Zinda Bhaag

- Posted on: September 26, 2013 | Comments

Zindaa Bhaag has made headlines in the recent past for being a contender for Pakistan’s entry into the Oscar Nominations this year. It’s after 50 years that a Pakistani film is being shortlisted to be in the running for an Academy Award nomination. Directed by Farjaad Nabi and starring veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah alongside a new pool of Pakistani talent, the film has been a hugely anticipated one. Zinda Bhaag is not the quintessential feature film by any standard. It is as gritty as it gets, portraying the aspirations and traumas of the underclass and the huge chasm which exists in Pakistani society between the upper class and lower class. Its treatment is very minimalistic and indigenous and the frames are constricted. This art film may be a low budget affair but its hard-hitting storyline (By: Meenu Gaur and Farjaad Nabi) and realism take the viewer into a world of poverty, bawdiness and tragedy.

The story centres around three friends played by Khurram Patras, Salman Ahmad Khan and Zohib, who live in a small locality in the decrepit walled city of Lahore. They all dream big and have aspirations to become rich. They traverse dubious avenues such as fraud and gambling to bolster their monetary standing which lands them in harrowing situations. The personal journey the characters are undergoing is narrated by the director quite sensitively and simple moments manage to convey volumes of emotion that strike you.

Every character in the film, even with the minutest screen presence has a lot of depth - even those who have next to no dialogues in the film communicate silently through their countenance and appearance; whether it is the protagonist’s disheveled sister who mechanically sews clothes while being transfixed by a formulaic soap opera or an angst ridden father whose deep wrinkles and furrowed eyebrows tell a haunting story.

Moreover, the characters are interesting and unique. Amina Ilyas, a model turned actor, beautifully enacts the role of a soap-maker who runs a humble business with utmost dedication. Her natural acting and girl next-door look gives her an earthy charm, one that viewers can easily connect to. Naseeruddin Shah as the Pehalwaan makes an entry time to time and narrates his tales of wisdom in flashbacks.

This film is definitely for the serious cinemagoer and depicts the grotesque life of the underbelly through dark and narrow alleyways but with a garnish of Punjabi humour.

Contributed by Syed Abbas Hussain

As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
January 2021