''Zarqa'' is a 1969 Pakistani epic

historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romance film, romances, adventure f ...

film directed, produced and written by

Riaz Shahid Riaz Shahid (1927 – 1 October 1972) was a Pakistani filmmaker, film writer, and a journalist. Early life and career Riaz Shahid was born in 1927 in Quetta, British India. He belonged to a Kashmiris in Punjab, Punjabi Kashmiri family. He ...

while the music is composed by

Rashid Attre Abdul Rasheed Attra (15 February 1919 – 18 December 1967), also known as Rasheed Attre, was a Pakistani film score composer.Neelo Neelo Begum (born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes; ''née'' Abida Riaz; 30 June 1941 – 30 January 2021) was a Pakistani veteran film actress. She made her film debut in 1956 with Hollywood film ''Bhowani Junction''. She was known as ''The Qu ...

, Alauddin,

Ejaz Durrani Ejaz Durrani (18 April 1935 – 1 March 2021), known mononymously as Ejaz, was a Pakistani film actor, director and producer active from 1956 to 1984. He was married to legendary Pakistani actress-singer Noor Jehan. He is mostly remembered for ...

, Saqi and Nasira as protagonist characters. It is based on the life of Zarqa, a Palestinian dancer girl and a freedom activist, the latter of whom killed herself for the liberation of Palestine involving

Israeli-occupied territories Israeli-occupied territories are the lands that were captured and occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. While the term is currently applied to the Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights, it has also been used to refer to a ...

and Palestinian liberation movement. It also addresses a real event of Neelo when she was forcibly invited by

Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan Malik Amir Mohammad Khan (; 20 June 1910 – 26 November 1967) was the Nawab of Kalabagh and a prominent feudal lord, politician, the chief or sardar of the Awan tribe, and of his tribal estate Kalabagh, in Mianwali District of north western Pu ...

, the governor of

West Pakistan West Pakistan ( ur, , translit=Mag̱ẖribī Pākistān, ; bn, পশ্চিম পাকিস্তান, translit=Pôścim Pakistan) was one of the two Provincial exclaves created during the One Unit Scheme in 1955 in Pakistan. It was d ...

to his office to perform a stage dance during the 1965's official visit of

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , title = Shahanshah Aryamehr Bozorg Arteshtaran , image = File:Shah_fullsize.jpg , caption = Shah in 1973 , succession = Shah of Iran , reign = 16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979 , coronation = 26 October ...

to Pakistan.

Release

The film was released on October 17, 1969. In 2017, the

Lok Virsa Museum Heritage Museum ( ur, ), also known as Lok Virsa Museum is a museum administered and managed by Lok Virsa - National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage. It is a museum of history and culture in Islamabad, Pakistan, located on the Shakarpa ...

, dedicated to keep historical film records screened the film. It is recognized the first

golden jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali ''"সু ...

film in the history of Pakistan and a

diamond jubilee A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person (e.g. accession to the throne or wedding, among others) or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th annivers ...

film of the

Pakistani cinema Cinema of Pakistan, popularly known as Lollywood ( ur, ), refers to the filmmaking industry in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to several film studios centres, primarily located in its three largest cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. ...

. Primarily known for music blockbuster lyrics from the poems of

Habib Jalib Habib Jalib (24 March 1928 - 12 March 1993; Urdu, Punjabi: ) was a Pakistani revolutionary poet, left-wing activist who opposed martial law, authoritarianism and state oppression. Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz said that he was the poet of ...

, Zarqa filmmakers have reportedly introduced a "propaganda-laden" story in the film. By the latter, the film director made controversial attempts when he offered

film distribution Film distribution (also known as Film exhibition or Film distribution and exhibition) is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience. This is normally the task of a professional film distributor, who would determine the marke ...

of Zarqa for the Middle East through Al Fatah, a guerrilla organisation of Palestinian.

Plot

The film revolves around an Arabian dancer girl Zarqa who joins

Palestinian Liberation Organization The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO; ar, منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية, ') is a Palestinian nationalist political and militant organization founded in 1964 with the initial purpose of establishing Arab unity and s ...

and commits suicide aimed at to harm Israeli Army deployed in the

State of Palestine Palestine ( ar, فلسطين, Filasṭīn), Legal status of the State of Palestine, officially the State of Palestine ( ar, دولة فلسطين, Dawlat Filasṭīn, label=none), is a state (polity), state located in Western Asia. Officiall ...

. Film story starts with an old man who addresses a public gathering in 1969 and a group of Palestinian people listens to his story about a woman, Zarqa while a Palestinian leader Shabaan Lutfi recruits the people to the resistance movement.

Cast

Neelo Neelo Begum (born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes; ''née'' Abida Riaz; 30 June 1941 – 30 January 2021) was a Pakistani veteran film actress. She made her film debut in 1956 with Hollywood film ''Bhowani Junction''. She was known as ''The Qu ...

as Zarqa * Talish as Major David * Alauddin as Shabaan Lutfi * Ejaz * Nasira * Saqi * ChhamChham * Zulfi * Fomi * Ijaz Akhtar * Kemal Irani * Fazal Haq * M.D. Sheikh * Taya Barkat * Raj Multani * Hamid

Soundtrack

* ''A Gham-e-Jahan Naach, Khalq-e-BeZaban Naach, Naach, Naach, Naach''... Singer(s): Mala, Munir Hussain * A''zadi Ki Roshani Lo... Singer(s): Munir Hussain'', Mala * ''Hamen Yaqeen Hay, Dhalay Gi Ik Din''.. A Falastine... Singer(s): Munir Hussain,

Naseem Begum Naseem Begum ( ur, ), (24 February 1936 – 29 September 1971) was a popular, and well known Pakistani film playback singer. She was known as ''The Tradegy Queen'' for singing sorrowful and downhearted songs in films. She rose to promine ...

& Co. * ''Jalti Aag Ko Shama Bana Kar Raqs Karay Parwana''... Singer(s): Munir Hussain, Mala & Co. * ''Main Phool Baichnay Ayi, Main Tor Kay Bulbul Ka Dil''... Singer(s):

* ''Raqs, Zanjeer Pehan Kar Bhi Kiya Jata Hay''... Singer(s):

Mehdi Hassan Mehdi Hassan Khan ( ur, مہدی حسن خاں , translit=) 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012) was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer for Lollywood. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of gh ...

* ''Ya Abbi, Ya Rafiq.. Qais Hay Tu, Tu Hay Sehra, Tu Hay Mehmal''... Singer(s):

& Co. * ''Ya Zarqa.. Mera Dil Tha BeQarar, Tha Tumhara Intezar''... Singer(s): Munir Hussain,

Awards and recognition

Nigar Award The Nigar Awards ( ur, , translit=Inʿām Negār, lit=Picture Awards) were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The Nigar Awards a ...

s in 1969 for 'Best Film', 'Best Director', 'Best Script', 'Best Actress', 'Best Lyrics' and 'Best Male Singer'.

References

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zarqa 1969 films 1960s Urdu-language films 1960s historical drama films Films scored by Rashid Attre Pakistani historical drama films Films set in Pakistan Films shot in Pakistan Epic films based on actual events Pakistani epic films Drama films based on actual events Israeli–Palestinian conflict films Nigar Award winners