Aik Aur Ghazi
| Aik Aur Ghazi | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Syed Noor[1] |
| Written by | Syed Noor |
| Produced by | Danish Ghaffar |
| Starring | Saima Shafqat Cheema Heera Malik Haya Ali |
| Cinematography | Ali Jan |
| Music by | Ustad Tafu |
Production company | Hammad production |
Release date |
|
| Country | Pakistan |
| Language | Punjabi |
| Box office | Rs. 0.10 crore (US$3,500)[2] |
Aik Aur Ghazi (2011) is a Punjabi-language film directed by Syed Noor. It is based on a man named Yusuf Kazzab from Lahore who claimed to be a prophet. He was sentenced to death by a lower court of Pakistan and was murdered by a man named Tariq in jail.[3][1][4]
Story
[edit]Tariq (Heera Malik) lives a double life: gambler in reality, practicing Muslim in front of his father. His father, Haji Saab runs a small business and is widely respected in the neighborhood, is ignorant of Tariq's waywardness. Tariq is also seduced by Mohni (Saima) living next door. Tariq, over a gambling dispute, murders a rival. In revenge, rivals kill Tariq's younger brother. Therefore, Tariq kills two more rivals to avenge his brother's murder. Tariq's father also dies of a heart-attack. He himself lands in jail. However, the killers are transformed when Yusuf 'Kazab' (played by Shafqat Cheema) arrives. The jail inmates hurl abuses at him while Zulfi hatches a plan to murder Yusuf 'Kazzab'. Zulfi, through his uncle to smuggle in a pistol. However, Zulfi is transferred to another jail and he gives the pistol on to Tariq. Both want to decapitate the 'Kazzab'.
Background on the factual events
[edit]Muhemmed Yusuf Ali, dubbed Yusuf Kazzab (کذاب' Kazzab means Great Liar) by a Pakistani lower court judge in an in-camera trial was a Pakistani citizen who was murdered by a man named Tariq in 2002 while at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, Pakistan. Tariq was on death row for committing murder.[3]
Muhemmed Yusuf Ali was charged of claiming prophethood. A case was registered against him by the Anjuman-e Tahaffuz-e Khatim-e Nabuwwat on 29 March 1997, a politically active Pakistani religious organization. He was accused of adultery, fraud, claiming prophethood, and blasphemy against Islam. He clarified his position through paid advertisements in the newspapers.[citation needed] Based on the case, he was immediately detained.
A trial finally started in February 2000. Most of the hearings commenced at about 2:30pm and continued till as late as 7-8pm. The final arguments were heard on 28 July till 11:45pm, and the counsel for the defense were asked to conclude.
According to the trial records the complainant, office bearer of a local religious organization, alleged that Mr Yusuf Ali 'indirectly committed blasphemy' by showing his resemblance with the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, on an unknown date, during a Friday sermon, more than 2 years before registration of the case.[3]
A side note: 'Kazzab', or liar, is a term with religious connotations. It was the newspaper, Daily Khabrain that not merely highlighted the case but also added the affix 'Kazzab' to the late Yusuf's name, every time the case was reported in this newspaper.
Reception
[edit]The film was released on 10 June 2011. The film lost money for the producer.[2]
Cast
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Issam Ahmed (16 February 2011). "How a new film may help popularize fundamentalism in Pakistan". Christian Science Monitor (newspaper). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ a b c 2011's first two releases make little business Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 June 2011, Retrieved 5 December 2022
- ^ a b c "Yusuf Kazzab Blasphemy Case". Zaid Hamid Exposition. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ 'Aik Aur Ghazi' (2011 film) – Critics slam Syed Noor's upcoming movie Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 18 February 2011, Retrieved 5 December 2022
- ^ a b c d "Aik Aur Ghazi (2011 film)". Pakistan Film Magazine website. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2022.