Adil Najam
For a moment I flirted with the idea of using the title “The Greatest Pakistani Movie Ever?” (to match with the earlier ATP post on PTV show Fifty-Fifty). But even with the question mark at the end, that would have been unfair on the remarkable movies of the 1960s; particularly, for me, the Waheed Murad–Ahmad Rushdie hits.
That said, I do believe — and I know I am in a minority here — that Maulla Jatt is not just a remarkable but a milestone Pakistani film. Most people think of it as an ‘action’ film (and some would call it an over-action film), but for me it is a dialogue movie. Memorable for its dialogues and even more for how they were delivered by Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi.
This next clip is a good, although not the best, example of the barak (brawl) vernacular that is the hallmark of the Maulla series of movies.
Let me go out on a real limb here and suggest that Maula Jutt is to Pakistani cinema was Godfather was to Hollywood and what Shoalay was to Bollywood. I know, I know. That is too much to gulp. I am exagerating (on acting quality, for example); but only for effect! But play along and think of it….
It is an action movie most memorable for its dialogue. It blurs the line between good guys and bad guys. It is thick with political and social commentary. And it leaves an imprint on everyday language that lives beyond the movie (“I’ll make them an offer they cannot refuse”, “kitnay aadmi th-ay?”, “nawa aaya hai, soonia?”).
Produced by Sarwar Bhatti and written by Nasir Adib, Maulla Jatt is not only the biggest box-office hit ever in Pakistan’s history (it ran for five years straight), it is also a cultural, social and political icon; for good and for bad.
Released at the height of the Zia-ul-Haq regime, it was full of political innuendo. Die-hard fans will talk about how the message of the movie was that when faced with oppression we sometimes have to take things in our own hand (as Maulla does) but this is a painful process (hence Maulla’s constant desire not to have to use his dreaded ganDassa). At least, this is what the myth became.
Anyhow, I have a feeling I am going to get into trouble for this one; always happens when I mention Maula Jatt.
Amongst a large segment of our educated elites there is a deeply ingrained (and cultivated) feeling that Maulla Jatt is the height of the uncouth, of the ‘paindoo.’ No surprisingly, I find that most who hold this view have never actually seen the movie. So, be it. If paindoo it is, then paindoo I am!
Syed Noor has made some fabulous films like Sargam and Jeeva. If imitation is the best form of flattery then Bollywood copied Sargam a la ‘Taal’ with nothing less than Ms Rai in the lead. Sholay does relate to the sub-continental culture coupled with great dialogues and popular songs. Its dialogues are still on every Indian’s lips. ‘The Good, the bad, the ugly’ was seminal, if not a total knock off for Maula Jat and Sholay as ‘The Godfather’ was for Indian flicks like ‘Don’ and ‘Vidhaata’. Nobody can forget that Sholay created powerful characters like Gabbar Singh and Veeru combined with lagendary histrionics of Amjad Khan. Atleast in those times the Indians used to make ‘family’ movies and not pretty obscene ones, like many if not all, are these days. For me, cannot beat the musicial score of ‘The Good, the bad and the ugly’. Remains my favorite to this very day and ofcourse, Clint Eastwood’s acting in The Good, The Bad and the ugly has become a touchstone for all actors in later western films to come. The Good the bad the ugly combined brilliantly the Wild West with fabulous background music (aped in Sholay?) together with a great story. A great boy’s film, if you ask me!
A/Najam, no offense but Bollywood is creating a remake of Sholay. Do reserve your advance copy J/K
Mohib
Sanou Nehr waaley pull tey…. is one of the all time great songs by Noor Jahan…. arguably, amongst her very best…. its a beautifully worded song, and wonderful music (I am not a fan of her latter Punjabi music, but this was a classic)….. amongst other places, you can listen to it here:
http://www.muziq.net/songs/Noor_Jehan/Punjabi_Hits _Vol_1/
I can’t find a video clip but from what I can remember this is a song that should be both seen and heard……
Ather
I am in the odd position of having to disagree with the paragraph that you start off by saying you agree with me ;-) I must confess I am a fan of both ‘The Good, The Bad , and the Ugly’ and also of ‘Sholay’… I do NOT think ‘Sholay’ is a rip-off of that movie, even though it has some similarities and was purposely made as an Indian ‘western’… I happen to think that Sholay is an all-time classic. For its dialogue, a really powerful story (I think the Sholay story is far superior to and more socially poignant than ‘Good, Bad, Ugly’). I don’t think we have to be negative about someone else in order to be positive about ourselves…. but I do agree with you on the message in Maulla Jatt…. that is what made it powerful…
By the way, which Syed Noor movie would you recommend as the best in your opinion?
Its true that Maula Jut has developed into a cult albeit with the Punjabi speaking audiences generally. I only watched this movie when I came to States and it does have some shocker scenes of blood and gore. I would give it a NC-17 rating straight away. Ofcourse, Sultan Rahi’s dialogues have become lagendary. Like in the movie I am a firm believer than whenever we have tyranny (like in 80s, courtesy of Zia Ul Haq) there’ll always be saviors willing to raise voice as shown in the movie.
I agree with A/Najam that it has become a norm de rigeur in our country just to vehemently criticize anything remotely native. Case in point our Urdu movies. Some produced by Syed Noor are absolutely world standard but our journalists will pan it harshly… for the mere reason its in…Urdu!!! How dare anyone make something made in Pakistan? When Indians copy our movies verbatim, the same ‘journalists’ are agog. Well I guess, I am Native to the core a la ‘Return of the Native’.
The Indian flick Sholay is nothing but a cheap copy of ‘The Good, the bad and the ugly’ just like 99% of Indian films which are copies of Hollywood.
As for Maula Jat the message is clear “Where there is Pharoah, there always will be a Moses”
Lolz … what a post .. :) and hopefully no one would loose respect for you too!
Well, I myself have not seen teh complete movie but few excerpts of it regarding maula jutt and noori nath … this is teh film that basically developed the mustafa qureishi’s style ….!
Nice :)
p.s: posted this months back … http://www.pkblogs.com/funyetponder/2005/11/why-ne wton-committed-suicide_14.html … on sultan rahi :)
I have seen this movie while playing snooker in a club near to my home. it is really an action movie but apart from action i found it quite funny & all of my friends including me were burst in to laugh when we saw Sulatan Rahi attacking over enemies with “Toka” & really interesting thing was that in one attack he was killing more than 2 or 3 people. Sultan rahi was a great hero.We need such type of hero at our borders.Isnt it?