The Blood of Hussain

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. 

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
Aliya Begam
Durriya Kazi
Fauzia Zareen
Kabuli Baba
Khayyam Sarhadi
Imran Peerzada
Kika Markham
Jamil Dehlavi
Mirza Ghazanfar Baig
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 Ltd
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

See also
Jamil Dehlavi

References

External links

Dehlavi Films - The Blood of Hussain
BFI - The Blood of Hussain

Category:1980 films
Category:1980s drama films
Category:Pakistani films
Category:Pakistani drama films
Category:English-language Pakistani films
Category:1980s in Pakistan