Images

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy says she wanted Kamala to 'feel the anguish' of the families uprooted by Partition

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy says she wanted Kamala to 'feel the anguish' of the families uprooted by Partition

The filmmaker explained the idea behind the final scenes of Ms Marvel episode 4 when Iman Vellani is transported to 1947.
01 Jul, 2022

Some filmmakers go the extra mile to bring authenticity to the story they're telling and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is one of them. The Ms Marvel director revealed the thought process that went into recreating the train station scene at the time of Partition in episode 4.

On Friday, Obaid-Chinoy shared a video titled "Recreating the partition of 1947", describing it as "one of the greatest migrations in human history" that had "millions of families displaced on both sides of the border".

"I have been involved in collecting oral histories of the 1947 partition for the better part of two decades — to be able to bring those stories to life for Ms Marvel was truly special," she captioned the post.

The video featured the final scenes from episode that saw Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani, travelling to Pakistan and eventually, being transported to 1947. The budding superhero finds herself at a train station catching snippets of exchanges between families saying their final goodbyes.

"I grew up listening to my grandparents' stories of what it was like in 1947 for them and their families, the snatched conversations they heard on the train tracks as their families were rushing to catch the last trains out and violence had ensued all around them," Obaid-Chinoy's voice can be heard, explaining the idea behind the scenes.

She said she wanted Kamala to immerse herself in the sentiments of the families. "I wanted Kamala to hear those actual conversations when she landed in Partition. I wanted her to feel the anguish that the families were feeling as they were uprooted leaving their homes, their friends, the life that they knew, never to return again."

Ms Marvel is the coming-of-age story of 16-year-old Kamala, who lives in Jersey City. She is an aspiring artist, an avid gamer, a voracious fan-fiction scribe and a huge fan of the Avengers — and one in particular, Captain Marvel. But Kamala has always struggled to find her place in the world — that is until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to.

Desis are loving the show, thankful for the representation and wowed by a part of them being featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The show has included songs like 'Pasoori' and 'The Sibbi Song' in its soundtrack and fans are thrilled. The cast has actors such as Fawad Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Nimra Bucha and even Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar and there has been nothing but love all around for all the stars.

Comments

Gaurab Sengupta Jul 01, 2022 02:04pm
Yes, both communities suffered. Because of what one community wanted.
Recommend
Akib Mahmood Jul 01, 2022 02:47pm
She wanted Kamala to feel the anguish of partition, so she used a total lie, made up by pseudo liberal intellectuals of South Asia to undermine the partition.
Recommend
NYS Jul 01, 2022 03:27pm
Ms Marvel has become staple of this paper
Recommend
hassan Jul 01, 2022 03:59pm
It was independence and not the partition. These liberals and their agendas
Recommend
joker Jul 01, 2022 04:12pm
@Gaurab Sengupta Not true. The RSS was formed in 1925.
Recommend
MBA Jul 01, 2022 04:15pm
One picture placed rightly can sometimes explain much more than 10000 words. Ms. Obaid-Chinoy is the right person (both morally and technically) doing right things at right time. The situation of Muslims in India and in Kashmir needs to be felt by people around the world. Ms. Obaid-Chinoy is doing it better than many politicians our "Islamic republic" and leaders of "Islamic" countries put together. Let there be light in the dark lives of these underprivileged and displaced people, so that they can be seen and their pain can be heard.
Recommend
SAM Jul 01, 2022 05:23pm
It pours cold water on Pakistan's two-nation theory
Recommend
nazim Jul 01, 2022 05:29pm
Thanks Sharmeen! you proved that an individual can do a lot.
Recommend
AA Jul 01, 2022 05:55pm
@Gaurab Sengupta it was well worth it and they knew it. Freedom wins over oppression every single time.
Recommend
Aamir Jul 01, 2022 06:18pm
@Gaurab Sengupta One community wanted this exactly because of your kind of attitude of the other community.
Recommend
Fsheikh Jul 01, 2022 07:04pm
@ Gaurab Sengupta. Looking at BJP's India today and the shrinking space for Muslims there, can you put yourself in other's shoes and say whether Muslim community was right in asking for self rule or an independent country? Pl be objective. Thanks
Recommend
Narissa Jul 01, 2022 08:26pm
Well done.
Recommend
Shaz Jul 01, 2022 11:25pm
@Akib Mahmood - What !@#$ is wrong with you?
Recommend
Asif Jul 01, 2022 11:42pm
Desi Goray. Who cares. Always want to please West.
Recommend
ARahman Jul 02, 2022 12:20am
Because of partition millions died/displaced and as a result today Muslims of the subcontinent are divided in three, a recipe for weakness.
Recommend
Showizza Jul 02, 2022 12:34am
@Fsheikh Please understand the the cause and effects. What is happening in India AFTER 75 years Is consequences of the partition demanded by the Muslims and India’s experiment at secularism with Muslims who did not go with the partition. An undivided India scenario is all together different scenario.
Recommend
Syed Qutub Jul 02, 2022 01:58am
What freedom are we talking about? From two nations we are now divided into many nations and nationalities drawn along ethnic lines. This is reflected in our provincialism.
Recommend
MK Jul 02, 2022 02:39am
@Gaurab Sengupta yet, decades later, folks from the nation that didn’t want partition spend their life on the other nation’s newspaper websites. How ironic.
Recommend
Talha Jul 02, 2022 04:24am
@Gaurab Sengupta And we haven't regretted it even for one moment 75 years down the line!
Recommend
Zak Jul 02, 2022 04:57am
On Friday, Obaid-Chinoy shared a video titled "Recreating the partition of 1947", describing it as "one of the greatest migrations in human history" that had "millions of families displaced on both sides of the border". Harping on past events of no relevance to current times. Move on.
Recommend
Zak Jul 02, 2022 04:59am
Why involve Ms Marvel in the past, look to the future.
Recommend
Zak Jul 02, 2022 05:00am
@Gaurab Sengupta Yes, both communities suffered. Because of what one community wanted. Thank you Qaid e Azam.
Recommend
Kashmiri in Srinagar Jul 02, 2022 05:02am
Pakistan is blessed to have acheived Independence from the British Empire, we too should have been part of Pakistan.
Recommend
Kashmiri in Srinagar Jul 02, 2022 05:13am
Some filmmakers go the extra mile to bring authenticity to the story they're telling and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is one of them. The Ms Marvel director revealed the thought process that went into recreating the train station scene at the time of Partition in episode 4. She is promoting an Indian agenda. Shame.
Recommend
Rami Jul 02, 2022 05:21am
Partition was needed because it was the truth of the time, what is the truth happening in India now !
Recommend
Zufar Jul 02, 2022 05:22am
@Gaurab Sengupta, yea it was a big sacrifice and well warranted, good riddance to living as second or third class citizens under Hindu rulers, ask your Sikh community if they would make the same sacrifice? Had they known of your true colours they would have migrated with us. One day soon there will be a Khalistan and Punjab in its entirety will be detached from India.
Recommend
Kirren Jul 02, 2022 06:18am
@Gaurab Sengupta It was not because of one community but was because of Mahatma Gandhi as well as Jawahar Lal Nehru. Stop blaming one community and also ask yourself why this one community whom you are blaming asked for separate country if they did. Without knowing the history it’s easy to comment. My family has gone through the partition uprooted from Sialkot and we suffered again in 1984 in Delhi.
Recommend
Zak Jul 02, 2022 07:17am
@hassan It was independence and not the partition. These liberals and their agendas Absolutely correct . Well pointed out.
Recommend
Statman Jul 02, 2022 07:52am
The subtitles in English go between Hindi and Urdu. Just a subtly that I caught and needs to be fixed.
Recommend
Tamza Jul 02, 2022 08:22am
“I have been involved in collecting oral histories of the 1947 partition for the better part of two decades — to be able to bring those stories to life for Ms Marvel was truly special," she captioned the post.“. How? Where? Have you shared? OR, ‘involved’ suggests that you are referring to others who are doing the work, and communicated with them. Taking credit where none is justified. ?
Recommend
Sayyar Khan Jul 02, 2022 09:25am
And now Karachi is feeling the anguish from mqm
Recommend
Billo Jul 02, 2022 09:28am
No she didn't. She wanted to appease the Indians with this Indian narrative. Less than 10% of Pakistanis are Muhajirs. Vast majority of Pakistanis are extremely happy with their independence. Sharmeen made the Indians happy with this, not Pakistanis.
Recommend
proud Pakistani Jul 02, 2022 10:39am
I was really excited about #msmarvel and was looking forward to watch it. but finding people commenting about some dialogues between Kamila and her nani on partition of subcontinent. Reportedly saying she is confused of her identity, having roots in India and partition was englishmen idea. What a BS? Sharmeen Obaid stop pleasing your anti-state bosses, Don't try to twist facts. You are filmmaker, don't jump into #misinformation bandwagon. Appreciate quality of your work but not at cost of our ideology. Pakistan is reality for here to stay inshaAllah. We are 75 years old, strong patriotic nation Alhamdulilah, proud of our identity as PAKISTANI. My ancestors migrated leaving behind everything for this land of pure, sacrificing lives, property, everything and as 3rd generation we are really proud of their decision. today how hinduvta is dealing with muslims in india should atleast open your eyes that Two nation theory was real. #SharmeenObaidChinoy #MsMarvel #propaganda
Recommend
Akbar Jul 02, 2022 11:36am
@Gaurab Sengupta Yes, totally agreed. The Hindu-supremacist narrative of India ensures that Pakistan will always be better off having undergone partition. Enjoy the tea! *Suuurp*
Recommend
Bunny Jul 02, 2022 08:58pm
I have nothing against this lady but we should look back at our subcontinets partition as something positive. we twins have developed our own economy . many people tried to bridge the gap like art , culture ,literature , films and succeeded. lets not look at it with pain and agony.
Recommend
Ahmed Jul 03, 2022 09:25am
@hassan that's untrue. It was both. Partition's traumatic, cataclysmic violence can't be denied. It's part of the historic record. And yes, so is the movement for independence. But that "independence" came at a very, very, high price.
Recommend
Neekamal Jul 04, 2022 09:19pm
@Gaurab Sengupta because another community were vitious in their thoughts which is experienced since partition
Recommend
Glen D'Abreo Jul 06, 2022 09:13pm
@Akib Mahmood its puzzling why people cannot simply sit back and enjoy a great film that has opened the worlds view of Pakistan?
Recommend
Glen D'Abreo Jul 06, 2022 09:18pm
Ms Marvel film has created a view into the world of Karachi, Pakistan the rest of the world has not seen. A bustling city of huge interest and a cosmopolitan era that is now in the history book. The diverse culture of a thriving society Karachi thrived in holding the highest standard in education, philanthropy , sports . creativity and a rich culture that many did not experience so they are fake critics of it. So just enjoy the resurgence !
Recommend