Saturday, March 29

Lollywood coming to Bollywood

Cinema acts, as a cultural bonding between countries and the film Khud Ke Liye is a step towards promoting cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan.

Distributors have fixed their hopes on Pakistan after the government of Pakistan officially lifted the ban on exhibition of Indian movies in Feb 2008. Firoz Nadiadwala's 'Welcome' was the first Bollywood movie released in Pakistan Feb 8 after 'the Senate standing committee on culture recommended to the government to allow exhibition of Indian movies under a proper censorship policy’.

While Indian films are being screened across Pakistan for quite some time “Khuda Ke Liye’ will be the first Pakistani film to be released in India on March 28Th 2008 after 1968. The first-ever Pakistani film to be released in Indian theaters.

The movie has already been talked widely and has great reviews to its credit in Pakistan except the conservative and dogmatic clerics of the country, who have relentlessly criticized the movie and issued fatwas. In Karachi, 20-25 madrasas even prepared a three-page fatwa stating that whoever watched Khuda Kay Liye would be excommunicated from Islam.

The film features Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah as a Muslim scholar. The theme on which it is based is relevant to contemporary society. The film has not only brought curiosity through its music release in India but will sure broaden the horizons of creativeness. The audience will search out new relations. The creativity cannot be massacred by boundaries.

The film was exposed at the International Film Festival of India last year with a huge reception. Let’s see how Khuda ke Liye get along and attracts audience in India. Already honoured with the Award for Best Picture at the 31st Cairo International Film Festival, Best Foreign Film at the Muscat Film Festival and the Roberto Rossellini Award in Italy and appreciation at the Goa Film Festival in 2007 the film was screened for a select audience in New Delhi on Thursday. It is due for commercial release on April 4, 2008.

One of my friends who saw the movie in Delhi revealed that the film deals with the post-9/11 dilemma being faced by Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular. The rational have to face humiliation for the wrongs done by the rather irrational. The movie again proves that talent has no boundaries. Naseeruddin Shah can be seen in a small yet powerful role. He did not charge a single Rupee for acting in this film. The post-production work of the movie was done in Mumbai’s Ad labs Studio. Khuda Ke Liye – the first Pakistani film to be officially released in India since 1968 – is a reel attempt to decode ‘Islamic’ fanaticism, to tell the world that irrational cynicism against the religion is self-defeating.

Wednesday, March 26

Fragrance of Islam

Catastrophe has struck the philosphy that could have equalized this society. The faith, which could have opened the doors and carried the potential of espousing peace in this really bad world, has come to be known as the "providence of the same".Strange are the ways of the evil that hijacks the good.
No doubt the conference organised at Deoband was an attempt to define terrorism in light of Islam. Similar efforts should be recurring to advance greater understanding and cooperation.It is more about rules than doctrine. However, until and unless the people who give the verdict listen frankly to the people and gain a truthful and perfect understanding of this conflict, extremists on all sides will continue to gain ground.

Priests and mullahs might think that a beliefs from the past are the only ways to salvation.But that is like living in ignorance. The greatest danger of this age is ignorance .All misery, war, terrorism, hunger and other social evils have their roots in ignorance. Religion is not an answer to the troubles of life. The never-ending lust for positions of power in politicians numbs them to compromise on issues of extreme communal intolerance.

Encoded qualms can be checked upon my educating the Muslim. All orations should translate into action. Declaring terrorism an anti-Islamic act no doubt is a great fatwa but ethnic refining should take place simultaneously. finger pointing at Muslims should be stopped. Challenges for the world will only grow as long as Muslims continue to feel politically dominated and disregarded. Respect in cultural diversity is as important as oxygen for life.

Islam is a religion of mercy for all humanity. Islam sternly condemns all kinds of oppression, violence and terrorism. It has regarded oppression, mischief, rioting and murder among severest sins and crimes.

Muslims are too rigid in our adherence to old, literal interpretations of the Koran. It's time for many verses — especially those having to do with relations between Islam and other religions — to be reinterpreted in favour of a more modern Islam. It is the uneducated youth who are the gullible lot and can get swayed along the wrong path of violence. Having well educated youth will go a long way in changing their destiny, and empower them to stand up to the injustice meted out to them.
A two way effort of all stakeholders from government, clergies, business, society is must. It is the uneducated youth who are the gullible lot and can get swayed along the wrong path of violence. Having well educated youth will go a long way in changing their destiny, and empower them to stand up to the injustice meted out to them. Religion, media, academia, priveleged and civil society are requisite of the hour to block the crisis, create bond and find solutions for the disillusioned. For the common man religious dispute is not an issue they can relate to where there main concern is to resolve their daily life issues for their daily bread. We don't need masters of religious lexicon for this.
Religion cannot be the root cause of any conflict or violence and similarly those who indulge in violence cannot be truly religious. Incidents such as the cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in European newspapers are surely wicked. constantly bombardment of images of angry Muslim youth/kids being trained in Al Qaeda camps is dubious. It is not religious belief that has driven few Muslims to believe that the Sep 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington were justified but fears that the United States was seeking to occupy the Islamic world. No doubt this is a turbulent time and a rough period but at home the seminar can bring a ray of hope.

Do we or people who should know are aware of the recent research done on 21 countries of the world dominated by Muslims say? Who knows that the vast majority of young Muslims aren't dreaming of going to war but they are dreaming of better jobs and finding work. They are looking for respect not hatred in the world! They are looking for their rights! To show respect for the society one lives in and contribute to its well being.

Promotion of rationalism and cooperation among Muslims would lead in unity among them. Muslims should become more familiar with the Islamic viewpoints and scientific interactions.The Islamic world is in need of dialogue, unity and solidarity. Holding religious meetings among Ulema would decrease differences among Islamic sects and bring hearts of Muslims throughout the world closer to one another. Cultural figures and scholars of the Muslim should play a key role in preventing cultural invasion of enemies of Islam and prevalence of their "vicious" thoughts among young Muslims especially in universities of the Islamic states by promoting cultural, literary social dialogues and programmes.

A vibrant, tolerant and a fresh body should take on the task to confront the boggy of Islamophobia. Labeling as an extremist faith is a hindrance to the world peace. It's time to accept that God loves the faithful of all religions. It's time for Muslims to question our leaders and their strict teachings, to reach our own understanding of the prophet's words and to call for a bold renewal of our faith as a faith of goodwill, of peace and of light.

The Quran presents reminders, warnings and admonitions to its readers. In the manner that our loving parents teach us to protect us, Allah describes the best way for mankind to lead their lives, what to avoid lest we may be harmed and what to adopt. The Ummah has fallen into all sorts of destructive deeds It is time to ponder in ourselves what the solution to this crisis should be. Educating the masses? Eradicating poverty? Preaching tolerance?

The eerie quietness should be broken. We look at the current position of the world, the ongoing wars, oppression, suppression, human rights' violations, economic backwardness, illiteracy, aggressiveness, poverty, crime, ignorance and wonder… what went wrong?The answer to this question is difficult for many Muslims, partly because they are so detached from the Quran and they have little knowledge of their faith to begin with. Similar to the opinion of many Non-Muslims who are unaware of Islam's Message, these people feel Islam itself is the 'cause' of the problem. it is like blaming the gun not the shooter. We need to focus our energies where they are really needed, where we know we must strive hardest - within ourselves, on the individual and on the collective level. After all, it takes great courage and a high character, individual or national, to inspire… to lead.If we just open that Book and read the translation with an open mind, that answer is written all over! The world has yet to know the fragrance of Islam.

Saturday, March 22

Glorifying bad driving on streets


Biking is rising to a new level and it’s the advertisement, which is to be responsible for the bike rage in our country.

The latest bike advt lays to rest any arguments about maneuverability, control, skill and stunts.

The commercials are stunt based and talks about all that you can do with the bikes.A decade back bike market aimed larger than just a bike. Today they is a certain image and attitude been produced about the bike. It has risen way above what it looked .

Describing the ad isn’t nearly as great as watching it. They are mind boggling,they raise aspirations.

The latest advt o saw starts off with six bikers, all in black, getting onto an empty road, ready to show off their biking skills. All sorts of bike stunts are performed – one-wheel biking, swirling, and riding with both feet off the bike, and a lot more. All that you see was actually performed before the camera.

But what public statement is it giving to the youth ,their consumer?
The ad features the world’s top bike riders, including world No. 2 AC Farias and Mattie Griffin, who is among the Top 5 in the world. The bikers are from all over the world, including Ireland, Brazil, Spain and South Africa. But they perform on a track, understands the language and psyche of bikes.
The power, aggression and grace element of biking has been captured imaginatively. It shows synchronized biking, maneuverability and control that the bike offers.

But.

The professionals making the ad are overlooking social responsibility. Youth is enticed by the advt, wouldn’t know maneuvering.

Even the professional bikers were given seven days on their bike to perform the advt.

Another TV commercial shows a group of bikers driving into an empty road and performing all kind of synchronised stunts. The background score harmonises freely with the visuals. The TVC begins with a disclaimer: “Dramatised stunts performed by experts. Please do not imitate these stunts or actions”.

This runs later as a scroll also.

in this day and age ads of automobile industry are dangerous and irresponsible and of bad taste. Are automobile ads giving advertising a bad name? I'm sure the creative heads carry out some responsibility!

Are they fighting mind's eye with common sense?

They are screaming loud and violating traffic and encouraging unsafe or reckless driving. They are inducing rash driving, which could harm the driver, passengers and/or the general public.

Is anyone listening? In the dramatizations they are glorifying bad driving on streets.

Who can forget a boy weaving through traffic rashly because he has lost control but just stops before the flowing river?

Can we forget the bikers zooming between 2 trucks, pulls flowers of a moving vehicle, for the girlfriend..

Do we want to see as biker performing stunts on the edge of a cliff on one wheel in real……. Or for that matter will somebody perform this stunt?

They are doing of entertainment not informing any more. It’s dangerous!

The universal culture is becoming a lump in fact.

Everybody has intent and this is ---they fancy.

The dramatization of the performance of the product is very important.

Only speed and daredevilry excites and request the consumer of an automobile in India.

How far is too much? What should and should not be exposed in an ad to not promote irresponsibility.
Is it the people on the other side of the road be responsible for their actions on the street?