Written by: Dr. Dushka H. Saiyid
Posted on: June 22, 2018 | 
| 中文
The Freedom Fighters
This latest offering by the ARY Films takes up the theme of the struggle of Kashmiris for azadi or freedom. It’s a B category film that has been produced by Irfan and Imran Malik, directed by Imran Malik, with Moammar Rana and Sonya Hussain in lead roles. It’s a tedium of two and half hours that could have easily been cut by at least half an hour.
If the idea was to highlight the angst and oppression of the Kashmiris by the 700,000 Indian military and para-military occupying forces, then the film is almost a mockery. It has come at a time when for the first time the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva has gathered the courage to issue a report on the blatant and massive violations of human rights in Kashmir, a long overdue international recognition of the desperate situation in the valley of Kashmir.
Here was an opportunity to examine the real issues plaguing the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir: AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Forces Act), under which the security forces are protected from prosecution for any human rights violations; the endless closure of schools and colleges resulting in further lack of education for the Muslims of the valley; the lack of opportunities and jobs; the use of pellets which has maimed and blinded thousands; and the fear that is instilled in the people by the midnight knock and disappearances of young men by the Indian forces. The film dwells on the problem of rape and violation of the Kashmiri women but no mention of the mass graves reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
It’s a cheap shot at making money from a serious theme by interspersing item numbers just when the viewer begins to take the film seriously. The script and lines are hackneyed and cliché ridden, the direction lazy and the acting poor, except for Nadeem Baig who is convincing as the father of the mujahid and hero of the film, Azad. The speeches, especially towards the end of the film, of how Kashmir is destined to be a part of Pakistan, come across as crude propaganda.
Sonya Hussain is a pretty young thing, but clad in skinny jeans and trendy tops in the midst of jihadis in Kashmir, was a little out of place. Azad’s role seems to have been inspired by the martyred charismatic Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani.
The cinema hall was two-thirds full at a mid-morning show on a weekday. So if the purpose was to make money, they might break even or even make a profit. It’s a crass attempt at selling the Kashmir cause, but was it at the tax-payer’s expense?
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