Zarqa (film)

Zarqa is a 1969 Pakistani epic historical drama film directed, produced and written by Riaz Shahid while the music is composed by Rashid Attre and Wajahat Attre. It features Neelo, Alauddin, Ejaz Durrani, Saqi and Nasira as protagonist characters.[2] It is based on the life of Zarqa, a Palestinian dancer girl and a freedom activist, the latter of whom killed herself for the liberation of Palestine involving Israeli-occupied territories and Palestinian liberation movement.[3] It also addresses a real event of Neelo when she was forcibly invited by Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, the governor of West Pakistan to his office to perform a stage dance during the 1965's official visit of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to Pakistan.[4]

Zarqa
Directed byRiaz Shahid
Produced byRiaz Shahid
Written byRiaz Shahid
Screenplay byRiaz Shahid
Based onBased on the life of Zarqa[lower-alpha 1]
Starring
Music byRashid Attre
Wajahat Attre
Release date
  • 17 October 1969 (1969-10-17) (Pakistan)[1]
CountryPakistan
LanguageUrdu

In 2017, the Lok Virsa Museum, dedicated to keep historical film records screened the film. It is recognized the first golden jubilee film in the history of Pakistan[5][6] and a diamond jubilee film of the Pakistani cinema. Primarily known for music blockbuster lyrics from the poems of Habib Jalib, Zarqa filmmakers have reportedly introduced a "propaganda-laden" story in the film. By the latter, the film director made controversial attempts when he offered film distribution of Zarqa for the Middle East through Al Fatah, a guerrilla organisation of Palestinian.[7]

Plot

The film revolves around an Arabian dancer girl Zarqa who joins Palestinian Liberation Organization and commits suicide aimed at to harm Israeli Army deployed in the State of Palestine.[8][9] Film story starts with an old man who addresses a public gathering in 1969 and a group of Palestinian people listens to his story about a woman, Zarqa while a Palestinian leader Shabaan Lutfi recruits the people to the resistance movement.[1]

Cast

Soundtrack

All music is composed by Wajahat Attray and Rashid Attre.

Zarqa
No.TitleLyricsSinger (s)[10]Length
1."Raqs Zanjeer Pehan Kar"Habib JalibMehdi Hassan, Naseem Begum 

Awards and recognition
  • Nigar Awards in 1969 for 'Best Film', 'Best Director', 'Best Script', 'Best Actress', 'Best Lyrics' and 'Best Male Singer'.[11]

References
  1. Mirza, Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza. "Misrepresentation of Culture in Pakistan Cinema-Part V".
  2. "In-Depth - Film Special". DAWN.COM.
  3. "16 movies that prove Lollywood and Bollywood have been empowering women since 1957". The Express Tribune. 8 March 2018.
  4. Rabe, Nate. "Sound of Lollywood: To Palestine, with love from the great Pakistani star Neelo". Scroll.in.
  5. "Lok Virsa to Screen First Golden Jubilee Film 'Zarqa' – Abb Takk News".
  6. "Lok Virsa to screen film 'Zarqa' on July 29". 25 July 2017.
  7. "Seven unforgettable, daring Pakistani films". 30 November 2017.
  8. Rabe, Nate (20 March 2017). "Sound of Lollywood: To Palestine, with love from the great Pakistani star Neelo". Images.
  9. "Why Modi's Emergency jibe made me think of actor Neelo's protest in Pakistan". www.dailyo.in.
  10. "Lok Virsa To Screen Film Zarqa On July 29". UrduPoint.
  11. Swami Ji (24 November 2017). "6 Nigar Awards won by Zarqa (film) in 1969 (scroll down to read the year 1969)". Film Reviews on The HotspotOnline website. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  1. Zarqa was a Palestinian freedom activist
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