The Blood of Hussain

The Blood of Hussain is a 1980 Pakistani drama film directed by Jamil Dehlavi. The film was 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.

Premise
The film is about the life and death of Imam Hussain (as), 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. Parallels exist between the film's plot and the historical Battle of Karbala between Imam Hussain and Yazid ibn Muawiya during the 7th century history of Islam.

Cast

 * Aliya Begum
 * Durriya
 * Fauzia Zareen
 * Kabuli Baba
 * Khayyam Sarhadi
 * Imran Peerzada
 * Kika Markham
 * Jamil Dehlavi
 * Mirza Ghazanfar Beg
 * Mubila
 * Salmaan Peerzada
 * Samina Peerzada
 * Saqi
 * Shoaib Hashmi
 * Zil-e-Subhan

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

 * Director: Jamil Dehlavi
 * Production Company: Parindah Films Limited
 * Producer: Jamil Dehlavi
 * Associate Producer: Sharira Masood, Sandra Marsh
 * Production Accountant: Gerry Wheatley
 * Production Manager: Kaiser Baig
 * Assistant Director: Imran Peerzada
 * Continuity: Omar Norman, Marian Nicholson
 * Screenplay: Jamil Dehlavi
 * Dialogue Writer: Raficq Abdulla
 * Director of Photography: Walter Lassally, Jamil Dehlavi
 * Assistant Camera: Ashiq Rahi
 * Focus Puller: Tony Garratt
 * Key Grip: Afzal Akhtar
 * Electrician: Barkat Joseph, Mohammed Saeed
 * Special Effects: Colin Arthur
 * Editor: Sue Collins, Jamil Dehlavi
 * cost: Rashida Masood
 * Make-up: Colin Arthur
 * Titles/Opticals: Les Latimer Film Associates
 * Music Supervisor: Jamil Dehlavi
 * Playback singer: Reshma
 * Sound: Christian Wangler, Shahid Rasool
 * Boom Operator: Javed Khan
 * Dubbing Mixer: Paul Carr
 * Sound Editor: Martin Evans
 * Studio: Mark One Films Studios, (London)

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