Politics, Militarization & the Average South Asian
Preview of Two Billion Hostages, an independent film by Canadian filmmaker Ziad Khan.
BY SHRUTI & NAIN Photos by Nitin Sawant
We recently watched Two Billion Hostages and we are absolutely amazed that someone has found the courage to make a film on such a controversial topic. Kudos to Ziad Khan for exploring the influence of politics and militarization on the lives of the average South Asian.
This independent film in Urdu/Hindi with English subtitles is a drama that focuses on the deep-rooted cultural ties that exist between Pakistan and India despite the powerful political agendas that require both the nations to maintain an armed border.
The performance of the two main characters, General Asharraf and General
Arora, played by Sarfaraz and BSN Rau, is very strong. Manjeet Uppal’s portrayal of Subedar Walidad is a beautiful blend of comedic relief and pathos. Irshad’s performance as Major Qureshi could have been stronger in parts. Samina Tabassum as the lone female character in the role of Sara, the journalist is very convincing, and Ziad Khan, the writer-director of the film, as the Professor, turns in a low-key performance in keeping with the character of a highly educated individual with scant regard for anyone or anything except his work. Rajiv Punj as General Zameer is a metaphor for the conscience of the army and conveys a world of meaning with his succinct dialogues.
The background music amply supports the film and the songs, though not a part of the film, are excellent and can be checked out at
www.ziadkhan.org. Ziad’s strong beliefs and his passion are evident in the film that seeks to raise awareness that the people of South Asia have been victims of mass exploitation by unscrupulous politicians innumerable times, both from within and without, and also that it is critical that they realize this and rise to work towards changing their condition.
Ziad’s vision is to work towards creating a region in South Asia that is able to realize its true potential through economic restructuring, which is easier said than done. Whether Two Billion Hostages is able to start a movement and bring about this change or not, this film will remain a strong, original contribution to independent cinema in North America, as well as be known as a bold documentation of the power politics of South Asia. A must see for anyone interested in political history and proud of their South Asian roots.
