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[cricinfo]

I am of the opinion that this people to people contact touted by these so called pseudo-intellectuals is a load of bull

Nandita's 'Firaaq' named best film at Pakistani film festival


Islamabad: Bollywood actress Nandita Das' directorial debut "Firaaq", based on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat, has won the best feature film award at Pakistan's KaraFilm Festival.

The film, which Das describes as an outcome of her involvement in social work, is yet to be released in India and had its premiere at the seventh edition of KaraFilm Festival.

"To come to Karachi was a big struggle. But it was very necessary to come, not just to screen 'Firaaq' here but to make it clear that contacts between the people should continue. Artistes should talk on these issues at a different level," said Das, who was in the southern port city to attend the closing ceremony of the festival last night.

"Till the world is completely peaceful, neither can we be. And that is not going to happen in our lifetime. So we will keep struggling and living," said Das, who is popular on this side of the border because of her performance in "Ramchand Pakistani".

Tensions generated by the Mumbai attacks curtailed the Bollywood presence at the festival though Das and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt travelled to Karachi to participate in the event.
In past years, Bollywood stars and directors have been among the main draws at the festival, which was first held in 2001.

"It is a tense atmosphere and sometimes the role of the media and the politicians becomes dangerous because they have their own agendas. But we must retain our sensitivities and sensibilities and not fall into their traps. We should understand that people on both sides of the border are affected by same problems. People should not detract us from these issues," Das said.

KaraFilm founder Hasan Zaidi said he was happy that Das decided to bring "Firaaq" to Pakistan even before its release in India.

"Firaaq", starring Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval and Sanjay Suri, interweaves the stories of Muslim couple Hanif and Muneera, middle-class Hindus Sanjay and Arati, an older Muslim musician living in a Hindu neighbourhood and a Hindu-Muslim couple.

The film traces the tensions these characters have to grapple with over a 24-hour period in the aftermath of the violence in Gujarat.

Das said she was "very excited to see what dialogue and questions arise" after the screening of "Firaaq". "It's very timely after 26/11 to show the prejudices and perceptions that arise after a period of violence occurs," she added.

Referring to the tensions between India and Pakistan, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said, "These are dark times, and it has brought back the things we had thought we had put behind us years ago.

"It is important that the platform of KaraFilm, where we started seeing the dream of Indo-Pak co-productions, continues," he said. Bhatt said he remained hopeful that things could improve on both sides of the border through a "long and sustained engagement".

Pointing to the lack of barriers and travel formalities in Europe, Das said there is a dream for something similar in South Asia. "Some people will not benefit from something like this, how will they sell arms then?

"Both India and Pakistan spend so much money on their militaries. If this money could be spent on the poor, education and health, then both countries could reach a new level," she said.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nanditas-firaaq-named-best-film-at-pakistani-film-festival/424193/0

[gouravk]

and why is that ?

[dextrous]

in other news pakistan is declaring sharia law as part of a deal with talibaan

[dextrous]

I am of the opinion that this people to people contact touted by these so called pseudo-intellectuals is a load of bull

Nandita's 'Firaaq' named best film at Pakistani film festival


Islamabad: Bollywood actress Nandita Das' directorial debut "Firaaq", based on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat, has won the best feature film award at Pakistan's KaraFilm Festival.

The film, which Das describes as an outcome of her involvement in social work, is yet to be released in India and had its premiere at the seventh edition of KaraFilm Festival.

"To come to Karachi was a big struggle. But it was very necessary to come, not just to screen 'Firaaq' here but to make it clear that contacts between the people should continue. Artistes should talk on these issues at a different level," said Das, who was in the southern port city to attend the closing ceremony of the festival last night.

"Till the world is completely peaceful, neither can we be. And that is not going to happen in our lifetime. So we will keep struggling and living," said Das, who is popular on this side of the border because of her performance in "Ramchand Pakistani".

Tensions generated by the Mumbai attacks curtailed the Bollywood presence at the festival though Das and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt travelled to Karachi to participate in the event.
In past years, Bollywood stars and directors have been among the main draws at the festival, which was first held in 2001.

"It is a tense atmosphere and sometimes the role of the media and the politicians becomes dangerous because they have their own agendas. But we must retain our sensitivities and sensibilities and not fall into their traps. We should understand that people on both sides of the border are affected by same problems. People should not detract us from these issues," Das said.

KaraFilm founder Hasan Zaidi said he was happy that Das decided to bring "Firaaq" to Pakistan even before its release in India.

"Firaaq", starring Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval and Sanjay Suri, interweaves the stories of Muslim couple Hanif and Muneera, middle-class Hindus Sanjay and Arati, an older Muslim musician living in a Hindu neighbourhood and a Hindu-Muslim couple.

The film traces the tensions these characters have to grapple with over a 24-hour period in the aftermath of the violence in Gujarat.

Das said she was "very excited to see what dialogue and questions arise" after the screening of "Firaaq". "It's very timely after 26/11 to show the prejudices and perceptions that arise after a period of violence occurs," she added.

Referring to the tensions between India and Pakistan, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said, "These are dark times, and it has brought back the things we had thought we had put behind us years ago.

"It is important that the platform of KaraFilm, where we started seeing the dream of Indo-Pak co-productions, continues," he said. Bhatt said he remained hopeful that things could improve on both sides of the border through a "long and sustained engagement".

Pointing to the lack of barriers and travel formalities in Europe, Das said there is a dream for something similar in South Asia. "Some people will not benefit from something like this, how will they sell arms then?

"Both India and Pakistan spend so much money on their militaries. If this money could be spent on the poor, education and health, then both countries could reach a new level," she said.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nanditas-firaaq-named-best-film-at-pakistani-film-festival/424193/0

Well, they know who to cater their movie too, I suppose! These comments help Pakistan's stand that they're equal countries and that Pakistan, by large, has nothing to do with terrorirsm.

[xiexie]

I hope this Nandita Das and Aroon Dirty Roy get the green passport that they so covet and are barred from returning to India.

[cricinfo]

and why is that ?

so why not send the cricket team to Paki land ? And do you realise why this film won the award ? Do you think if there was film which would have portrayed plight of Kashmiri pandits or the 11/26 victims  , that would have got the award

[gouravk]

playing cricket is different than people to people contact i feel ...

[kban1]

playing cricket is different than people to people contact i feel ...

Not if Gambhir is playing

[LosingNow]

playing cricket is different than people to people contact i feel ...

Not if Gambhir is playing

[gouravk]

 

[flute]

Nandita Das is my fav actress and I respect her a lot for her performances and no nonsense approach to films and film making, but I think she got this one wrong.

The usual trap these "violence is bad" people fall into is that in their eagerness to support people-people contact and in their eagerness to promote engagement, these people forget the importance of showing the strength of character required to call a spade a spade. I would have really appreciated these Das's and Batt's if they had the courage to talk about terrorism in karachi. Why is Butt talking about dark times without mentioning the export of terror?

It is all fine to not hate someone or some country, but it is quite another thing to not oppose evil ( in this case Pak govt. and its various outfits are responsible for this evil) in our eagerness to promote peace. The results can only be
bad.

I have no problem with people-to-people contacts but that is only possible if people on the other side have the liberal bent of mind required to take our constructive criticism and still maintain that contact. I am willing to goto karachi and participate in any event if they don't mind me bringing up the violence being unleashed on indians. Sadly, IMO, Batts and Dass ( eventhough their intentions are correct) are becoming unwitting supporters of forces which unleash violence on Indians.

[LosingNow]

Sadly, IMO, Batts and Dass ( eventhough their intentions are correct) are becoming unwitting supporters of forces which unleash violence on Indians.

As usual, you have quite a charitable view of these two jerks!

The history of world is full of well-intentioned criminals & despots.

[flute]

Sadly, IMO, Batts and Dass ( eventhough their intentions are correct) are becoming unwitting supporters of forces which unleash violence on Indians.

As usual, you have quite a charitable view of these two jerks!

what is your uncharitable view? do you have some reason to believe that they have other intentions other than their stated intentions? Leaving aside Mahesh Batt, Nandita is a great personality as far as know and I have no reason to disbelieve her. It is really not fair to call their intention into question simply becuse we disagree with them.

[LosingNow]

Sadly, IMO, Batts and Dass ( eventhough their intentions are correct) are becoming unwitting supporters of forces which unleash violence on Indians.

As usual, you have quite a charitable view of these two jerks!

what is your uncharitable view? do you have some reason to believe that they have other intentions other than their stated intentions? Leaving aside Mahesh Batt, Nandita is a great personality as far as know and I have no reason to disbelieve her. It is really not fair to call their intention into question simply becuse we disagree with them.

As I said, they are JERKS. Call it uncharitable or whatever. That is the only assessment I can come up with.

Also, I dont care if the person is nice or has a great personality or is well intentioned.. it is their actions that matter. These actions are pathetic to say the least...and they take a greater importance because these so-called celebreties are in a position of influence. (It is for this exact reason, I cannot and will not ever stand Colin Powell. He may be the nicest person in the world... but when he was in the position of power and influence, he did not do the right thing. That is what matters.. not how you look or what you intended to do or even to some extent what you talk).

[gouravk]

this is unfair IMO. it is within their hands to try to appeal to liberal pakistanis to improve relations. it is beyond their power to fight fundamental pak. why should they bear the burden of doing the job that government and security agencies should do ?

[flute]

Sadly, IMO, Batts and Dass ( eventhough their intentions are correct) are becoming unwitting supporters of forces which unleash violence on Indians.

As usual, you have quite a charitable view of these two jerks!

what is your uncharitable view? do you have some reason to believe that they have other intentions other than their stated intentions? Leaving aside Mahesh Batt, Nandita is a great personality as far as know and I have no reason to disbelieve her. It is really not fair to call their intention into question simply becuse we disagree with them.

As I said, they are JERKS. Call it uncharitable or whatever. That is the only assessment I can come up with.

Also, I dont care if the person is nice or has a great personality or is well intentioned.. it is their actions that matter. These actions are pathetic to say the least...and they take a greater importance because these so-called celebreties are in a position of influence. (It is for this exact reason, I cannot and will not ever stand Colin Powell. He may be the nicest person in the world... but when he was in the position of power and influence, he did not do the right thing. That is what matters.. not how you look or what you intended to do or even to some extent what you talk).

well that is your view. It is easy for us to sit at our desk and call others jerks. I believe in disagreeing but then each person goes thru their own set of circumstances and situations and reacts based on that. In this particular instance, I find no reason for doubting their intention and it is a good intention to have, afterall, in my grand vision for the subcontinent say 50 yrs from now, india, pak, bangladesh, sri lanka etc. come together into a union of sorts along EU lines. Towards that end, people like Nandita Das are very useful and quite commendable. Of course, she did get this one horribly wrong and is in fact in the danger of wasting her first directorial venture by this act. People in India will find it more difficult to accept her work now and if she wanted to touch people regarding gujarat pogrom, it is more difficult now.

[LosingNow]

in my grand vision for the subcontinent say 50 yrs from now, india, pak, bangladesh, sri lanka etc. come together into a union of sorts along EU lines.

ROFL.. you are hysterical.

I am so happy that I will be dead by then

[flute]

this is unfair IMO. it is within their hands to try to appeal to liberal pakistanis to improve relations. it is beyond their power to fight fundamental pak. why should they bear the burden of doing the job that government and security agencies should do ?

gouravk , nobody wants them to take the burden of govt. or security agencies, but it is the duty of every Indian to non-cooperate with and denounce the agencies and their supporters who unleash terror on India.

Also, if you see their statements at the film festival, they make it sound like some kind of on going spat between India and Pak, while the reality is one country is unleashing death thru terrorism on another country. INDIAN DEATHS ARE NOT A JOKE and NO, it is not a spat between problem siblings, it is about one country unleashing evil on another one.

If you want to appeal to liberal pakistan, do so without making it sound like a spat, do so without playing into their hands by letting them use films of muslim persecution for their PR effort.

[LosingNow]

it is within their hands to try to appeal to liberal pakistanis to improve relations.

Who are those? That species is extinct or if they exist have no say/influence or they maybe liberal but when it comes to India they are extreme.

Case in point - the recent acceptance of taliban rules by Pak in NWFP areas.. where is the outrage, where are these liberals?

[flute]

in my grand vision for the subcontinent say 50 yrs from now, india, pak, bangladesh, sri lanka etc. come together into a union of sorts along EU lines.

ROFL.. you are hysterical.

I am so happy that I will be dead by then

well thats why we need people like Nandita, to help people like you see vision for their country beyond their life time 

I know with hate filled envinrment all around and with your hate for pak and its terror outfits, it is difficult to see , but EU lines federation in subcontinent is really not far fetched. It is common sense approach and it is only a matter of time before everyone realises this. There is also very strong strategic imperative for India to bring this along to keep China at bay. Now, India is not even in a position to secure natural gas rights in our backyard like bnagladesh. Our success lies in having access to naturtal resources and also access to middleest thru this federation of sorts, if not ,we will eternally be confined to subcontinent by China.

[gouravk]

exactly what part of her speech do you find objectionable  ? and why ?

[LosingNow]

I know with hate filled envinrment all around and with your hate for pak and its terror outfits, it is difficult to see

I dont have hate in me.. you dont know me well enough to make that statement.

I happen to know how to tell the difference between an enemy and a friend.

I have been through that phase of life where I used to automatically assume that all people are basically decent. Over time I have learnt the hard way that  - some people are EVIL. Pure and simple.  Friendship with anyone is the default option but not when one learns that the person is bad. One cannot live in denial.

Try this experiment, one of these days. Go to Chicago or NYC where there are a lot of Paki cab drivers. Take a few cab rides with them and pretend that you are a Pakistani.  You will learn about their way of thinking. It will be an eye-opener. Let's just say, they have a very very weird world-view, specially when it comes to India.

[flute]

I know with hate filled envinrment all around and with your hate for pak and its terror outfits, it is difficult to see

I dont have hate in me.. you dont know me well enough to make that statement.

I happen to know how to tell the difference between an enemy and a friend.

I have been through that phase of life where I used to automatically assume that all people are basically decent. Over time I have learnt the hard way that  - some people are EVIL. Pure and simple.  Friendship with anyone is the default option but not when one learns that the person is bad. One cannot live in denial.

Try this experiment, one of these days. Go to Chicago or NYC where there are a lot of Paki cab drivers. Take a few cab rides with them and pretend that you are a Pakistani.  You will learn about their way of thinking. It will be an eye-opener. Let's just say, they have a very very weird world-view, specially when it comes to India.

well I guess there is no meeting point or grounds for discussion on this between us, if you assume that most pakistanis are evil and hence there is no meeting ground.

[LosingNow]

well I guess there is no meeting point or grounds for discussion on this between us, if you assume that most pakistanis are evil and hence there is no meeting ground.

I do not debate/discuss with the intent of finding a meeting point.

No I do not assume ALL pakistanis are evil.. I did not say that.

Yes, my default assumption about all pakistanis is one of suspicion specially when it comes to India.

[flute]

I do not debate/discuss with the intent of find a meeting point.

I look for grounds for discussion( if not meeting point) before I venture into a discussion as I mentioned in my original post, I do not find any such ground in this case. If you consider my point hysterical and consider most of pakistanis evil ( which is what I could deduce from your NY cab example), where are the grounds for discusions? afterall, my vision is based on assumption that pakistanis can be reasonable if their political and defence systems allow them to be so.

No I do not assume ALL pakistanis are evil.. I did not say that.

plz read my post again, nowhere did I say that you assume ALL pakistanis are evil.

Yes, my default assumption about all pakistanis is one of suspicion specially when it comes to India.

what do you think is the default assumption of most of pakistanis regarding most of Indians?
 
  what do you think is the default assumption of most of indians regarding most of pakistanis?
 
 Anyway, the reason why I was not venturing into this discussion with you is because you called my point hysterical at the outset and inspite of my explanation, you are not getting into the ifs, buts of my points, rather you are going off into tangential points about how cab drivers in NY have strong negative views regarding India  which is quite irrelevant to my main point. I never said pakistanis are friendly towards India. On the other hand, pick an Indian anywhere and they will all have uncharitable views about pakistan and quite a few of them will also be holding few myths as truth regarding pakistan inspite of India being a democracy. Believe me, a few of my close friends still think that pakistani and indian populations are genetically different and that indian muslims carry pakistani genes, whatever that gene means.