It’s September 11th today. 10 years ago, this day changed America. It introduced Americans to a group of people who were willing to commit crimes against humanity under the banner of Islam. Unfortunately, first impression is last impression. Now everyday, Muslims find themselves in the predicament of defending and apologizing for something they didn’t do.
9/11 was tragic on many levels, it affected families of 2,753 people who died that day, and many others indirectly. No sane person can condone such an attack and justify it in the light of religion. What’s wrong is wrong, no matter what the reason. 9/11 should be seen as an attack on America by an enemy that has no religion or allegiance to any country.
Religion is what we make of it. All religions have their fair share of bad apples. It’s ironic that all this happened in the name of Islam, which means peace, but I also think that our future will be defined by the way we recoup from a tragedy and come together as an interfaith community. Inner strength, understanding, and acceptance of each other as human beings will trump prejudice, hate and intolerance.
I think we have a great future ahead, one that promotes peace and treats everyone equally. Coexist.
Pakistani society is plagued with social injustice and political turmoil. The sad part is, there is no real effort to challenge the status quo. Among other issues, family dynamics involving poverty and religious illiteracy, take a bigger toll in general. To stand up and speak against ill and advocate change is not part of the national fabric in Pakistan. Bol is the collective voice of the nation, through Shoaib Mansoor’s brilliant story telling lens, that offers a ray of hope.
Bol - Movie Poster
Bol, which means “to speak,” is Mansoor’s second movie, first being Khuda kay Liye. Its plot is completely different from that of Khuda kay Liye but the theme is still the same; something broken needs to be fixed.
The story revolves around Hakim Sahib, played by Manzar Sehbai, and his family. He has five girls, no boys. Well, there is a boy who is actually a girl, a hermaphrodite. That doesn’t please Hakim Sahib, a religious man who desperately seeks a boy to help keep his pride going for generations. He is a Hakim, village equivalent of a Doctor, who is no longer relevant because of science and modern medicine. It’s difficult to make ends meet. Too many mouths to feed, not to mention, five uneducated girls who he considers curse. He goes through major ups and downs; son is raped, eldest daughter gets divorced, second daughter has fallen for the the neighbor’s son, and his wife can no longer reproduce. Eldest daughter keeps fighting for the family until she can take it no longer and commits the ultimate crime for which she is damned.
Focal point of the story is the eldest daughter, Zainab played by Humaima Malik, standing up for the family against Hakim Sahib who his hell bent on not being part of the solution. A girl, standing up against her own father in a patriarchal society is a big feat in itself.
Many different taboos and topics are covered brilliantly in a very limited timeframe. Transition from one scene to anther is as smooth as it gets. Not a single scene, shot, or character in the movie can be considered misplaced.
When I see a movie, I am looking for rich story and vibrant characters. This movie delivers on that in an extraordinary way. Except for Atif Aslam, all characters have their own significance and place in the plot. Atif Aslam’s character should have been given to some other unknown actor. Isn’t that the whole magic of Mansoor’s movies and drama serials?
Nonetheless, if you thought Khuda kay Liye was brilliant, wait till you see Bol. It is a classic, Mansoor couldn’t have done a better job. This movie is Mansoor’s best work to date.
Emmanuel Kelly, an orphan boy from war torn Iraq with no arms, moves the X-Factor audiences and judges with his emotional story and decent singing voice. What you really care about is nothing compared to what this boy has been through in his life. Next time you are having a bad day, think about him and consider yourself lucky.
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