Adil Najam
The greatly trumpeted, fairly controversial, and mostly disappointing movie Jinnah was released in 1998 to even lesser acclaim than it deserved.
Despite all its flaws–especially its overly convoluted and philosophical plot which contributed much to its failure to excite ordinary non-Pakistani film-goers–it was thought-provoking rendition for Pakistanis: for those who liked the movie, and even more for those who did not.
It is sad that it ended up being seen by very few Pakistanis. The movie’s distribution was extremely sloppy, mostly due to the bickering between the principals of ‘The Quaid Project’. It played in Pakistan (in Urdu and in English) but very briefly and in very few theaters, and was never picked up for serious distribution abroad. Many who wanted to see the movie could not, simply because there was no place to see it at.
That has–belatedly–changed. Someone (it says Jamil Dehlavi) has recently placed the entire movie on video.google where it can be viewed if you have a reasonably fast Internet connection.
You can view it here by clicking on the image below, or go to video.google. The movie is just under 2 hours long, and in two parts.
For Part 2, click for rest of this entry.
The post is incomplete without hailing Akbar S. Ahmed, a scholar of Jinnah.
Professor Ahmed, is an anthropologist, filmmaker, administrator, diplomat and a Muslim scholar on Islam, International Relations and Politics, and Contemporary Islamic philosophy from Pakistan. According to the BBC, he is
Its a very nice movie indeed. The movie cannot be held responsible if there is nobody to have a historical taste and desire to know about ones own past. Everything that was pictured in the movie has enough potential to awaken the sense in Pakistanis why did they got Pakistan.
I found my self besides Quid-e-Azam during his struggle for Pakistan while i was watching the movie….
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was really a man of principles, justice and fair-play!
May his soul rest in piece….
I think it was a great movie. Everyone’s acting was up to par. Obviously, a two hour movie, can’t really reiterate history, everything was kind of fastforwarded. But yet, it’s a great movie. We definetly need to make another movie on Jinnah, that can do more justice to his efforts in history. I hope pakistanis wake up and actually start to realize, how a nation was created from a vision and hoow dignified the father of our nation was. It’s good to see decent comments from indians, but no offence, they really can’t understand the reason. I have alot of indian msulim friends, and they would always tell you that there is equality, yet muslim indians are still at the bottom of the ladder and in times of chaos have lived in fear of hindu fanatics. Bottom line is we need to appreciate the country we were given, where we can live as we want, and not jeopardize it’s existence for radical islamism.
cheers
The movie is v good. The creation of Pakistan was inevitable and the best thing that happened. Had Indian politicians been sincere in dealing fairly with Pakistan, i.e not threatening it, holding funds and equipment it was owed and most of all renegaing on the plebiscite of kashmir, I know by now the atmosphere on the south asian subcontinet would be similar to europe. i.e strenght in diversity.
But Alas! no manipulation or threats can stand upto the will of the people and the people wanted there Pakistan.
Even now, if Kashmir is resolved through plebiscite and trust is built to the point that the armed forces are on India/ Pakistan boarder are replaced with the provebial lone policeman then peace and harmony will prevail and the lot of the poor in both countries will get better.
Hi,
I am a history lover and an india, i watched the movie. Is good to know story from both the sides. I am a software developer and i want to stupidly compare to a Steve JObs (CEO apple computers) for Bill gates (Microsoft). He said, (amid the bitter history of rivalry) the era in which for Apple inc to win, Microsoft has to loose has ended for me. I am dying to hear from politicians of both of our country the same. For pakistan to win, india does not have to loose. For india to win pakistan does not have to loose.
Pakistan,India and Bangladesh are facts now, lets move beyond it. The europe had fought 2 World wars and millions have died in wars. But still today there currency is same (Euro), you can go without visa from one country to another. Why cant it happen for us. its bizzarre that we fought an enemy together (brutal british empire) but now both countries have good relations to britain but not with each other.