'Mera Layari' to counter 'Dhurandhar' propaganda

Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon says Lyari is not violence but culture, peace, and talent

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has announced the release of a new film, Mera Lyari, intended as a response to the Indian movie 'Dhurandhar', which has drawn criticism for its negative portrayal of Pakistan and Karachi's Lyari neighbourhood.

Since its release, 'Dhurandhar' has sparked strong backlash for depicting Lyari as a war zone. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon described the Bollywood film as part of a broader conspiracy against Pakistan, particularly targeting Lyari.

"Lyari is not violence—it is culture, peace, talent, and resilience. Next month 'Mera Lyari' will release, showing the true face of Lyari: peace, prosperity, and pride," Memon wrote on social media platform X.

Released on December 5, 'Dhurandhar', very loosely based on Karachi's gang wars in Lyari, quickly drew criticism from audiences across the border. While some Indian viewers supported the film, many opposed its portrayal, creating a divide within India itself.

In Pakistan, audiences were quick to identify what they termed propaganda, but some expressed frustration with the local entertainment industry for not telling authentic stories that reflect their own culture and history.

A journalist highlighted the contrast, posting a video titled "The Karachi you see in 'Dhurandhar' v/s the Karachi I saw last week", juxtaposing the chaos depicted in the film with the city's food, music, and everyday warmth.

Memon, who also serves as Sindh's information minister, stressed that 'Dhurandhar' misrepresents Lyari, which he described as a symbol of cultural richness and social harmony.

He added that the upcoming Sindhi-language film aims to showcase the city's reality to both local and international audiences.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, a constitutional petition was filed in a Karachi court against 'Dhurandhar' for allegedly using images of the late Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) flag, and party rally footage without authorisation in its trailer.

The petition, filed by PPP activist Muhammad Amir in the District and Sessions Court (South) in Karachi, seeks the registration of an FIR against the film's director, producers, actors, and other relevant personnel involved in creating and promoting the movie.

The petition specifically names director Aditya Dhar; producers Lokesh Dhar and Jyoti Kishore Deshpande; and actors Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Beni. It also lists cinematographer Vikash Nolcha, editor Shiv Kumar V Panicker, and other unnamed crew members as proposed accused.