Bowing in to pressure: Gojri film screening cancelled amid threats

Warning letter signed by unheard of student group; artistes say conspiracy afoot

ABBOTABAD:

Artistes have condemned the threat issued against the screening of the first Gojri language film in Mansehra. After receiving a warning letter from an unheard of student group, the Mansehra administration barred the film from being screened, Amjad Khan Swati, who produced the film, Darshi, told The Express Tribune on Monday. Darshi is the first Gojri film ever produced; Gojri is a language native to the Gujjar tribe.

The film was to be screened at Mansehra Press Club but, Amjad Khan said, some elements were against the promotion of folk art and sent a threatening letter to the press club, deputy commissioner and DPO’s offices, forcing them to cancel the programme. The hand-written letter did not have a stamp or letterhead, but was signed by a previously unknown organisation Khairkhwa Ummat-e-Muslima Talba unit.

The letter threatened the press club and district administration with consequences if the movie was screened at an event organised to celebrate the new year. Amjad Khan said if people give in to fear and allow such elements to succeed, indigenous art would die.

Star-crossed lovers

The producer of the film, Amjad Khan, has several Hindko films to his credit: Sarkari Order, Neeli Tarar (blue stone), Arriyan (stubbornness) and now Darshi.

Darshi is based on a folk story from Kaghan Valley. Amjad Khan said Darshi features the love story of Darshi and Munshi, both from Gujjar tribe of Hazara Division. Munshi was killed by Darshi’s family, leaving the girl heartbroken.

Unable to bear the tragedy, Darshi retreats to the forests of Kaghan and dies.

Amjad Khan said the film was the product of the Gujjar Unity Movement Hazara. It was released in December 2015.

Threats to Gujjar culture

Waqar Fani, Darshi’s scriptwriter, spoke to The Express Tribune about the threats made over the exhibition of the film in Mansehra, an area where most of Gujjar tribespeople live. Fani said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has been making tall claims about promoting local art and culture, but obstacles in the exhibition of a Gojri film negate such claims.

Arshad Abbasi, a senior television artist from Hazara, Salim Awan, Tehseen Javed and Malik Zafar were among others who condemned the threat. They called it a conspiracy by people who are against the promotion of culture.

The artistes demanded full security for them and the organisers of folk films. They also said government should support producers who are working on local culture.

When approached, the city police confirmed such a letter was received, threatening organisers into cancelling the programme. Police said investigation was under way about the authenticity of the letter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2016.