cricket-obsessed boy from a remote Indian village as he aims to overcome his difficulties and become a cricketer and fulfill his dream of playing for the Indian national cricket team. Iqbal is a deaf and mute boy, who dreams of playing cricket for India. However, he is discouraged by his father who thinks that Iqbal's daydreams are a waste of time. Instead, he wants Iqbal to help him tend to the crops and become a farmer like him, which would be a stable profession.

Jodhaa-Akbar is an Indian epic historical drama film released on 15 February 2008. Extensive research went into the making of this film which began shooting at Karjat.
Jodhaa Akbar is a sixteenth century love story about a political marriage of convenience between Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa.

Political success knew no bounds for Emperor Akbar. After having secured the Hindu Kush, his empire extends from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Narmada River. Through a shrewd blend of diplomacy, intimidation and brute force, Akbar won the allegiance of the Rajputs. This allegiance was not universal. Maharana Pratap and many other Rajputs always considered Akbar as a foreign invader. Maharana Pratap also banned inter marriages between Rajputs who had given their daughters to the Mughals and the ones who did not.

But little did Akbar know that when he married Jodhaa, a fiery Rajput princess, in order to further strengthen his relations with the Rajputs, he would in turn be embarking upon a new journey – the journey of true love.
The daughter of King Bharmal of Amer, Jodhaa resented being reduced to a mere political pawn in this marriage of alliance, and Akbar's biggest challenge now lies in winning the love of Jodhaa – a love hidden deep below resentment and extreme prejudice.

Umrao Jaan is a 1981 Bollywood film. It is based on the Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada (1905), written by Mirza Hadi Ruswa based on the famous Lucknow courtesan. The story is basically tale of a girl Amiran who gets kidnapped by her father's enemy. They sell her for money. She becomes a courtesan and gets a new identity "Umrao Jaan". She falls in love with Nawab Sultan and he with her. But later he marries someone else. Thus, Umrao fights against her destiny and comes to her mother's place but her brother refuses to stay with Umrao and throws her out. finally she is left alone and comes back to her world.

Shehjehan is nominally about the circumstances that led to the building of Taj Mahal. A poet sees a girl named Ruhi who is so beautiful that he writes volumes of poetry and songs about her, thus spreading her fame to millions of men.

When her father tries to get her married, crowds of would-be suitors show up and create havoc so that the wedding can't continue; and several of her brothers have been killed trying to protect her.

Her father finally approaches the Emperor in despair, asking him for help. Shahjehan takes the girl in and promises to get her married. Various events combine so that the Emperor accidentally promises her to two different men: the poet who advertised her beauty and an Iranian sculptor named Shirazi Shahjehan cannot decide which of his two promises to break, and vows to stay away from his beloved Empress Mumtaz until he does. She pines away for him, and when the poet finally gives up his claim it's too late and she dies, after requesting a monument to her life that will be "matchless."

Pakezah is about the courtesan Sahibjaan, who is born to a blonde courtesan, Nargis After being spurned by her lover's family, Nargis is driven to a graveyard where she gives birth to Sahibjaan secretly. Nargis dies during childbirth, and her sister, Nawabjaan, takes the child as her own. Sahibjaan was brought up by brothel madame Nawabjaan Unable to break away from the vicious circle, Sahibjaan grows up and becomes a beautiful and popular dancer/singer.

Forest ranger Salim Ahmed Khan is enthralled by Sahibjaan's beauty and innocence, and eventually convinces her to elope with him, which she does. But trials and tribulations await Sahibjaan as she is recognized by men wherever she goes in the company of Salim. When Salim re-names her "Pakeezah" (pure of heart) and takes her to a priest to be legally married, she refuses, and returns to the brothel. Salim eventually decides to marry someone else, and invites Sahibjaan to dance at his wedding, Sahibjaan agrees to this, not knowing that many secrets will be revealed at this wedding.

Dilawar Sherzai is the permanent writer of the Daily outlook Afghanistan. He can be reached at dilawar.sherzai@gmail.com.

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