Bold, courageous venture of Pakistani cinema screened

Director: Khalil Qaiser

Sript: Riaz Shahid

Music: Rasheed Attrey

Cast: Musarrat Nazir, Ejaz, Talish, Allaudin, Saqi, Himalyawalla, Husna

Islamabad

Lok Virsa Mandwa Film Club unspooled film ‘Shaheed’ here on Saturday.

Released in 1962, ‘Shaheed’ will always remain a film to be remembered and cherished. There are strong reasons for that. It was well-scripted, well-directed and well-acted cinema jewel with strong socio-political connotations. The events take place in the Middle East. Grabbing land for oil riches is the main premise. Nothing more to reveal on the plot. Characters are so strong here. Talish comes out at his best as the foreigner who wants oil. Allaudin is the Arab Chief who resists oil exploration and land grabbing. Musarrat Nazir is an agent and traitor who changes her loyalties in the end.

All this was knit into a well-crafted and strong screenplay with some of the best dramatic lines (dialogue) ever written and delivered in any film (remember it was Riaz Shahid!).

If all this was not enough , Rasheed Attrey came out with some of the best compositions written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Munir Niazi and rendered by Naseem Begum(Aus beewafa ka sehar hai) and Munir Hussain (Nisar mei teri galioonpey ai watan key jahan'). All this was well rewarded with outstanding success at the box office, positive press reviews and bagful of Nigar Awards for Best Director, Screenwriter/Dialogue, Actress, Lyricist and Singer. All in all, ‘Shaheed’ is a film we all are proud and salute the entire team for bringing it on the map of Pakistani film history fifty-seven years back. Never before and perhaps never again would we experience such a bold, experimental, courageous and distinct venture on screen.

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