Original subtitles

What is your name, my son?

Hussain.

The sword of Yazid has scarred your face.

From where have you come?

From the cradle of the past.

From the tomb of the future.

From the circle of the present.

We are prisoners of our destiny.

Our journeys curve to their beginnings.

Your namesake, Imam Hussain, defied the usurper Caliph

and stamped the plain of Karbala with his own blood.

We must mourn the blood that quenched the parched sands.

We must mourn until the Last Day

forever tears away the web of time.

They frighten me.

I don't understand them.

All that self-inflicted pain and violence.

Isn't there enough suffering without them going to look for it?

It happened so long ago.

Why should they care so much now?

Hey!

Get out of the way!

'It must be quite clear to you now

'that when the political leaders fail to steer the country out of a crisis,

'it is an inexcusable sin

'for the Armed Forces to sit as silent spectators.

'It is primarily for this reason

'that the army perforce had to intervene

'to save the country.

'I want to make it absolutely clear

'that neither I have political ambitions,

'nor does the army want to be detracted

'from its profession of soldiering.

'I was obliged to step into the vacuum

'created by the political leaders.

'I have accepted this challenge

'as a true soldier of Islam.

'My sole aim is to organise free and fair elections,

'which would be held in October this year.'

'Soon after the polls,

'power will be transferred to the elected representatives of the people.'

'I give my solemn assurance

'that I will not deviate from this schedule.'

'Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.

'We have just received a message

'that martial law has been declared in Pakistan.'

I don't believe this.

'The airport is in the control of the Armed Forces.

'On landing, we would request all passengers to remain seated

'until further instructions.'

- Is Mr Selim Murtaza on board? - Yes, sir. Over there.

Would you please follow me?

I want you to negotiate a loan from the World Bank.

I'll be proud to serve my country, sir.

What was that?

I'll be proud to serve my country, sir.

I would need a team of advisers.

I'll provide them.

Perhaps I won't be able to get better than ten years at 3 percent.

Ten years? Hm! Ask for twenty.

Remember we are a poor country.

Yes, of course.

I'll do my best, sir.

All right. That'll be all.

Uh, uh...

Your brother, Hussain... Keep a tight rein on him.

He's getting out of hand.

My regards to your wife.

Hey Monkey, you're okay now.

You've made it to the top.

You're the President.

You control television, radio and the press.

You oppress the people.

Any comment, Mr President?

He says democracy is dead.

And you're in real trouble.

Get them out.

Darling, I was worried about you.

I don't want that child playing in the drive.

I've told that stupid woman so many times not to allow those people in the house.

What's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

- What's wrong? - The mare's giving birth early.

Welcome, Selim Sahab.

How are you?

Well, thank you. Is Hussain here?

He's in the stables.

Selim Sahab is here.

Welcome, brother.

- Come in. - No, no. I'll wait for you outside.

Akbar, show Selim Sahab my new horse.

Yes, sir.

Akbar, what's wrong with Hussain?

Why is he quarrelling with the authorities?

What can I say? He's a headstrong young man.

He won't listen to anyone, but, God willing, he'll settle down.

Go ahead, I'll get the horse.

He's a magnificent stallion.

I found him in the desert.

He appeared to be rising out of the earth.

Slowly he came towards me.

It was as if he recognised me from another life.

No one's claimed him, so he's mine.

Fine animal.

Hussain, I have to talk to you.

I have been asked to join the government.

I have been informed that you have been fighting with the authorities.

You must restrain yourself.

He was throwing the peasants off the land.

What did you expect me to do, sit back and watch?

Think of my position.

You sold yourself.

You sold yourself!

And you sold your wife.

At Karbala, Imam Hussain declared:

"'In this place I will be buried

"'until the Day of Judgement.'

"Here I will receive thirteen wounds.

"My sisters will witness my death from their tents."

On the seventh day, Yazid's army barred access to the river.

On the eve of the tenth day, Hussain addressed his followers:

"O companions, my faith is in you.

"Now that night has fallen, extinguish the lanterns in the camp,

"take my family and escape under cover of darkness.

"The dispute with Yazid is my concern.

"I alone shall die for the faith."

They replied, "Here we will be killed but once.

"But even if we were to suffer many deaths,

"and our ashes were scattered to the winds,

"never would we leave your side."

The tenth day dawned.

Hussain's followers were massacred.

Hussain rode his white horse onto the plain of Karbala.

He said, "O believers in my grandfather, why spill my blood?"

They replied, "Swear allegiance to Yazid

"and your life will be spared."

Hussain replied, "I am the Prophet's grandson.

"I can give up my life and the lives of my children.

"I can sacrifice the sanctity of my sisters.

"But I will never accept the supremacy of Yazid."

Hussain drew his sword and spurred on his white horse.

Yazid's soldiers attacked him

and inflicted thirteen wounds.

'Hussain was martyred in Karbala.

'There is no parallel in history.

'Every age breeds a Yazid,

'but Imam Hussain remains unique.

'By his death Islam is reborn...'

Selim.

In this locket are sacred verses

to guide you on your life's journey.

Go in peace, my son.

One, two. One, two.

One, two.

You have travelled far, Hussain.

But you are still a stranger to yourself.

Can a man be a stranger to himself?

Misfortune in love is not life's only sorrow.

Not only in you does my happiness reside.

Ask not of me, my love, the passion we once shared.

You are not destined to understand.

Hussain, one day from your body there will open many wounds,

from whence will spring your force to feed a multitude.

You have the blessing of God, Hussain.

With the help of the Unseen, you will be called upon to dispense justice.

I have nothing else to give you but this prophecy.

'Misfortune in love is not life's only sorrow.

'Not only in you does my happiness reside.

'Ask not of me, my love, the passion we once shared.'

Come.

Let us pray together.

A present for you.

A holy man gave it to me.

It was the dead of night.

I was sitting in a tree on my machan.

The goat they had tied below me was bleating.

The mosquitoes were buzzing all around me.

Suddenly I heard a rustle,

and the grass parted.

It was the biggest Bengal tiger that I have ever seen.

I got him right between the eyes.

Superb, sir.

That must've been quite a while ago. I thought they were all extinct nowadays.

Hmm...

You must come and visit our farm, sir. We have a magnificent stallion.

Yes, well, um...

My wife might be interested.

Selim, when are you going on your trip to Washington?

- Next week, sir. - Good.

Well, I'm depending on you to persuade the US to resume military aid.

You must convince them

of the important strategic role we play in this region.

I'll do my best, sir.

It's incredible the changes our regime has brought about.

I think the people appreciate the return to peace and stability.

Begum Sahiba, your daughter's grown into a lovely young lady.

- Is she at the university? - Yes. She's in her final year.

Aren't you, darling?

Zahid, why is a handsome young man like you still a bachelor?

You should find yourself a nice girl and settle down.

I leave the choice to you, Begum Sahiba.

Akbar, my horse knocked over a girl.

I don't know if she was hurt. She ran away.

Go and see if she's all right.

How do I find her?

At least can you describe her to me?

She is beautiful, with long black hair.

You describe her beauty.

That won't help me find her.

She was wearing a black skirt,

and around her neck she wore a big locket set with jewels.

This is her shawl.

Hussain Sahab, she is my daughter.

I don't want to have an abortion.

'It's my child.

'I am not going to destroy it.'

'So you want to present your husband with a bastard?'

Do you have to make everything sound quite so squalid?

Guilt suits you.

Please sit down.

Smoke, sir.

Who do you want to see?

Selim Murtaza.

What do you want with him?

It's personal. He's my brother.

You're Selim Sahab's brother? Your name?

Hussain.

Selim Sahab's brother is here.

You can go in.

Salam alalkum.

Um...

Brother, I've come to make a request of you.

I would like your blessing and approval

before I take a major step in my life.

Since our parents are no longer alive...

...I would like you to propose to the girl's father on my behalf.

You want to get married?

Whose daughter is she?

She's, um...

...from the village.

Akbar's daughter.

You can't marry into the peasants!

Do you realise for how many generations our family has ruled these lands?

I absolutely forbid it!

She's from a decent, hardworking family.

She is a Muslim.

She's from our country.

Not a foreigner.

Hussain Sahab, is all well? You should have sent for me.

Please sit down. I will be with you in a moment.

- What brings you here? - Please sit.

I have come myself to discuss an important matter.

You're welcome. What is it?

Akbar, I've come to ask for your daughter's hand.

My daughter's hand? On whose behalf?

I wish to marry her.

Hussain Sahab, what are you saying?

How can this be?

What will your family say?

I don't care what they say.

Please rest assured that I will honour and cherish her.

I'm going to have a baby.

Is it mine?

Yes.

Some villagers wish to see you, sir.

Send them in.

Please come in.

Ah, salam alalkum.

Come and sit down.

Sit down. Will you eat with me?

Bring food for them.

Is all well?

Hussain Sahab...

...we have many problems.

We try to live in peace.

But it seems we are not destined to.

Our lives are devoid of happiness.

Speak plainly.

They have seized more of our lands.

- When? - This morning.

We have struggled to remain on our lands,

but they refuse to let us.

They outnumber us.

They are very powerful.

Don't worry.

All right.

Whoever has suffered a loss, I will compensate with a piece of my land.

Thank you, sir.

Are you in pain?

Now my time has come, my son.

But do not be alarmed.

I am at peace with the world...

...and I await my end.

You are troubled, my son?

Many years have passed since you prophesied.

I am married now and my wife is with child.

Much has happened in the world since you withdrew from it.

Yet nothing has changed.

Mankind still suffers injustice at the hands of powerful men.

I know I am destined...

...to die for humanity.

But I am confused.

I have received no sign.

You will receive no sign.

You are yourself the sign.

Now leave me to sleep.

I am nearing that ocean...

...that awaits us all.

I must prepare myself.

There is but one God...

and Muhammad is His Prophet.

Get off this land.

Be sensible.

These are dangerous times.

Do you shoot?

Only out of necessity.

I'm very fond of your brother, young man.

That's why I've had you called here.

I'd hate to see either of you in trouble.

We must have your allegiance.

Peasants are nothing but rabble.

Given the slightest opportunity,

they'll cut our heads off, and that includes you.

Our revolution was inevitable.

Democracy cannot work in this country.

Only the Armed Forces can rule.

It is our duty to maintain political stability

and efficient administration

at any cost!

You despise those you claim to protect.

Your revolution is a mockery.

It is a veil for tyranny and oppression.

The true revolution happened fourteen hundred years ago

with the birth of Islam.

Our faith remains alive today

with the brotherhood and equality of all men.

There is no rabble,

except in the minds of power hungry men like you.

There are only people,

human beings, individuals...

...deserving of respect and dignity.

Hussain Sahab, the soldiers have killed many of our men.

There's a price on your head.

We must leave the village at once.

Get everyone ready.

- Hello? - 'May I speak to Mr Murtaza?'

No, my husband isn't back from Washington. We're expecting him tomorrow.

'I wanted to warn you that your brother-in-law is in grave danger.'

Thank you for letting us know.

- Yes? - Hello, Zahid?

'It's Katherine. I want to talk to you.'

You mustn't let them kill Hussain.

I can't help him.

Hussain and his followers are guilty of treason.

They're only peasants.

The army is here to defend the country.

'Not to exploit and murder its own people.'

Praise God, you have a son.

- How is the mother? - The mother is well.

But there is no water, not even to cleanse the child.

Don't worry, we are near a river. We will find water.

Find a way out.

There is no way out.

We will camp here.

- All right. - Go on.

- Tell the men... - Yes, sir.

Come closer.

Tell the men to extinguish the lanterns in the camp.

Yes, sir.

Whoever wishes to leave under cover of darkness,

I will not begrudge them.

Yes, sir.

All right, sir.

All right, sir.

Hussain Sahab has malaria.

He has asked me to extinguish the lanterns.

Anyone who wishes to leave may do so

with his blessing.

We will stay.

Water.

Give my son water.

Give my son water!

Water!

Hussain lives forever!

Death to the tyrant!