Pakistan’s Dhurandhar Counter Bites The Dust

Making a film is different, and telling a story that would resonate with millions of audience is different. While the film “Dhurandhar”, both parts, are examples of the latter, there’s a Pakistani counter to the most loved film in the recent times, which ended up as a film but nothing else.

After the super success of Dhurandhar Part 1, many Pakistanis felt that the popular Lyari town in Karachi city, known for dreaded gangs and gang wars, was shown in a poor light by the Indian filmmaker Aditya Dhar. As an answer to that movie, Pakistani director Abu Aleeha crafted a film that will show the good side of Lyari town. Produced by the star heroine of Pakistan, Ayesh Omar, and featuring herself in a Chak De’s Kabir kind of role, while young influencer Dananeer Mobeen plays a young girl playing football. Guess what, the film has been booked for only 22 tickets in a theatre, and the show got cancelled in Pakistan. That way, the Dhurandhar counter has bitten the dust. But there are other reasons too.

In fact, the May 8th released film deals with girls throwing their burqa away, wearing shorts, and playing football. The film deals with the male patriarchal system in Pakistan, which is deeply influenced by religion, and that didn’t work with the country’s audience. That explains the state of mind of Pakistani men, and now that explains why Dhurandhar clicked big time. Well, films that go against religion never work in Pakistan, and that’s why even Dhurandhar got banned in Pakistan and other Gulf countries also.