The Blood of Hussain

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The Blood of Hussain
Directed by Jamil Dehlavi
Produced by Jamil Dehlavi
Written by Rafiq Abdullah
Jamil Dehlavi
Cinematography Walter Lassally
Distributed by Parindah Films Ltd
Cinegate Ltd.
Release dates
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  • 1980 (1980)
Running time
112 minutes
Country Pakistan
Language Urdu, English

The Blood of Hussain is a 1980 Pakistani film directed by Jamil Dehlavi and released in 1980 (released in February 1981 in the UK). The film was banned throughout Pakistan as the military junta led by General Zia-ul-Haq toppled the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.[1]

Plot

The film is about the life and death of Hussain, the youngest son of a Pakistani family. He meets a holy soothsayer who foretells his destiny, which is to liberate the poor and oppressed against a tyrannical government. The struggle parallels that of Imam Hussain of the 7th century who was martyred by Yazid I, the Umayyad Caliph.

Cast

Alternative titles

The Blood of Hussain is known as To Aima tou agonisti in Greece, Husseins Herzblut in Germany and Le Sang d'Hussain in France.

Banning

The film was banned by the Pakistani military ruler General Zia ul-Haq, after he seized power in a coup de état and became President of Pakistan in 1977, as the film portrays a fictional military coup in a less than favourable light. The ban on the film has not been lifted, and the director later moved to the United Kingdom. The film was eventually released and shown on British television.

Credits

Release

  • Release date: 1980
  • Country: Pakistan
  • System: N/A
  • Format: 35mm Film
  • Length: 10068 Feet
  • Run time: 112.0 mins.
  • Colour/Black and White: Colour
  • Colour systems: N/A
  • Sound/Silent: Sound
  • Sound systems: N/A
  • Language: Urdu, English, Punjabi and Seraiki

TV transmission

  • First Transmission date: February 16, 1983
  • Country: Great Britain
  • Series/Slot: N/A
  • Start time: 22:00
  • Stop time: 00:00
  • Duration: 120 mins.
  • Company: N/A
  • Channel: Channel Four
  • Second transmission date: October 2, 1988
  • Country: Great Britain
  • Series/Slot: N/A
  • Start time: N/A
  • Stop time: N/A
  • Duration: N/A
  • Company: Channel Four
  • Channel: N/A

See also

References

External links