When Pakistani actor, Hamza Ali Abbasi spoke about how item songs promote objectification of women’s bodies and are ‘against his religion and norms’, social media could not stop but respond. The responses varied from people blaming Pakistani film industry copying Bollywood to some talking about women empowerment, a few asked the actor not to drag the religion in the debate because then the entire existence of the showbiz industry can be questioned.
Hamza Ali Abbasi is a well-known theatre and film actor as well as a political/social activist took to Twitter and Facebook sharing his thoughts about how he finds the item songs used to promote/sell a movie to the audience completely ‘against women empowerment, women’s rights, religion and norms’. He also questioned the Pakistani Censor Board on allowing ‘such filth to run in cinemas’.
Here’s what he wrote in his Facebook post:
Its heart breaking and disappointing to see some brilliant Pakistani film makers still using ITEM NUMBERS to sell their films. How can the censor board allow such filth to run in cinemas and how can PEMRA allow this to be run on channels? Pakistani artists finally managed to get enough respect in the society that now young educated boys and girls from good families are coming into this field, please dont spoil this hard earned respect by putting on a flesh show and calling it glamour!!! Item songs degrade women and objectify them….which goes against the essence of Women’s Empowerment and Women’s Rights, our religion and our norms. (All those ignorant friends commenting about JPNA, please go to Google, type “Hamza Ali Abbasi JPNA” and you,ll get your answer)
While some showed support and stood with Hamza on the issue, some were quick to inform him that ‘it is not the item songs that degrade a woman’s position but the mentality of some people’ which is to blame. Some even dragged Bollywood into the debate and said that all this was because Pakistani film industry is trying to ape Bollywood while Bollywood is trying to ape Hollywood.
IDK why people are criticizing u. But i only knw 1 thing tht ur point is so true and ignore haters. Just do raise ur voice always
— Shaharyar (@Shaharyar11O) July 25, 2017
Yes our films should show true Pakistan with positive stories. I am glad someone from media stood up and talked about this issue.
— Sahar Liaqat (@saharkmk) July 24, 2017
Very right.. and the girls by themselves should also reject such kinda filthy things
— Mariam Mashab (@mariam40827) July 23, 2017
I agree but we should support our industry whatever they r doing. If we can dance and enjoy munni badnam and Sheila ki jawani y nnot ours??
— Hadia Ali (@hadiaali421) July 24, 2017
Ask ur own people to stop watching such glamour instead of stopping a women to do what she want to do
— Jasleen (@jasleen_kaur22) July 23, 2017
Flesh show …..
Its a women's body
Its her own wish to show it or not
Why others have to decide it— Jasleen (@jasleen_kaur22) July 23, 2017
I guess the problem is everyone wants to see this! They will sell what people buy. They are making films to sell not for charity-
— Hina Que (@HinaQue) July 24, 2017
Hmm its bad to see girls wearing short dresses in films.They should know that it’s totally insane.But they only want to earn money
— Remshah Ahmed Khan (@KhanRemshah) July 23, 2017
(Also read: Why audience reaction to Lipstick Under My Burkha left me horrified)
Here are some reactions on Facebook:
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