Shooting from the hip | Film

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The entertainment industry, made up of movie stars, TV and theater darlings, and musical superheroes, is in a state of confusion. Dealing with a country like Pakistan with its share of religious fervour, lack of awareness and knowledge about the religion itself, terrorist attacks, military operations, hysteria-fueled politicians, rampant mistrust in every corner. and is due to lack of respect for fundamental rights. Human rights are difficult enough.

In such a toxic environment, the performing arts not only create a sense of hope in times of despair but also give us an opportunity to examine or re-examine issues that we have been running away from or simply ignoring. . Because of the pace of everyday life.

A thinking artist, no matter the field, uses his work to express our differences. This can be quite obvious as Shahzad Roy (‘Laga Raha’ and ‘Kusm Awni Haat Mein’), Ali Azmat (‘Bum Phata’, ‘Tanha Hai Why’, ‘Sawaal’), Strings (‘Main’ So see, ‘Beirut’, Ali Zafar (‘Warinji’, ‘Aag’) and Overload (‘Lahore’, ‘Ankahi’) to name just a few.

Artists from the indie world can be less subtle, more metaphorical, but if you listen closely, there’s an awareness of their surroundings. Names like Maul, Adil Umar, Talal Qureshi, Ali Gul Peer and Sikandar Ka Mandir come to mind and there are many more. Acts like Rushak have plenty of songs that will help you feel numb. Some artists, like Slow Spin and Noksh, use their art as a tool for self-expression and provide us with peace and tranquility in the process.

Similarly in cinema, films like Moor, Manto, Dakhtar, Lamma, Bol, Khuda Le, Shah and Zinda Bhaag deal with themes ranging from homelessness to loss and desire to religious bigotry and many other issues that Pakistan faces. are mirrored.

Theater is also slowly but surely engaging audiences by taking on strong issues like addiction and mental health awareness. In between, youth and musical fun can be found in musicals like Escape that will take you away from the constant feeling of fear and/or sadness given the circumstances. These are all positive signs and necessary.

However, the mystery arises from the fact that a handful of artistes, who enjoy immense popularity in the country, continue to shoot from the hip on every issue while enjoying the perks of stardom. A case in point: Hamza Ali Abbasi would do no honor to repeat his remarks here. Clearly, HAA is easily offended by things that have little to do with him. The problem is not that Hamza has an opinion on everything. Sometimes he gets his analysis right. The real problem stems from his approach, the argument lacks nuance and reaction rather than rationality. The drama is never on TV or cinema, he brings it up every time he logs on to Facebook. Sadly, despite his star power and growing popularity, most days, he comes across as a sultry young man. Why is this a problem? Well, remember that, in a polarized and confused country like Pakistan, a simple remark can be misinterpreted into something far more dangerous.

The age of social media means that artists can connect directly with their fans. This is not always a bad thing. Check out Noori, his interactive history and the amount of hope he inspires, both in the audience and within the industry. But when you’re constantly scouring the interwebs, exercising restraint and a sense of discipline can go a long way.

Should artists use political correctness? Absolutely not. They are entitled to their views, even if they are controversial, and no one has to agree with them. But with great power comes great responsibility. As this article is being written, the capital is coming out of siege, Lahore is crying and television channels are obsessed with cricket. It should be noted that after Pakistan’s unsatisfactory performance in the Twenty20 World Cup, no one is ashamed enough to resign, not the coach, not the captain and not even the chairman PCB, even if he shirks the responsibility. have been Our priorities seem out of touch. In such a murky world, cultural initiatives provide a positive, sense of community and help to reclaim public spaces as well as change the narrative. And airing scenes that only serve as fuel for the fire seems a bit juvenile and dangerously so.

It’s not like artists are responsible for representing the entire country. It is a burden that no one can bear. But artists should, at the very least, learn to appreciate the art of keeping an open mind. We are still in the middle of finding a cinematic identity after years of aimless wandering. With only a handful of movie stars, it’s important to remember how quickly things change.

The other thing, of course, is that people who speak up are often ignored or attacked. In a recent interview with Instep, veteran actor Sania Saeed openly spoke about the negative impact of regressive characters on society. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, a two-time Oscar winner, is constantly criticized for portraying Pakistan in a bad light, even though her work often celebrates the country’s many positive aspects and films that don’t make the country. Not with the hope of embarrassing. Abroad, but with the mission that it will shine a light on issues that we tend to push under the carpet. In another interview, veteran director Mehreen Jabbar admitted that she doesn’t work with people who disrespect women and actually fires them. These ideas should gain more traction than they usually do.

Finally, nothing will stop our stars from speaking and nothing should. But understanding the ground reality is essential. There is no shooting from the hip on social media.