Some related gossip........happened to be in Pune when ``Brangelina``, as dubbed by the press, were in town shooting for the movie.
Other than sulking indoors most of the time and taking their kid for an autorickshaw ride, they made no special impression. Prior to coming to the Punyanagari, they and their various kids had spent a few days in Kerala and waxed eloquent to the press that that place was wonderful etc. etc. Stolid Punekars mostly ignored the petulant pair, so I heard!
Not many people rushed to see the movie either, they say.

Latest News

Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Pakistan mosque: security officials ISLAMABAD, July 8, 2007 (AFP) - Islamic militants from a group linked to Al-Qaeda and to the murder of the journalist Daniel Pearl are believed to be leading hold-outs at a Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, security officials said Sunday. At least two commanders from the banned group Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islami, whose name means Movement of Islamic Holy War, are inside the besieged Mosque, the officials said on condition of anonymity. “We believe there are militants from Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islami, which was involved in the Pearl murder..........

Ras - a trip to Dhaka sounds great and I do know St. Josephs. Don`t know any Javed. I am near San Jose. Shoot me an email if you like via my website.

Funny but twisted about the popcorn part. After reading your write-up, I checked on more info re the movie. Strange to hear that it was primarily filmed in Pune :-( and not Karachi.

-zensufi-

Re: 68 Zensufi

Hi Mariam,

On a side note

After my roots tour of India and Pakistan in 2004,

I also want to go back to Dhaka now to visit my old school

(St. Josephs). Do you know a Javed that shares your last name

and lives in NJ?


``A Mighty Heart`` was very painful to watch.

It is such a sensitive issue that some people

were even offended by my popcorn closing.

Ras

Ras - how are you doing? Long time no hear! Nice write up, thanks. I heard Asra Nomani and Dan Futterman on Public Radio on two different programs. The movie was tough to make and watch.

-zensufi-

Disciover bhai/behen, believe me, not enough are being killed. ....

Some comparison between pakistan and india......

in pakistan daniel pearl [1st reporter ever killed]
in india a numbers of reporter and missionaries are being killed everyday but still india is a peaceful country[touché] see the extract

Christian missionary family killed in India
Last Updated: Friday, November 10, 2000 | 11:53 PM ET
CBC News
A Christian missionary and his two sons were burnt alive when the vehicle in which they were sleeping was set on fire Saturday.

The Australian missionary in the eastern Indian state of Orissa and his 10-year-old and 8-year-old sons died from their burns. The village church was also burnt down.

The missionary had been working among tribal peoples and lepers for the last 30 years in the state, officials said.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee condemned the attack and asked for speedy action to punish the culprits.

Christian missionaries have come under attack from alleged Hindu right-wing activists in recent months. Churches have been burned and dozens of priests and nuns have been injured. No one has claimed responsibility for the violence.

The Hindu extremists say the Christians are forcefully converting the poor. The Christians deny that, saying they are only offering charity.

Christians make up a little over 2 per cent of India`s nearly 1 billion population, while Hindus account for more than 80 per cent.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/1999/01/23/india990123.html

``#48 by neembu on July 1, 2007 8:19pm PT
Re: # 46

Or maybe you can do us a big favor and recount for us adaptations of historical tragedies in which colonialized populations were just a colorful, dancing, singing, crying and murdering backdrop for white heroism?

Shall we bother waiting, O Fount Of Knowledge?``

Or maybe you can have a relative beheaded and be told that the narrative is bigger than the individual.

Would not that be wonderful, O Self Righteous Twit?

#62 by cobra

Spot on, mate!

Re: # 59

Tell me about it. I`m so angry that they found Pune of all the cities in the world to film this horrible film. Pune oh my beloved Pune.

``The image of a lawless country, consumed by violence and chaos is once again being promoted in this film. The compassionate heart of Karachi is missing here. ``

How many such compassionate souls came out to protest the crime committed against Daniel Perl?

Re: # 41

neembu,

........... leaving aside the historical injustices in the entertainment business, i still don`t see the big deal about who played mrs pearl in the movie ......... i know there is an affirmative action ``quota`` system in american movies, but i find it rather patronizing and demeaning that hollywood is obliged to cast at least one african american character in a ``positive`` role in every film, regardless of the context .......... and sometimes it gets comical - it is one thing for morgan freeman to show up as tim robbins prison buddy (shawshank redemption), but what the heck was he doing up in montana as robert redford`s stoic sidekick in `an unfinished life` ! .......

........ this type of academic nitpicking doesn`t do any good and fools like churchill ward end up hurting their cause more than they help it ...........

p.s. you are too sweet to be a neembu.... maybe a tangerine .....

Kala Harry and Lemonade,
Please don`t trash this forum with your nonsense about race and pigmentation. As far as I am concerned you are both slow losers and quite swarthy and rather full of pork.

Pune, the unfortunate city that served as the hub of conspiracy for the right-wing Hindu terrorists who murdered the Mahatma, is now considered safe enough to portray Karachi. How low can you go?

Re: # 57

no.

Re: # 54
actaully neither in the UK... but in the US they are. Can I recommend some reading

Re: # 55
Comming this from a Bihari Chuha must have some validity to it.

#50 {``I am embarrassed and ashamed as a Muslim as my people killed an innocent journalist for his religion ``}

#53 {``North Africans are considered ``white``. ``}

Mirchais are considered neither Muslim nor white.

Re: # 53

Not by the French.

Re: # 51

Neembu.. North Africans are considered ``white``.

Siddiqui Sahib,
Excellent analysis of a flick that is obviously not worthy of the man whose cruel death it exploits for the benefit of Achilles and the mother of Alexander. :)

The notorious ``Muslim`` writer Assra Noname has gone on the record that the movie does not represent the facts, Daniel Pearl, or even herself - it`s meant to be the Marianne Pearl Show as further blurred by the presence of Angelina Jolie. The fact that Hamidum Sahib has deeloped x-ray vision for this aging supermom is further proof of the lampooning of the real tragedy - the beheading of a kind man just because he was Jewish. What a cowardly and grotesque act of Jihadi ``Muslim`` heroism to extract revenge for repeated Israeli triumphs over the swarms of momins!

I do agree with you about the unfortunate bashing that poor Karachi has received from this sad tale. Too bad, because of its size and teeming millions, Karachi has become the playground for ALL of Pakistan`s filth that is usually hatched up north and then brought down to hide in the obscurity offered by its size and diversity. Just look at the AlKayda crowd of Binalshib and others, handcuffed after a wild west shootout in Defence. Consider the presence of all forms of Sunni radicals - ranging from Jhangvis to Jaish, from Deobandis to Dawood, and from Barelvis to the butchers of sectarian strife.

Too bad, even as the locale for the gruesome beheading, Karachi had to be played by Pune, because it is considered so mean, so unsafe, and so ugly that it can`t even represent itself as the villain. And some stupid people are wondering why Angeline Jolie is too white for the role of Marianne.

Re: # 50

Kunkil,

It would be so nice for you if it ended there, wouldnt it? Wash your hands before the water gets too muddy. (ironic ikaan)

What had Marianne noted in that article in my ilaag-that she was perceived as Algerian, Pakistani, etc depending on which country she was in. Daniel Pearl`s family obviously have roots in the Middle East. Why does your being Muslim deny all other identities and realities for others?

Re: # 48
Neembu, I am embarrassed and ashamed as a Muslim as my people killed an innocent journalist for his religion (I can`t tell how happy you may be about his murder), I could give a fuk about who plays the role of his widow in a movie.

Re: # 45

Kulharee Sahib,

As you seem to think your relationship with Chaltahai has now given you license to believe you are a woman of color, I`m going to have to bring you down to earth and tell you that it just is not so.

Re: # 46

Or maybe you can do us a big favor and recount for us adaptations of historical tragedies in which colonialized populations were just a colorful, dancing, singing, crying and murdering backdrop for white heroism?

Shall we bother waiting, O Fount Of Knowledge?

Re: # 43

Kulharee Sahib,

Quite a telling notion that you perceive ``rendering visible`` all the people in this film adaptation of a historical tragedy as denying the criminal act itself. Or are you just grandstanding now?

What does it mean to render someone visible, whether they are Jewish, African or Pakistani? What does it mean when we are participate in our own dehumanization to the extent that we accept white actors and actresses ``be`` us in one of the most lucrative and influential entertainment industries in the world? Why are we so satisfied to occupy roles of villany to the extent that we cannot even find ourselves in our moments of courage and moral conscientiousness? I ask this because by Ras` account, the Pakistan that grieved with Pearl is not present in this film. And here we encounter yet another form erasure-our erasure of our authentic selves-the selves who are disturbed by the murder of Pearl.

If pointing out that desis need to stop being content with being the darkies in the background of Hollywood narratives of white heroism makes me Al Sharpton, I have news for you Tawana...and that is that you have been assaulted....

````This is bigger than Mariane Pearl,`` says Todd Boyd, professor of critical studies at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.``

Look at the arrogance of this painchod. Mayvbe we can behead his son and have a discussion on which actor should play the part. Fricking acadamics need a kick up the backside.

Re: # 44
Good idea Einstein (they don’t call you Einstein for nuttin). I can just imagine Mariane Pearl give a piece of her mind to Neembu. She wanted Ms. Jolie to play her part, I don`t know what the big deal is.. considering that more than half of the Shakespearian actors at London Guild are non-whites (even a couple of Desis who have made a name playing “Romeo”).

Chowk staff should invite Mariane Pearl to comment on this article or write an article of her own. Hope she is alive and well.

Re: # 41

Neembu. It’s a sad day when the most horrific murder, committed by Muslims of an innocent journalist because he was a Jew, has been totally moved to a footnote status while some pseudo-intellectuals are arguing the merits of who plays the role of his widow in a movie. What a lovely state of intellectual affairs. Has anyone contacted Hollywood to see if they give a tiny amount of hoot about it?

It is asd thing american and Indian press has used demise reporter to paint pakistan as a bod bed for terrorists and fellow terrorist type people and post graduate place for terrorism and that type of training.
Good partof thing is the wife of departed person always thanked pakistan and pakistani people and govt in supporting her while going through that sad things.
Some political type mentality type people Indoamerican , americans and jewish people taking misadvantage of situation is totally sad and deplorable who are taking political advantage than being nice to troubled people and really not good mentality.

Re: # 38

Hamid Sahib,

Mehr bani karkeh refer to me as Neembu. Apparently, my existence causes certain desi interactors such intense pain and nutsy faginism that they begin to bay like dogs, etc., shukrian.

So basically you have not read the article which is about how Hollywood has historically represented race and why that is relevant to this discussion. And not having read about this historical erasure and minstrelsy, you fail to see why a great number of Americans might take issue with the casting of Jolie as a bi racial French journalist. It seems that the interesting nuances of Daniel Pearl`s minority identity as an American Jewish son of Iraqi-Israeli heritage in Pakistan and Marianne`s darkness being perceived as South Asian by Pakistanis have escaped you as well. And so having basically scratched yourself during this paragraph, I am expected to respond to your red herring (note: Al Sharpton is an ineffective red herring) delivered in the form of Al Sharpton.

Hamid Mian, I really wonder how all of you men actually make money. Its absolutely criminal that you are entrusted with any decision beyond what flavor ice cream you`ll be having for dessert. :)

Re: # 39

kulharee,

..... since samina is not replying ............ i love begum nawazish ali - she is like a breath of fresh ............

Neembu, what are you views on Begum Nawazish Ali?

saminsha,

........ honestly, i tried to read the article but it just seems to be the usual sharptonian hand wringing and moaning over yet another non-issue ......... as far as i can see, mrs pearl is not really black and neither is halle berry or tiger woods (the best thai golfer in the world) ......... on the other hand, justice thomas and bill cosby are definitely black even though you might think otherwise ..............

..... unless race was fundamental to the plot of the movie, why does it matter ?............ since i haven`t seen the film i don`t know what you mean by the `relevance of the erasure of race` .......... african americans have many real issues that they need to address instead of wasting their time on who plays tawana brawley and rodney king in the movies ......... by the way, would you be happier if nicole richie had played mrs pearl.. or isn`t she black enough ?........

p.s. i want brad pitt to play me in the movies

Re: # 33

hello hamid sahib. have you read the article?

It seems to me comments that serve to close down discussion rather than encourage participants to think thoughtfully are usually the refuge of the lazy. I know that some desis like to think of themselves as white, but I`m not one of them and the relevance of the erasure of race in this film exists on several levels. I`m sure in the blockbuster film adaption of Chowk.com, you`ll want to be played by Sir Ben Kingsley or even Aasif Maandvi and not Brad Pitt...as I know Arjun will be played by Kal Penn. :)

Ras,

It`s just another formula tear jerker .... pregnant mom-to-be ends up in a hostile and primitive land looking for her noble journalist husband abducted by forces of evil ... reminds me of another lemon (not neembu) called Flight 77 where the plot on cue flashed back to the pilot`s infant son every 5 minutes while the proud father was busy battling pirates in the air ... wow.

Re: # 33
[...halle berry would have been okay too, i would still want to see her naked ........ ]

Then watch ``monster ball`` ...

RE: #20 by Love2love

I do not have your email address anymore.


This movie is really ``The Mariane Pearl Story``

as far as I could gather. It is getting killed at

the box office here in the USA and on that note

I have to partially agree with hamidm2.

(I cannot agree with him fully because I write

and post under my own name on CHOWK).

Ras

Re: # 32

ms saminsha,

........... i see that everyone has their own little axe to grind but i think you are getting a little silly about this `blackface` thing ........... would the movie have been any better if halle berry had played that role? ............ get off it !

p.s. as far as i am concerned, halle berry would have been okay too, i would still want to see her naked ........

Re: # 29

Dear Ras,

My apologies for non topic related comments on your board. I read your review and appreciated your insights particularly on the Karachi of the film and the city in reality. Some of the academic listserv discussions about the film have explored another erasure- of Marianne Pearl`s African identity through the story being represented by the Jolie/Pitt team. I`ve posted an article on my ilog that presents the different perspectives on this issue.

Re: # 29

ras mian,

........ even though i am a big movie buff, i have no intention of seeing this film .......... the trailer was rather sappy and watching one angelina jolie movie is like watching another - inspite of the dark hair and scruffy look, she is still angelina and all you want is to see her naked ! ................ and as far as the chowk crowd is concerned, it is old news for us that has been rehashed over and over again ........ i am sure it is an okay film but if i want to see yet another ``triumph of the human spirit`` movie i will go see braveheart again - mel gibson was a great actor before he started drinking and became a muslim .......... the movie would have been more interesting if it had focused on the life of sheikh omar saeed to give us some insight into what turns a public school man into a cold blooded killer .........

.......... think i`ll wait till it comes out on dvd ......

A Look back to the subject matter to what I had written on CHOWK in 2002

in ``Lessons From The Pearl Murder`` at

http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00001258&channel=chaathouse&start=0&end=9&chapter=1&page=1

It brought back quite a few bad memories.


Now Lemon and the 2nd reincarnation of Arjun have been busy talking

to each other on this board and it appears that others want to follow in their footsteps.


This was a very sad movie, one that should cause both anger and

much reflection in viewers.

It appears that this review has reached quite a number of readers

via a number of media outlets and some (even from the cast)

have not been happy with what I wrote about it.

In any case

I was hoping that other CHOWK readers who have seen it

would add their views instead of creating other topics for

discussion here.

If you have seen ``A Mighty Heart`` what did you really think of it?


Ras

Re: # 27

zee,

neither was sheikh omar saeed - lse alumnus and daniel pearl`s murderer ........... or so he claimed ............ the people of uk are fully justified in being a wary of the people who live in their midst, are the benficiaries of the welfare system, and wage war against them .............

... anyway, congratulations on your new car ...........you must admit, as much as you hate it, living in the west does have some advantages - i love my cavalier too ......

#26 by hamidm2,

I`m neither a beneficiary of UK nor wish its destruction. However as long as they wage war, other people will respond in kind ...

Re: # 25

zeemax,

..... burgundy, maroon .. what would i know ... i drive a `97 chevy cavalier .... alhamdolillah! ......... but it really strikes me odd that a man who is obviously a beneficiary of the system in uk would wish for its destruction - is this what they call the masadi complex ?

#24 by hamidm2,

Did it look like one to you?

And `Burgundy`, not `Maroon` you ganwaar ... :)

Re: # 23

zeemax,

........ i hope one of the mercedes was not a maroon clk-350 ???

#21 by no-nick fool,

`All The Hallmarks Of Al Qaeda Attack` my foot!

If it was any half-serious attempt, those cars would have BLOWN- UP like great firecrackers transporting aerially half of Haymarket and much of Piccadilly to the top of Big Ben and Tower of London respectively. A worthy farewell to bLiar and resounding welcome to Brown indeed.

Two cars full of petrol and empty gas cylinders ... the driver of one running away after hitting a stupid trash can ... only idiots and hindoos will believe they were upto anything.

It`s likely either a prank by someone from Kingston, or MI5 readying to raid some Muslims.

Re: #
http://www.chowk.com/show_forum_topic_post_list.cgi?tid=00041727

Major Terror Attack foiled in London

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