Insan Aur Gadha
1973 film
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Insan Aur Gadha (Man and Donkey) is a 1973 Pakistani Urdu satirical comedy film produced and directed by Kamal.
| Insan Aur Gadha | |
|---|---|
| |
| انسان اور گدھا | |
| Directed by | Syed Kamal |
| Written by | Syed Kemal (Idea: Tanvir Kazmi) |
| Based on | Gadhay Ki Sarguzasht (novel by Krishan Chandar) |
| Produced by | Syed Kamal |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Azhar Zaidi |
| Music by | Nashad |
Release date |
|
| Country | Pakistan |
| Language | Urdu |
The comedy actor Rangeela played the title role of a donkey-turned-human.[1] The other lead cast included Nisho, Kamal, and Rozina. The central idea of the film was taken from Krishan Chandar's novel "Gadhay Ki Sarguzasht".[2]
After a few weeks of its release, Insan Aur Gadha was banned by the Bhutto Government due to a parody speech scene that the government did not like. "Publicly, the reason given for the ban was that the scene had ridiculed the (Pakistani) masses, by depicting them as a bunch of donkeys".[1][2]
Plot
A donkey desires to be a human, so he prays to God to fulfill his wish. But when his prayer is actually answered and he transforms into a man, he quickly finds out that his life purpose and moral duties were more meaningful and easily identifiable when he was a donkey than when he is a human being. He eventually asks God to change him back into a donkey since he is so disappointed in humanity (or its lack thereof).[1]
Cast
- Rangeela — as the human version of a donkey[1][2][3]
- Kamal — as the master[1][2][3]
- Nisho
- Rozina
- Nirala
- Aslam Pervaiz
- Hanif
- Mehmood Ali
- Reshma
- Shakeel
- Sikandar
- Guests appearances: Ghazala Kaifee, Iqbal Hassan, Kemal Irani, Afzaal Ahmad, Sultan Rahi, Ilyas Kashmiri
Release and ban
Insan Aur Gadha was released on 31 August 1973. Soon after its release at theaters, the Pakistan People Party's government banned the film due to a satirical speech by the donkey-turned-human character, delivered before a large gathering of donkeys. The political government of the time took the satire as an offense. According to a film critic Mushtaq Gazdar, the scene did not conceal the fact that it was parodying Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's distinctive brand of populist oratory.[1][3][4]
Though, a month later, the film was allowed to be screened again.[5]
Awards
| Year | Film | Award | Category | Awardee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Insan Aur Gadha | Nigar Award | Best Comedian | Rangeela | [6][7] |