Mandwa screens Urdu film ‘Zindagi’

Islamabad

Director: Nazrul Islam

Producer: Ahmad Shamsi

Script: Bashir Niaz

Music: M. Ashraf

Cast: Nadeem, Babra Sharif, Mustafa Qureshi, Talish, Sabiha, Tariq Aziz, Nanna.

Lok Virsa film club Mandwa screened Urdu film Zindagi (1978) on Saturday.

Thirty-eight years back in 1978, Zindagi had to compete with many big ones. Director Nazarul Islam's ‘Ambar’ was one of the top rentals of the year. And then there was ‘Saheli’, ‘Parakh’, ‘Playboy’, ‘Mehman’, ‘Prince’ and many others.

In fact, Nazrul Islam's two own directorial ventures ‘Sheshay ka Ghar’ (which had to bite the dust on the first day, first show) and ‘Ambar’ were in the run against ‘Zindagi.’ Such are the competing factors of box office.

Produced by A. R. Shamsi under Kashif Ltd banner, Kashif must be credited for bringing  exceptionally first-rate entertainment on screen with titles like ‘Aina’ (1977) and ‘Bandish’ (1980). ‘Zindagi’ was partly filmed in Bangkok.

Director Nazrul Islam made few films in his career stretching from Dhaka in mid-sixties to his demise in 1994. Films like ‘Ehsas’, ‘Haqeeqat’, ‘Aina’, ‘Bandish’, ‘Nahi Abhi Nahi’, ‘Love Story’ and ‘Palkon ki Chaon Mein’ shall be remembered for directorial command.

‘Zindagi’ also stands out as successful commercial hit where screenwriter Bashir Niaz has used every formula of the trade ranging from romance in Bangkok, marriage, parenthood, crime, rivalry and eventually death.

With these formula-ridden elements, it is to the credit of director and producer to have come out with box office glory. The vents begin with a vicious debauch who dismounts from his horse on human back. Oppressed tenant farmer Tariq Aziz is seen locked in chains. Apart from this melodrama and bit of thrashing, comedy comes with now-forgotten Nanna as comic Sikh with pretty convincing East Punjabi accent and that is supposed to be funny.

Mehnaz, A. Nayyar and above all Mehdi Hassan (with a sad version) of ‘Terey sang dosti’ compliment the music routine.

As we look back almost 40 years later at ‘Zindagi’ and Nazrul Islam's directorial abilities, it was all for the box office.

‘Zindagi’ was one of the most successful films from 1978 with good command in direction and acting, technically, it was much above average from the rest that year with impressive production effects, good camera work and brisk editing.

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