Being a movie buff, I could not ignore the hype of a Pakistani movie rated 9/10 on imdb.com. So, I bought this DVD of Waar as soon as I saw the poster of its availability on a local shop. Cutting the chase, there was I watching it while a similar Islamabad fiasco of Imran Khan was being unfolded on 13th August; Superb choice on Independence Day, eh?
To my disappointment, the opening scene of the movie was so substandard that a movie rated 3 on imdb would be better off. Two men in an interrogation room were having the sacks removed from their heads. And lo and behold it seemed like the guy just exited a saloon after a perfect haircut, freshly trimmed beard and even whitening powder applied on his face. The much-talked about ‘talented’ young director could do better than that. Anyways, at last I was watching the most awaited movie, which is, in fact, an epic amalgamation of official Pakistan studies curriculum and popular conspiracy theories – surely what more could be expected from an ISPR production.
Waar seemed to me more like a bad copy of Ghar Kab Aaoge (GKAG), a Pakistani movie I had watched in my teenage. Apart from cheeky computer effects of Pyaray Afzal being blown up (after another recent sad demise), flashing toy guns, fake shot of helicopter blowing up (probably also copied from GKAG), Shamoon Abbasi thinking himself Castor Troy but actually copying Shafqat Cheema, absence of a substantial story, poor cinematography, typical Lollywood drama, Shaan being Raymond Davis of Pakistan, counter-terrorist squad of 3 people like Langley, and loopholes in the story (like why are army generals running the police, and why was Shaan’s family killed?), below are my major concerns about the movie.
1. Pak Studies Discourse
After so much public debate on traditional and the new media, everyone should be well aware of the controversies about our educational curriculum. If you are still oblivious, please read K. K. Aziz’s Murder of History. The movie reiterates the same narrative that the country was made in the name of Islam and not for a Muslim minority feared to be discriminated in united India, among others. The real champs of morality are glorified, like always.
2. Popular Conspiracy Theories
Dushman (enemy) has instated agents and spy network inside the holy land and is behind every mess in the country. RAW is behind every ill in the country be it a "good” politician’s killing, Taliban phenomenon, or even a toilet leakage.
3. Stereotyping
Taliban and extremists are basically Pathans who can kill their fathers too for their vicious agendas funded by RAW. Yes, Baitullah, Fazlullah and Sufi Mohammad were Pushtun but what about supporters of Molvi Nazir group, Colonel Imam, Ilyas Kashmiri, Riaz Basra, Ludhianwi, Malik Ishaq, Asmatullah Muawiya, Hafiz Saeed, Azam Tariq and Masood Azhar?
4. Messiah Syndrome
Only a messiah like politician named Zahid "Khan” can save the day. RAW is against messiahs too. The messiah is supposed to be aggressive towards all other politicians who are all corrupt to the core, while the cool innocent messiah himself can have extramarital affairs, live lavishly, even drink alcohol, and still utter phrases like Islam kay naam pe (In the name of Islam). He is also brilliant enough to collect funds from poor people for the construction of a dam. Just off the topic, does Bilal Lashari belong to PTI?
5. Objectification of Women
Messiahs who can have extramarital relationships are also lured by promiscuous women who are in fact undercover agents of RAW. There is no fault of the men at all, and when they dump the girl, they become absolutely clean.
6. Self-Righteousness
A true patriot Pakistani is the one who parrots things like yakeene muhkam (absolute faith) quite often, apart from that he can have extramarital sexual affairs, can drink, and live as he wants. On the other hand, madrassa students and Taliban are homosexual beardos who are controlled by RAW.
7. Foreign Policy Guidelines
USA is responsible for everything in Pakistan and no dictation should be accepted from them; a typical ‘Go Amreeka Go’ stance of the rightwing parties who would never acknowledge the role of home grown extremism, sectarianism, terrorism, feudalism, past military dictatorships, and other factors responsible for country’s ills.
8. Kala Bagh Dam
The Kala Bagh dam is the only solution of energy crisis in the country and any politician, political party or even province having concerns about the dam is a traitor. There was a complete isolation of Sindh and KPK’s respective stances on the dam and a pure glorification of Punjabi elites’ dictatorial narrative.
The end of the movie was also quite typical. Shaan asks Shamoon (the villain) to fight him with bare hands and the movie ends with a James bond style pistol shot by Shaan. This was extremely gross and shows a complete lack of creativity. However, it was more disappointing to see that the movie represented the typical jingoist mindset; it reinforces the already existing denial and lack of responsibility in the society. The good cast worked well as a marketing attraction for urban youth. If Pakistani cinema is to be revived by such dishonest propaganda movies, then we are better off without a cinema.
I 100% agree with this article!
writer just shown his mental sickness and grudge against "Punjabi’s”…
the movie was obviously not of the standards as it was awaited for, but it showed the truth, ok, not the 100% truth but 90% i can bet was a truth,
the messiahs have extramarital affairs above all doubts, at least in Pakistan they are having…
the article can easily be defended by any sensible person but i don’t feel the need to come across a mentally sick person
thanks.
You must compare apples to apples when doing any analysis. This is by far, one of the worst movie reviews I’ve ever read! You seem to be all over the place. This is an action flick, with a lot of visual effects. I think the story was also very powerful. You can show this movie to any critic in Hollywood and they’d all agree that the opening scene, the storming of the house where the hostage is kept one of the best scenes filmed in any movie.
I do agree it’s a propaganda movie but hey who cares when you get to see such a good action and visual effects from a Pakistani movie? When was the last time anyone in sub-continent made such a stellar movie??
Please note, GKAG is a Pakistani movie. It is an editorial mistake.
Akif….. u seem to be a mentally disturbed person and have no sense of reality. U live in a utopia created by ur masters in the bollywood….. I suggest plz go and have a look in the tribal area and the circumstances around which the armed forces are fighting the insurgents who are backed by ur friends across the eastern border. A number of occasions indian currency have been apprehended by these culprits with bullets having the logo of indian ordinance factories.
…… and yes man is a social animal….. plz move around and socialise, see a psychatrist …… im sure ull come out of this depression soon…. regards
this is the most dire,insulting,knitpicked review ever commited to a single film. i think your better of without cinema! you viewed a pirated copy of the film ,yet you managed to pick up on whitening powder on guys face in the opening scene…you must have great retina scope! i attended a digital cinema screening of WAAR in the u.k…and missed out on your vivid details of whitening powder..you also have extensive imagination,you picked out a toilet leakage scene!!!!……im totaly confused and lost….please keepaway from cinema your totaly blurred and too imaginitive to be critic.
Very honest review. The problem with popular pakistani movies is that they don’t appeal the masses to introspect and to look into the real causes of the current problems. They dont acknowledge that military ictatorship, blind reliance on America and China, neglect of tribal areas are the reasons for such miserable shape of the country. They just blame India and Indian agencies for each and every problem