Bol and Social Change

After resisting several messages about the story line (I hear they weren't true) and fighting off my sister screaming the story in my headphones over skype, I finally watched Bol today. I was frenzied at the start, the presence of hyper friends like mine has that effect, and to be honest a swollen-faced Atif Aslam painstakingly forcing a tragic look was hilarious enough to reinforce our, what must have been annoying, behaviour. As the movie progressed things calmed down. The movie had its gripping effect and the audience was entirely captivated. The black humor hit the spot and managed to crack people up despite the melancholy that prevailed. By the time it ended our mood seemingly was the same but as I came home, far from the crazy company I had, scenes from the movie started to replace the goofy laughs. The adrenaline was substituted by a strong sense of sadness, depression and a painful reminder of the monstrous proportion of change required. Bol has managed to raise issues that shouldn't come as a surprise to an aware Pakistani but it would to some of those present. You see ignorance is bliss for some after all and boy do some of us want to stay there. Anyway, leaving my sad sarcasm aside, there is no doubt that pertinent issues have been raised but the chances that it will act as a trigger for social change are grim. I say this because we are a very rigid and sadly patient nation. Staying hushed may have its benefits but it is certainly no good when it starts to hinder our mere existence like it has in our country. We sat in the in the cold of patience to escape the heat but we've been there long enough to numb us. We no longer feel, we're just lying there like lumps of cold meat.

As a movie Bol is outstanding by Pakistani standards whereas Shafqat Cheema's acting is amazing by any standards. For me, the wit and black humor did the trick. Some of the added positives were the inclusion of actors from lollywood. In doing so, Shoain Mansoor has helped in not creating a rift between the 'revived' cinema and lollywood. Although it's sad that it is now only that these actors' skills will be acclaimed by many but it's been about time that they were. I hadn't seen Humaima Malick's work before and I believe she did a splendid job. Why Mahira Khan was used in the publicity instead of her is a mystery to me given the fact that she even has the central role.

I hope Bol is released on DVD and aired on television channels soon because the Pakistani woman who really needs to watch it isn't allowed to go to the cinema. Although a brilliant movie I have my reservations when it comes to voices saying it will trigger social change. I hope I'm wrong. What we really need for a social change is a blast of hot air and sizzling burns to bring us out of the numbness of the patient cold.