''Aurat Raj'' () is one of the first
Pakistani feminist films. Released in 1979, it was produced and directed by
Rangeela.
It is a satirical movie and was produced during the grim times for women under the conservative dictator, General
Zia-ul-Haq's, socio-politically adverse dictatorship. Ahead of its time, it did not do well commercially at the box office.
The plot is based on a short story of
Shaukat Thanvi, where oppressed
women of Pakistan fight back by forming a
feminist movement
The feminist movement, also known as the women's movement, refers to a series of social movements and political campaigns for Radical politics, radical and Liberalism, liberal reforms on women's issues created by inequality between men and wom ...
on roads and gain political power too. After gaining political power, in a satirical comedy fantasy scene, the female lead gives a taste of
patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of authority are primarily held by men. The term ''patriarchy'' is used both in anthropology to describe a family or clan controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males, and in fem ...
and
misogyny
Misogyny () is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against Woman, women or girls. It is a form of sexism that can keep women at a lower social status than Man, men, thus maintaining the social roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been wide ...
to Pakistani men by converting all of them into women a time.
The fantastical scenarios, musical flights and comedic twists in the film have been hailed as interventionist tools and techniques that help to complicate and refashion the present by envisioning radical futures.
Cast
*
Rani
''Rani'' () is a female title, equivalent to queen, for royal or princely rulers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It translates to 'queen' in English. It is also a Sanskrit Hindu feminine given name. The term applies equally to a ...
*
Waheed Murad
*
Sultan Rahi
Sultan Rahi (; June 24, 1938 – January 9, 1996) was a Pakistani actor, producer and screenwriter.
He established himself as one of the leading and most successful actors of Pakistani and Punjabi cinema, and received a reputation as Pakistan' ...
* Chakori
* Naghma
*
Shehla Gill
*
Durdana Rehman
* Rangeela
* Yasmin Khan
*
Badar Munir
* Asif Khan
*
Usman Pirzada
* Khanum
* Waheeda Khan
* Surayya Khan
* Nazar
*
Nanha
* Albela
*
Khalid Saleem Mota
* Iqbal Durrani
* Irfan Khoost
* Ali Ahmed
* Ladla
* Chakram
* Saqi
* Shahnawaz
* (Guests: Yousuf Khan, Ali Ejaz, Durdana Rehman, Zahid Khan)
Box office
The film was a "Silver Jubilee" hit, completing 45 weeks in theaters.
See also
*
Aurat March
*
Me too movement in Pakistan
*
Girls at Dhabas
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, 0237010
Urdu-language Pakistani films
Pakistani action films
1970s feminist films
Feminism in Pakistan
1970s Urdu-language films