Malala Yousafzai, for some weird reason, is a controversial figure in Pakistan, and Pakistan alone. Her achievements are known to all as is her struggle. Her story would make a great blockbuster movie, which is why someone in Bollywood has decided to make a movie based on her life story.
The film is called ‘Gul Makai‘ and while news of the movie began circulating back in January, the poster for the film was recently released for all to see.
Malala Yousafzai has taken Pakistan and Pakistan’s story to the international stage. She has contributed in large part to the general improvement of Pakistan’s international image. Despite the opinions of a lot of people online, the movie and the concept should have been a Pakistani affair, however, the people across the border moved in more swiftly and now ‘Gul Makai’ is going to be the first ever biopic of Malala’s life.
Many Pakistanis have taken to Twitter to express their concern and disappointment
Bollywood is making a film about #MalalaYousafzai and I have mixed feelings about this.
Primarily it better not have an item number & shouldn’t portray all Pakistanis as savage idiots. pic.twitter.com/BiGRurMwwz
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) July 4, 2018
Others just wanted someone else to take it
Because let’s be real, Pakistan may never make this film
Can we cancel this and give Iran a shot at it? Their cinema and filmmaking is legit how I want this story to be approached. Not wanting this to be a masala blockbuster :l https://t.co/6r4cTVQ2kc
— Khizra (@KhizM) July 5, 2018
Inhon ne point tou sahi maari hai
@Malala please stop them. And ffs can someone from our industry please take this up. How hard can it be? It's all bloody documented. https://t.co/WQHpUGqJAJ
— HK (@HassaanKahn) July 5, 2018
Pakistani and Muslim representation has always been an issue with Bollywood, hasn’t it?
My feelings aren’t mixed it all. Bollywood does Pakistan sooooo badly. Waiting for Malala to sound like my Urdu speaking mother and say Janab all the time. And go around adaab-ing people. Or worse.. sound like Allauddin Khilji, since thats their idea of what Pashtuns sound like. https://t.co/0aNp3zCpEx
— Gule (@gulmeenay) July 5, 2018
The janaab thing seems to be a recurring theme here
this will be another propaganda film, starting with every dialog starting from jinaab of course.
— Paracetamol (@Pxrxcetxmol) July 5, 2018
Some wondered why India is taking up the film, and some were quick to answer the question
It'll make Pakistanis hate MALALA more and i don't want that. We all know how bollywood is going to present things.
— Tired minahil 🌈 🏳️🌈 (@surkhminahil) July 4, 2018
People smelled propaganda
We all are very aware of indian nature, they will use this movie to portray us terrorists. This is quite predictable.
— Sam (@tweet_usama) July 4, 2018
Bollywood was declared unfit to do the movie
Bollywood doesn't have the kind of nuance, sensitivity and objectivity required to deal with the subject. It'll most likely end up being a cheap anti-Pakistan movie.
— Sakina Qamar Hussain (@SakinaQamar) July 4, 2018
There were some voices of support
Have you seen @RaaziHoon? Have you seen how Pakistanis were portrayed in it? Was there an item number in that movie? You can't judge all Indian movies based on the super big budget ones
— Pallavi Ganjoo (@PallaviGanjoo) July 4, 2018
First of all let's not be judgemental and wait for the movie to release. Other things recently we had a movie #Raazi please do watch and let me know if it was anti Pakistan. Lastly how can a movie on #SanjayDutt be inspiration and not #Malala
— Dhawal Chopra (@dhawalhchopra) July 5, 2018
But generally, people felt that this would not be good for Malala, considering her ‘image issues’ in Pakistan
Absolutely horrible idea. Will only exacerbate the animosity & hatred that ultra-patriots express against her. Besides in my admittedly very limited exposure to bollywood, I've found it to be quite awful. So is Pakistani cinema. But that's because they mostly copy Bollywood.
— Dr. Jamshaid (@JammanKhattak) July 4, 2018
It’s not clear whether or not Malala has given her permission for this movie to be made, and it’s also not clear how much of the plot of the film is based entirely on Malala’s life and tribulations.
How do you feel about this entire situation? Let us know in the comments 🙂
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