Mandwa Film Club: ‘Jinnah’ screening at Lok Virsa tomorrow

Lok Virsa Mandwa Film Club is paying tribute to Qauid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah with the screening of film ‘Jinnah’ from 1998 tomorrow (December 30), at 4 p.m.

No film on ‘Jinnah’ could come without raising controversy, debate and even uproar. Biographical films may be made to pay tributes but they are also made to raise debates and controversies so why complain. Documentaries, TV series and drama on Quaid aside, there was a need to make a feature for a long time. Several proposals/scripts were discussed and shelved for one reason or another. The core issues were authenticity of the script, funding and above all ,scrutiny and approval from the government.

Historian Professor Stanley Wolper said it all with ‘Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.’

‘Jinnah’ is a big film dealing with the father of the nation (played brilliantly by Christopher Lee). It begins in 1948. Quaid's plane disembarks at Karachi runway. Quaid had earlier gone for recovery at Ziarat. He is now returning back. The ambulance breaks down on way to Governor House. The film then switches back and forth with flash forwards and flashbacks. This goes on throughout the film with final judgement and heaven guide (played by Shashi Kapoor). Deep regrets, sorrow and tears follow when Quaid and Miss Fatima Jinnah helplessly see butchered bodies of refugees and Miss Jinnah picks up a crying infant found in a train compartment. The new nation is here.

Jinnah must be credited for its polished look and good results in cinematography, editing, sound, and production effects. All actors perform well. Objections have been raised on Christopher Lee and Shashi Kapoor playing the Quaid and heaven guide For its offbeat script , controversy would always be around. That is the whole fun of making biographies on father the of the nation.

Director: Jamil Dehlavi

Script: Akbar S. Ahmad, Jamil Dehlavi

Cast: Christopher Lee, Shashi Kapoor, James Fox

aijazzgul@gmail.com