PORTRAYAL OF VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN FEATURE FILM: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ZIA ERA AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT OF BENAZIR BHUTTO

This research aims to examine the portrayal of violence in Pakistani Feature Films while developing a comparative analysis during the eras of late military dictator General Zia and former Primer Pakistan Benazir Bhutto. As, the two regimes have opposite governance mechanisms; socio-political and religious approaches, wherein cultural activities were practiced with two different lenses. Gen. Zia’s regime imposed cultural sanctions on entertainment programs including films, dramas, and newscasting in the name of enforcing the Islamic system of governance, whereas Benazir Bhutto’s regime provided freedom of expression for liberal thoughts, showbiz programs, and movies on women empowerment. However, this research hypothesis the physical, verbal, and psychological violence portrayed in feature films produced during the regime of Zia was more than the violence portrayed in movies produced during Benazir’s regime. Researchers employed a quantitative approach with content analysis as a research method. Based on the equal allocation method, 5 movies in Urdu and Punjabi languages were taken from Zia’s era, and five movies from Benazir Bhutto’s era. A coding sheet was developed with the assistance of trained coders while dividing data sets into different variables involved in physical, abusive, and psychologically oppressive acts. The study approved cultivation theory as ideas cultivated through films were gratified by the viewers. The results reveal that the time and scenes portraying violence in movies produced during Zia’s era were much higher as compared to the era of Benazir Bhutto. Results showed the steps of women’s empowerment and cultural liberation were reflected in the movies. The women felt empowered and free from any religious or cultural or social taboos involved in creative achievements. The research suggested the government should step forward and design certain definite benchmarks with the recommendations to the Censor Board to adopt and ensure violence-free movies. Keywords: Abusive Language, Comparative Study, Content Analysis, Feature Films, Physical Violence, Women Empowerment