| Balochi cinema | |
|---|---|
| No. of screens | 18 (2023) |
| Main distributors | Various local distributors |
Balochi cinema refers to the Balochi-language film industry in Pakistan, Iran, and among the Baloch diaspora. [1]
The first Balochi feature film, Hammal O Mahganj , was produced by Anwar Iqbal and released in Pakistan in 1976. [2] However, the film never made it to the screen amidst protests by cultural activists who alleged it misrepresented Baloch culture. [3] A slogan used by the protest movement was "Balochi film chalay ga tou cinema jalay ga" (If Balochi films are screened, cinemas will be burnt). [3] Analysts believe the film's release became politicised, as PPP activists favoured the film while Baloch nationalist groups opposed it. Iqbal later arranged a private screening of the film to address the reservations, where Sindh's labour minister-cum-PPP leader Abdullah Baloch was a key attendee. According to The News , those who viewed it "agreed that the film did not have anything that went against the Baloch culture". [3] The declining quality of erstwhile Punjabi and Pashto cinema reportedly contributed to the Baloch activists' sentiments. [3] This is believed to have dented the Balochi film industry's initial growth. [3] [4]
In 1989, the Iranian film Dadshah was released in Balochi dubbing. The film was based on Mir Dad Shah of Iranian Balochistan. [5] In the subsequent years, cinema growth in Balochistan remained slow in line with the stagnant growth of Pakistan's film industry. [6] An uncertain security situation further led to nearly half of Quetta's cinema houses facing closure by 2010. [7] The availability of films via Blu-rays, DVDs, VCRs and cable networks has also hampered the cinema-going trend. [7]
"Imagine the premieres of local films taking place in Quetta and celebrities coming to the red carpet."
—Ayub Khoso (2016) on the opening of Weplex 3D multiplex in Quetta, hosting Pakistan's largest curved screen. [8]
In recent years, a younger generation of Baloch filmmakers has emerged in Balochistan and Karachi, as part of the new wave of Pakistani cinema. This phase has witnessed the production of quality short films as well as documentaries focusing on social and political issues, such as Ich Gushgi Nahe (Keep Silent) in 2007. [3] In 2013, The Line of Freedom, a short film based on Balochistan's human rights situation, was produced by Noordin Mengal, Bhawal Mengal and David Whitney, starring British and Baloch actors. [9] In 2014, the Lyari Film Festival was held in Karachi's Lyari neighbourhood, which is famous for its Baloch community. Several Balochi short films were screened at the event. [3] The Nosach Films Academy, which organised the event, provides support to Balochi filmmakers in Lyari. [10]
In 2016, Ahsan Shah's Jaawar (Ongoing Situation), which focuses on the Lyari gang war, won the first prize at Bahrain's International Youth Creativity Awards. [11] The same year, Sawaad (Ocean) was screened at the Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad. [4] An upcoming filmmaker is Haneef Shareef, who has directed popular hits such as Balaach, Manzil, Mani Pethaa Braath Nesth and Kareem from 2009 to 2014. [5] Other recent Balochi films include Jageen, Ganjen Gwadar, Rahdarbar, Aadenk, Zoorak, Betach, Drandeh, Karwaan, Hankain, Maath, Bemuraad, Begowaah, Pendok 2, Yaghi and Showanag. [5]
Balochistan has served as a filming location or subject of portrayal in multiple Urdu films, television serials and documentaries. [12] There have also been foreign documentaries made on the region. [13] As of 2002, there were 8 main theatres in Quetta and a few in Makran, Sibi, Kalat and Zhob. [6] Quetta's 3D Weplex Pak Force Cinema, opened in 2016, currently features the largest curved screen in Pakistan. [8] Other popular single-screen cinemas in the city are Paradise, Imdad and Delight. [8] [14]
In Iran, Balochi theatre is in its infancy stage and is concentrated mainly in Zahedan, Iranshahr, and Khash. As of 2008, Zahedan-based Honorkadeh Saba was the sole cultural institution promoting Balochi cinema and theatre. [1]
Sangat by Sami Sarang was Pakistan's first Balochi film released after decades in August 2017. In 2018 Zaraab (Heat Haze) by Dj Jaan Al Balushi won several awards. In 2020 the movie Doda was released in Karachi Art Festival. [15] [16]
Balochistan is a province of Pakistan. Located in the southwestern region of the country, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land area but is the least populated one. It is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the north-east, Punjab to the east and Sindh to the south-east; shares international borders with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north; and is bound by the Arabian Sea to the south. Balochistan is an extensive plateau of rough terrain divided into basins by ranges of sufficient heights and ruggedness. It has the world's largest deep sea port, the Port of Gwadar lying in the Arabian Sea.
The Baloch or Baluch are a nomadic, pastoral, ethnic group which speaks the Western Iranic Baloch language and is native to the Balochistan region of South and Western Asia, encompassing the countries of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. There are also Baloch diaspora communities in neighbouring regions, including in Central Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Ataullah Mengal was a Pakistani politician and feudal figure. He was the head of the Mengal tribe until he nominated one of his grandsons, Sardar Asad Ullah Mengal, as his tribal successor. He was also the 1st Chief Minister of Balochistan during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's premiership from 1 May 1972 to 13 February 1973. He died on 2 September 2021 in Karachi.
Lyari is a historic locality in Karachi, Pakistan. It is the most densely-populated part of Karachi, and is one of its earliest settled areas.
Turbat is a city in southern Balochistan, Pakistan, and the administrative centre of Kech District. Situated on the Kech River Turbat was the historical capital of the State of Makran. Turbat is the second-largest city in Balochistan after Quetta and 38th largest city of Pakistan. It is the largest city in the southern part of the province. The Gwadar Port is about 180 kilometres (110 mi) to the southwest of Turbat.
Siddiq Baloch was a Pakistani journalist, and senior political economist.
Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo was a Pakistani politician from Balochistan. He served as the 3rd Governor of Balochistan.
The Balochistan Liberation Army, is a Baloch ethnonationalist militant organization based in Afghanistan. BLA's first recorded activity was during the summer of 2000, after it claimed credit for a series of bombing attacks on Pakistani authorities. BLA is listed as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Baloch Students Organization is a student organisation that campaigns for the students of Pakistan's Balochistan Province. It was founded as a student movement on 26 November 1967 in Karachi and remains the largest ethnic Baloch student body in the country. It got divided due to ideological differences. BSO Pajjar and BSO Mohiuddin are affiliated with the parliamentary framework of Pakistan. Dr Allah Nazar, founder of pro independence wing, in 2002 while he was studying in college, created a breakaway faction — BSO–Azad — that advocated struggle for an independent Balochistan based on pre-colonial Baloch country. The Pakistani government banned the BSO Azad on 15 March 2013, as a terrorist organisation.
Gul Khan Naseer also known as Malek o-Sho'arā Balochistan ; 14 May 1914 – 6 December 1983) was a Pakistani politician, poet, historian, and journalist from Balochistan. Most of his work is in Balochi language, but he also wrote in English, Urdu, Brahui and Persian.
Mir Noor-ud-din Mengal was a senior Baloch Pakistani politician who was active in Balochistan's political scene for nearly four decades, from 1970 to 2010. He belonged to the famed Zagar Mengal tribe and was the nephew of the Baloch National Poet Mir Gul Khan Nasir. His father's name was Mir Lal Bakhsh Mengal and he had seven siblings. His mother was a prominent member of the Gichki family from Mekran.
Ghulam Hussain Saba Dashtyari commonly known as "Saba Dashtyari", was a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Balochistan in Quetta, Balochistan.
The economy of Balochistan, one of the four provinces of Pakistan, is largely based upon the production of natural gas, coal, and minerals. Agriculture and livestock also dominate the Baloch economy. Horticultural development is a fairly recent, yet growing phenomenon. Other important economic sectors include fisheries, mining, manufacturing industries, trade and other services being rendered by public and private sector organizations in the province.
Faiz Mohammad Faizok Balochi: فیز محمد فیزوک), was a Balochi folk musician and folk singer.
Operation Lyari was a Pakistan Government crackdown against local gangs and other crime syndicates and part of the greater Karachi Operation.
Shah is a 2015 Pakistani biographical sports film directed and written by Adnan Sarwar. The film, produced under the Logos Films & Media banner, is based on the life of boxer Hussain Shah, who won the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics and became the only boxer in Pakistan's history to secure an Olympic medal. Adnan Sarwar underwent one year of boxing training to portray Hussain Shah. Other roles are portrayed by Kiran Chaudhary, Sardar Baloch, Adeel Wali Raees, and Gulab Chandio.
Baloch traditional clothing is a historical and contemporary aspect of Baloch heritage and deep association between the traditional dress and Baloch ethnic identity.
Uzair Jan Baloch is a Pakistani gangster and former crime lord originally from Karachi, Pakistan. He was a key figurehead of Karachi underworld and notorious gang war in his hometown, Lyari, at his peak around 2012. Baloch is accused in various cases involving murder, extortion, drug trafficking, terrorism, and after being arrested many times, became a fugitive wanted by law enforcement agencies. Due to his influential ties, it is alleged that Baloch enjoyed political patronage and was "protected" by the ruling PPP from facing charges but was eventually nabbed after intervention of federal authorities. Baloch denies all the charges against him and says they are "politically motivated". He is also the former chief of the Peoples Aman Committee, which was a militant group linked to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Baloch people in India are citizens or residents of India who are of Baloch ancestry. They originate from the Balochistan region of neighbouring Pakistan, and are part of the Baloch diaspora.
Haneef Shareef is a Balochi language writer, film director, and member of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO). He directed popular hits such as Balaach, Manzil, Mani Pethaa Braath Nesth and Kareem from 2009 to 2014.
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