Images

Film on forced conversion The Losing Side bags award at Cannes World Film Festival

Film on forced conversion The Losing Side bags award at Cannes World Film Festival

The film is based on real events and won in the category of Best Human Rights Film for the month of November.
02 Jan, 2023

A movie documenting the issue of forced religious conversion in Sindh has won an award at the Cannes World Film Festival.

The Losing Side bagged the award in the category of Best Human Rights Film for the month of November, the Awards announced in a Facebook post.

The film is based on real events with four victims of forced conversions narrating their stories, said movie director Jawad Sharif while talking to Dawn.

Released under the banner of Jawad Sharif Films, the movie was submitted for the awards a couple of months back and it was nominated for the award in mid-December.

On the last day of 2022, Mr Sharif learned that his movie has won the accolade. “Such good news on the last day of 2022. Our film The Losing Side has won the Best Human Rights Film Award at Cannes World Film Festival,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

Talking about the thought behind the project, Mr Sharif told Dawn the idea was to make a film on the heritage and culture of minorities and how they are preserving it.

Minority communities like Hindus and Christians in Sindh face the issues of religious conversions which are sometimes by choice, while some are forced, Mr Sharif said.

In many cases, he added, underage Hindu girls are kidnapped, forcefully converted to Islam and then married off to a Muslim man.

In its annual report for the year 2021, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said at least 27 alleged forced conversion cases were reported from Sindh, with a majority of victims belonging to “low-caste or scheduled-caste Hindus and Christians”.

Seven cases even involved minors, the HRCP added.

This is not the first recognition received by the movie. Earlier this year, the movie was nominated for an award at the Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival but fell short of winning it.

For Mr Sharif, these awards serve a bigger purpose than mere recognition. “I believe this award is more meaningful as it will give space to a sensitive issue in the mainstream media,” he said.

According to him, such festivals and events are important to present a “counter-narrative and narrative of resistance”.

Originally published in Dawn, January 2th, 2023

Comments

Ahmad Jan 02, 2023 05:36pm
A good recognition to a film raising a very important point.
Recommend
Atapi Jan 02, 2023 05:37pm
You cant keep hiding the truth while championing rights of a minority in neighbouring country
Recommend
Sunil Prakash Jan 02, 2023 05:48pm
Really, no outrage or interest in this brutal behavior towards minorities in Pakistan? Please develop some sense of balance and self examination.
Recommend
Charles Jan 02, 2023 05:49pm
Reality bites.
Recommend
chandoo Jan 02, 2023 05:55pm
Nothing new....is been going for many years. Must introspect where one learns these heinous human crime from? What are the sources? Its around ......
Recommend
Seriously? Jan 02, 2023 06:07pm
Hats off to the makers of the film, sadly it is such a normal thing to happen that there is absolutely no outrage anywhere in the country. Let there be some sanity
Recommend
SVS Jan 02, 2023 06:14pm
Good recognition of constant problem since the independence.
Recommend
SVS Jan 02, 2023 06:15pm
Rather sad situation
Recommend
Pakrules Jan 02, 2023 06:20pm
I’m sure Pakistanis are very proud.
Recommend
Anonymouseee Jan 02, 2023 06:20pm
I wonder why films based on apartheid israel, India’s terrorism in occupied Kashmir, or US war on terror that killed millions of innocent lives never gets any award at the Cannes.
Recommend
Truth is bitter Jan 02, 2023 06:24pm
A forced conversion is not accepted in Islam. Maybe the forcer is not real Muslim for not knowing basics of islam
Recommend
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 02, 2023 06:43pm
Bring it on.
Recommend
Truth be told Jan 02, 2023 06:46pm
@Ahmad nope. Such themes will win recognition in the West regardless. Haven' t you seen how Chinoy got famous. You scratch their agenda and they will scratch your back!!
Recommend
Wahab UK Jan 02, 2023 06:55pm
@Sunil Prakash you have much more serious issues to worry about in India.
Recommend
Zak Jan 02, 2023 07:09pm
Anything Anti pakistan, wins awards but no one makes documentaries on Gujarat massacre, Indian illegally occupied Kashmir, Mob lynchings, forced conversions in India.
Recommend
Zak Jan 02, 2023 07:10pm
@Ahmad A good recognition to a film raising a very important point. Should do similar one for India and forced conversions there.
Recommend
Bunny Jan 02, 2023 07:19pm
Brave bold subject ... screaming to be told ... hope his tribe grows ....
Recommend
LOL Jan 02, 2023 07:21pm
With so many feathers on our crown we are beginning to look and act like an ostrich.
Recommend
Abdul Gafoor Jan 02, 2023 07:29pm
Unfortunately most conversions are forced. This is the sad reality here.
Recommend
Adeel Jan 02, 2023 07:41pm
What is the point of these films? The country has no intention of improving itself
Recommend
Real fast track. Jan 02, 2023 08:05pm
@Zak Becuase your false propaganda.
Recommend
Real fast track. Jan 02, 2023 08:07pm
@Anonymouseee Keep up listening your news, and don't see reality.
Recommend
Zak Jan 02, 2023 08:26pm
@Adeel What is the point of these films? The country has no intention of improving itself Once IK is PM amd wins in Sind, things will improve 90%. The 10% failure is where PPP has seats.
Recommend
Vedant Jan 02, 2023 08:42pm
@Wahab UK this article is about Pakistan.
Recommend
Ajaya K Dutt Jan 02, 2023 08:45pm
Salute to Jawad Sharif for presenting this.
Recommend
Shujaat Khan Jan 02, 2023 09:04pm
Congratulations.
Recommend
Abdul S Jan 02, 2023 09:12pm
Any squeaks from Bilawal and Hina?
Recommend
JohnDoe Jan 02, 2023 09:21pm
No rejection from the rejection department!
Recommend
Usman A Jan 02, 2023 09:29pm
Of course it has, anything that portrays Muslims in a negative light will naturally win awards... What a shock
Recommend
Ed Jan 02, 2023 09:51pm
Anything that portrays negative of Pakistan society always wins an award. Such force conversions happens a lot more in India but India never broadcasts such events in a movie.
Recommend
Zaffar Abbas Jan 02, 2023 09:56pm
Losing side
Recommend
Veer Jan 02, 2023 09:58pm
@Zak Give me one single example of a Muslim girl being converted or forcibly married to a non-Muslim man??
Recommend
Bas Jan 02, 2023 10:33pm
@Zak There is no apostasy law in India. Forced conversion is illegal in India. We do make movies on love jihad though.
Recommend
Rana Talukdar Jan 02, 2023 10:36pm
Carry on brave man.
Recommend
PrasadDeccani Jan 02, 2023 10:58pm
@Zak IK won elections in the past too. He was PM too. What did he do during his term?
Recommend
Hawk Jan 02, 2023 11:16pm
It was far more better to produce a film on Kashmiri women who had been raped by indian soldiers, and Kashmiri mothers who lost their young sons .
Recommend
Truth Jan 02, 2023 11:20pm
The simple truth is, all conversions are forced - using fear or incitements. Anyone is free to try out other means and post their results here. Subsequently, if one continues to practice in fear, or the kids assume that to be their lives, doesn’t make it any different.
Recommend
SATT Jan 02, 2023 11:22pm
This is minority phobia of highest order. Can't even bear a negligible amount of minorities.
Recommend
Arshad Amin Jan 02, 2023 11:31pm
A big lie. The four brothers Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China and Pakistan are champions of freedom of minorities. Minorities are suppressed in India though.
Recommend
Agrippa-the Skeptic Jan 02, 2023 11:41pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, seriously? What should be brought on?
Recommend
Agrippa-the Skeptic Jan 02, 2023 11:42pm
@Zak and the making of a film on Gujarat would change the situation of the minorities in P’stan? How?
Recommend
Fast comment Jan 02, 2023 11:45pm
Forced conversion is big sin unpardonable. The 99% cases of forced conversion took place in Sindh. And since decades the Sindh is ruled by PPP. People had great expectations from Federal Govt, that some Day Karachi would be taken by Federal Govt Domain, and declared “Commercial Capital”, that’s needs to be done, to give peace to Karachiiites,
Recommend
Agrippa-the Skeptic Jan 02, 2023 11:46pm
@Zak … once IK becomes PM … Didn’t you also say ‘once CPEC starts, P’stan will become a superpower?’
Recommend
amir _ indian Jan 02, 2023 11:47pm
Jaishankar said Austria is an important partner for India in the European Union at a time when it seeks to upgrade its relationship. “We appreciate its strong support for the negotiations underway on the FTA, the investment agreement and the geographical indicators agreement. The two countries have currently trade turnover of approximately USD 2.5 billion. More than 150 Austrian companies are present in India.
Recommend
Agrippa-the Skeptic Jan 02, 2023 11:56pm
@Abdul S, yes Mohtarma Khar, Mohtaram Zardari - Bhutto (wannabe). Any squeak on these ‘butchers’?
Recommend
SivaD Jan 03, 2023 12:19am
Ed, there is simply nothing to indicate there are forced conversions on the Indian side, from minority to the majority faith. You cannot find an equivalence for this on the Indian side. This is not to say that there are no human rights violations on this side. Our country and its popular culture seems to be becoming slowly anti-Muslim and that is worrisome.
Recommend
Truth be told Jan 03, 2023 12:22am
@Zak ask Shirmeen to make a movie on any of the topics you mentioned. She will just ignore you.
Recommend
NAK Jan 03, 2023 12:50am
@Anonymouseee two wrongs don’t make a right. Forget about criticising others and take a critical look into yourself. What sort of a person each one if is?
Recommend
BAZINGER Jan 03, 2023 01:00am
@Wahab UK India has very few worries. In Gujarat over the years riots used to kill many more Hindus then Muslims. Since 2002 there has not been a single riot in Gujarat. And Hindus do not force conversions
Recommend
BAZINGER Jan 03, 2023 01:02am
@Ed - when making allegations about forced conversions in India you should always have proof. No need for Taquia. Forced conversions are illegal in India. And India is a much more law-abiding country then Pakistan.
Recommend
Ayesha Jan 03, 2023 01:07am
indians who are moaning on minorities in Pakistan .please look in your own collar and see what bjp and rss is doing in India before giving us lecture
Recommend
Zak Jan 03, 2023 01:55am
@Veer @Zak Give me one single example of a Muslim girl being converted or forcibly married to a non-Muslim man?? 'A girl in India' Bihar was burnt alive after she refused to marry a Hindu boy. The incident took place in District Wishali of Bihar state where three Hindu men threw kerosene oil onto 20-year old Gulnaz and set her on fire. According to media reports, a boy called Satish had been harassing her to marry him for months. In her video statement before her death she said that Satish had been forcing her to marry him and she clearly refused as she was a Muslim. The girl was set ablaze when she went to dispose off the garbage outside her house. The victim was reportedly dragged by three people including the father of the prime suspect, and set on fire. The girl had sustained around 75 per cent burn injuries.
Recommend
Zak Jan 03, 2023 02:06am
@Real fast track. @Zak Becuase your false propaganda. Ignore your lying media, keeps you misinformed. 'Reena Kamari, 26, who lives in the village of Bichigada in the central Indian state of Jharkhand was the victim of one such terrifying attack. Kamari converted from Hinduism to Christianity in 2017. A very sickly child, she says her health ailments improved as soon as she started praying to Jesus Christ – it was a miracle, she believes. In April this year, she was dragged from her home by a baying mob into her village square where she was beaten unconscious after refusing to convert back to Hinduism. She says she didn’t recognise those that assaulted her and believes they came from a different village or nearby town.
Recommend
Zak Jan 03, 2023 02:09am
@PrasadDeccani @Zak IK won elections in the past too. He was PM too. What did he do during his term? Because you are ignorant foreigner, you wont know, even though IK was PM but Sind had PPP provincial government which is responsible for protection of minorities. Most culprits are PPP waderas. However, next time IK will sweep Sind in elections.
Recommend
Sara Jan 03, 2023 02:23am
@Sunil Prakash There is growing awareness and a lot of pain in society now. This is happening to Muslim girls also, especially from minority sects
Recommend
Ravi Vancouver Jan 03, 2023 04:04am
@Zak Forced religious conversion is not allowed in Islam. Mullahs doing forced conversions are breaking best principles of Islam. A bad act can never be justified by telling that others are doing a bad acts or others are doing even worse type of acts.
Recommend
anokhaa_ laadla_ Jan 03, 2023 04:27am
This will be great news for RSS and BJP ! This will give a great leverage to do further genocide of Muslim minorities as if what was going on was not already inhuman treatment of Muslims in India .
Recommend
David Jan 03, 2023 04:49am
Wondering why such films are not made on human right violations in Kashmir? I guess Indians are more patriotic then our lot.
Recommend
Neutral Human Jan 03, 2023 05:19am
@Zak - Sure please do so, but you be surprised to know the "Losing Side" is still the same, hence the states are forming new law against so called "Love Jihaad"
Recommend
Reality Jan 03, 2023 05:28am
As long as it wins awards its good otherwise such things don't happen here acc to some
Recommend
Showizza Jan 03, 2023 06:04am
“ which are sometimes by choice” ??? Can you name at least one instance where a Muslim was able to convert to another religion getting out of Islam? ?
Recommend
Multani Jan 03, 2023 06:25am
This really is our internal matter, film industry has no business making fun of us here. West unnecessarily raising this issue to shame us on world stage.
Recommend
Zak Jan 03, 2023 06:51am
@Veer @Zak Give me one single example of a Muslim girl being converted or forcibly married to a non-Muslim man?? The case of Gulnaz and Satish Rai, in Bihar Wishali District. He kidnapped her, later burnt her alive.
Recommend
EmptyCoffers Jan 03, 2023 06:55am
@Truth is bitter The Taliban know Basics of Islam... and they are following it in True Spirit....
Recommend
Ashim Jan 03, 2023 06:57am
@Ed you should know, hindu does not believe in conversion, forget about forced conversation
Recommend
Atif Jan 03, 2023 07:01am
Seems like people in Pakistan have accepted the foul word MINORITY. Are they human beings or slaves ??? How can the bad word be used so freely???
Recommend
akramlodhi Jan 03, 2023 07:16am
we also need to make an award-winning movie on Daya Bheel
Recommend
Kris Jan 03, 2023 07:49am
Sad plights of minorities since independence in Pak. Govt, on other hand, should give adequate protection to the film director and other crew members. Fanatics may try to hurt them! Peace out!
Recommend
Truth Jan 03, 2023 07:59am
@Zak you must be aware of millions of examples of Muslims converting non-Muslims. Please list them out.
Recommend
Gah Jan 03, 2023 08:10am
@Zak the Kashmir Files was a good movie, haven't you seen it yet?
Recommend
Rho Jan 03, 2023 10:05am
South East Sind had a Hindu majority in 1947. Forcible conversions could have been greatly reduced if Sind had been divided like punjab and bengal. The British threw the Hindus under the bus here.
Recommend
Johnw Jan 03, 2023 10:05am
Converting into a backward society with backward culture must be legally banned
Recommend
Rho Jan 03, 2023 10:09am
The only solution to the forcible conversion issue is a mutual exchange of populations. Indian Muslims should move over to Pakistan which was created as a homeland for them and Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs should move to India.
Recommend
Cye Jan 03, 2023 10:14am
Any anti Muslim or anti pak movie will award, for sure.
Recommend
Imtirian Hozmydadi Jan 03, 2023 10:23am
Pakistan getting exposed to the world!
Recommend
Rho Jan 03, 2023 10:27am
@Zak nothing you cite here indicates forcible conversion. Looks like a jilted lover taking revenge and it happens all over the world. You simply cannot draw a moral equivalence between the treatment of minorities in India and Pakistan.
Recommend
Rho Jan 03, 2023 10:29am
@Ed really? So why don’t you see Muslim refugees moving from India to Pakistan. Last time that happened in any significant level was in1947
Recommend
Samir Shinde Jan 03, 2023 10:34am
@Zak like what the Moghuls did. Good idea actually.
Recommend
mmm Jan 03, 2023 04:25pm
Religious fanatics have caused great damage to Pakistan. There have been several cases of injustices to non-Muslims in Pakistan. There are also many other ills in Pakistani society that need to be addressed and corrected. I am very ashamed of all the horrible things my society does, which I am a part of. You make a film about it and Western dominated media will welcome it with open arms. Now, please try making a film about hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, Kashmiris, Muslim Indian and other weaker groups that are suffering horribly by fascists, who have Western support. Middle East has been turned into ruins because of Western greed. If a Muslim does anything horrible, Western media ( joined by Jewish and Hindu groups) jumps on it as if only Muslims do bad things.
Recommend