ENVIRONNEMENT CULTUREL PAKISTAN
ENVIRONNEMENT CULTUREL DE L’ASIE PACIFIQUE
Pakistani Cinema :
Different aspect of cinema :
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh…
Pakistan, South Asia 🡪 5 provinces, linked to each other. Each province is independent. They each have a different language. One language that connects every province is Urdu (only in Pakistan and Indi (India)
Major films produce in Pakistan are produced in Urdu. But also film produced in all the languages.
England colonized India, Pakistan, Bangladesh…
1947 🡪 Pakistan is formed because of the separation of India (at the time) and the British left.
Massive huge young population.
Parliament type of politics. Federal Parliament Republic and because the province are quite diverse. Major of the population is Muslim and minority religions include : Christianity…
Located in South Asia, it gained its independence from British Rule and separated from India in 1947.
Pakistan shares border with India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China.
Pakistan has 5 provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber, Pakhtunkaw, Balochistan, and Gilgit Baltistan.
Punjab is right next to India and is similar in culture, habits, and lifestyle.
Kashmir remains a disputed territory between Pakistan and India.
Cultural History in Pakistan :
Pakistan is culturally and ethnically diverse country, with culture history going back to thousands of years, since subcontinent has been the hub of culture for thousands of years.
Central Pakistan is somewhat around 5500 BC old, the region was home to ancient Aryan civilization of ethnic Iranian descent. It was later par of Achaemenid Empire ruled by Darius the Great of Iran in 500 BC era.
South of Pakistan: Sindh, has an ancient culture dating back to the 7,000 years old Indus Valley Civilization.
The region has been the site of much warfare because of its location on a major invasion route between South and Central Asia.
Folklore, music…
All 5 provinces have their distinct culture and local language, while URDU is the national language of Pakistan and people of all provinces connect with each other through Urdu.
Apart from Urdu, other languages that are spoken in Pakistan are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi and Kashmiri.
The region has historically been subject to numerous invasions and migrations of people from many different cultures, including the Greeks, Arabs, Persians, Mongols and the British
This has influenced the general culture to be open and adaptable to external influence. Thus the are generally recognized as being flexible people, quite vibrant and unreserved.
“Pakistan has a collectivist culture in the sense that people are deeply interdependent and loyal to those who are in their inner circle. Social connections are essential to daily like” Family values are of paramount importance.
Hospitality is a core value.
Origin of Pakistani Cinema :
After the partition in 1947, a lot of actors, film directors, and producers migrated to Pakistan and established Lahore, Karachi, and Dhaka as the center of filmmaking in Pakistan.
Pakistan has been among the top 20 film-producing nations in the world, averaging 60 films per year, until 1971.
Most of the films are produced in Urdu language however Punjabi, Pashto, and Sindhi films are also quite popular in their respective provinces.
Pakistan’s first feature film, Teri Yaad, was filmed in 1948, but it was not until 1950 that the industry produced its first real success, Do Ansoo. Inspired by Hakim Shuja’s story about the self-indulgence of society’s upper classes, the film has a 25-week run in cinemas.
Popular Cinematic Themes :
The films focused on :
Partition themes
Social evils 🡪 inequalities between classes. Rich used to not pay taxes.
Corruption of government institutions
Manipulation of law by those in power
How a small fraction of extremists ruin entire society and youth
Cultural representations
Themes of love, family and weddings.
Development of Pakistani Cinema :
Throughout the course of history, the artist community if Pakistan has played a pivotal role in raising awareness regarding matters that touch upon cultural, social, political and economic injustices in society. Film making was an active medium for aall such movements
1960 were the golden era of Pakistani films, due to the fact the Indian Films were banned in 1965. Hence, the local cinema prospered, and the production increased.
In 1970, Sangeeta debuted in the film making and she transformed the way film making was done.
Development of Pakistani Cinema :
Sangeeta’s first film was “Society Girl” 🡪 Sangeeta important women film producer
Pakistan experienced chaotic political campaigning in the year 1970, as Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, a shrewd politician, mobilized the public with vigorous rallying and tempting catchphrases but terribly failed to deliver during his six years in office from 1971 to 1977.
Directed by Sangeeta, Society Girl was a finely-executed critique on the promise of Roti, Kapra, Makan (translation : food, clothing, shelter) with which the Pakistan People’s Party came to power. Though Society Girl addressed various other concepts as well: individual liberty, westernization of society and the consequences of such from a moral precept and a societal standpoint.
Development of Pakistani Cinema :
In the late 1980s and 1990s a certain genre and pattern of films were produced. Films like :
Insaniyat ke Dushman (enemy of humanity)
Kala Paani (black waterà
Putter Jaggay da (son of the soil)
Each of these films has an ordinary man who rises up to fight for the rights of ordinary people. Given the limited capacity in which Pakistani film industry operated, it nevertheless countered the assertive illustration of the government machinery and prompted the reshaping of societal conditions.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Pakistan :
Pakistani films are regulated by Central Borad of Film Censors (CBFC) headed by the Chairperson Madam Ayesha Tassaduq. (IMPORTANT)
Functions of the Central Board :
To examine, classify, approve or restrict the films, trailers, documentaries under the guidelines provided by the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979. To monitor the violation of the provisions of Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979 by raiding/ checking cinema across the county. To provide assistance to the Pakistani producers to participate in international film festivals abroad, and issue censor certificates.
Provincial Censor Boards :
Each of the four Provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Kyber Pakhtunkhaw has their own censor boards, which approve or restrict the display of films.
If a film has to be only displayed in the province then the film producers can take censor certificate from their provincial censor board only, and they do not have to get approval from Central Board.
Film Production House in Pakistan :
There are eight major film production houses, 7th Sky Entertainment, ARY Films, Dream Station Production, Avant-garde Films, Ever new pictures, HUM Films and Six Sigma Plus.
The production houses either work independently or at time are associated with the media houses.
Total earning of Film industry falls between 2 to 4 billion rupees per year.
Pakistani Cinema in the 21st Century :
Khamosh Pani was directed by Sabiha Sumar and released in 2003.
Film in focus :
Jinnah / Joyland / Punjab Nahe Jaungi ( I will not go to Punjab) / Operation 21-021 / Teefa in Trouble(comedy)
Jinnah : The film released in 1998 takes the viewers to have a first-hand experience of the partition of India, and creation of Pakistan. The creation of a separate country for Muslims was of utmost importance as the Hindu majority in India made it impossible for them to live and practice their faith. The film narrates the journey of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a barrister from Lincoln’s Inn in London who fought, and negotiated with the British to ensured the creation of Pakistan.
Joyland : Follows the three men of a damaged family. Rana Sahib is unhappy that is two sons, Saleem and Haider, are unable to give him a male heir. Meanwhile, Haider falls for trans starlet Biba and begins a journey of self-discovery. (kumar, 2023)
Following a long spell of unemployment, Haider lands a job at a Bollywood-style burlesque, telling his family he is a theater manager. In actuality, he is a backup dancer and becomes infatuated ith a strong-willed trans women, Biba.
Punjab Nahi Jaungi :
A romantic-comedy that tells a story of a millionaire businessman and landowner from Punjab that falls in love with a woman who live in London, on her visit to Pakistan. When she does not reciprocate his feelings of love, he does everything in his power to win her heart.
Operation 21 :
Ayub Khoso, après 30ans de guerre en Afghanistan, veut éviter un conflit d’entreprise qui nuirait au pays et à son voisin, le Pakistan. Aidé de Kashif Siddiqui, un Pakistanais, il met au point un plan qui n’a que 21 heures pour réussir et sauver les deux pays. Mais cela implique de risquer leurs vies, et celles de leurs familles.
Teefa in trouble : A brilliant comedy. A gangster hires Teefa to kidnap his friend’s daughter from Polan so that his son can marry her. However, Teefa starts to fall in love with the girl he is supposed to kidnap, and things get complicated.