First Pashto film on abuse of social media

First Pashto film on abuse of social media

Scripted by Rahmat Dewan, promo of film released in Peshawar

By Sher Alam Shinwari

(Published this article in daily "Dawn" newspaper, thanks for Dawn).

Peshawar: A private CD production house here on Friday released the promo of first ever Pashto film “Hukhiar Shai” (be careful) based on trapping of innocent girls by young boys through ‘Facebook’ leading to commission of suicide by the former.

Scripted and directed by Rahmat Dewan, Abdul Ali Khan has produced the film. Mr. Dewan, a young Pashto short story writer and composing head at Bacha Khan Markaz got inspiration from a real life incident that occurred in a Pashtun-dominated area of Karachi a year ago. A young college boy made contact with a girl on the ‘Facebook’ and used to demand money from her, failing which led him to sharing her photos on social media.

The girl hailing from a poor family could not afford giving money any longer. The boy released her ‘photos’ which in fact were not hers but the boy had made medley of her pictures in a manner that she succumbed to the shock of being exposed and later committed suicide.

It was reported in the media which inspired Mr. Dewan to pen down a short story titled ‘Marghai giara shwa’ (the sparrow got caught) in Pashto which he had shared on ‘Facebook’ with his friends who advised him to dramatize its content into a short Pashto film.

“It took me and my 15-member team almost three months to shoot it. I have based my story on the real life event. The basic theme of the CD film is to create awareness among young girls and boys regarding positive usage of social media. I know about 12 such incidents. Unfortunately, in all these cases, an innocent girl has become victim,” Mr. Dewan told Dawn. The film will be released after a month following its video sponsorship. Noted actress Farah Khan and Mr. Dewan are playing central roles in the play.

The story spanning over one and a half hours opens with commission of suicide by a young girl sending a wave of shock through her relatives and friends as nobody knew cause of her death.

The story being shrouded in mysteries is going to be unfolded through series of incidents.

At the end, the CID police reached the culprit who divulged the whole story behind the incident.

Most parents in fact are unaware of the negative and positive effects of using internet and mobile phones. “We need to create awareness among parents as well as our youngsters to use social media for a positive purpose,” the writer said.

“In majority of the cases, it is the girls who are being trapped by boys. I personally know about a dozen young girls who have committed suicide of have been killed for having ‘Facebook’ affairs with boys. Our scriptwriters don’t highlight issues arising because of wrong use of social media,” Mr. Dewan observed.

Watch Promo of Hokhiar Shai

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