Society Girl and Ho Mann Jahaan: A Comparative Analysis of Modernity in Pakistani Films

Author: Kulsoom Din Malik

 

Abstract

 

In order to trace how notions of modernity have evolved over time, this paper compares two Pakistani films from different eras, such as Society Girl (dir. Sangeeta, 1976) and Ho Mann Jahaan (dir. Asim Raza, 2015). Some of the common themes in these films, which include conflicts within the family structure and clashes over the values and lifestyles of the protagonists, are examined in the context of an emerging local modernity. These films address changes within a certain moral order and a transformation of the family in the face of a globalizing identity. Thus, by engaging with Anthony Giddens’ “transformation of intimacy” and Arjun Appadurai’s “deterritorialization” frameworks, for example, this study examines how films from different times can legitimize various aspects of modernity through the depiction of conflict and resolution.

 

Keywords

 

Society Girl, Ho Mann Jahaan, New Pakistani Cinema, Modernity and Film, Family Conflict, Emerging Local Modernity, Gender and Film