Waar, a propaganda movie?

Some have termed the local war on terror film “ISPR-funded propaganda”.

Not everyone was happy as Pakistan’s most anticipated movie of the year Waar opened on the first day of Eidul Azha, with some online terming it “ISPR-funded propaganda”.

The movie was released on 42 screens across Pakistan and beat the box office record for an opening day take of Rs11.4 million.

It is an action/thriller and drama film, written by Hassan Waqas Rana and stars Pakistan’s actors, Shaan Shahid and Shamoon Abbasi. The storyline has been inspired by the war on terror in Pakistan and its effects on the world, but with a stylised interpretation of it.

Though majority of the people are proud of having a Pakistani movie to cheer for this Eid, some said the script was sub par and functioned as propaganda.

Talk about "Waar" being funded by ISPR -- no secret -- and the paid lackeys come out of the woodwork

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) October 17, 2013

Propaganda is one thing, and can be found in any 'wood'. I just wanted better scripting and continuity. And no accents FFS #Waar

— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) October 18, 2013

Seems Zaid Hamid wrote the script for 'Waar'.

— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) October 18, 2013

So everyone is talking about #Waar being sponsored. Where is the evidence of official support? Any announcement? Acknowledgements? #Pakistan

— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) October 17, 2013

#Waar worries me bc I am scared of the trend of films on terrorism globally reinforcing nationalist sentiment & stereotypes - reductionist

— Mahim Maher (@MahimMaher) October 16, 2013

New Pakistani cinema has mostly produced propaganda films.
Khuda Kay Liye,Chambaili, Bol,Josh and now #Waar .The problem is bad filmaking!

— Rafay Mahmood (@Rafay_Mahmood) October 18, 2013

Others believed Waar was perfectly acceptable - propaganda or otherwise.

https://twitter.com/sharmeenochinoy/status/390558461916086273

I don't know about the rest of you but I spent my evening amongst faujis yesterday and have been told Waar contains 'a grain of truth'

— Madiha R (@ahidamzair) October 18, 2013

https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/391096746086264832
https://twitter.com/ErumManzoor/status/391093848585162752

What the director said

In 2012, Waar Director Bilal Lashari had told The Express Tribune that the "ISPR has no involvement in Waar. Hassan Waqas Rana, the writer and executive producer has funded this film. MindWorks Media did a project in the middle of Waar for the ISPR called the Glorious Resolve. There has been some confusion as some people thought the shoot for Glorious Resolve was actually for Waar."