BBC News
December 15, 2021
Filmmaker and social activist Samar Minallah's film 'Out Swing' has so far won at least 12 international awards. Samar Minullah says that 'Out Swing' is the story of female athletes and coaches who also work as laborers to support their families.
According to him, it is a story of determination, courage and dedication and struggle to move forward.
Outswing is the story of girls from families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who, for various reasons, have left their homeland and taken up residence near Bari Imam on the outskirts of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
Most of them live in mud houses and slums.
Samar Minullah makes films based on real stories on social issues, especially the plight of women. He has also won several awards for his other films, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa he has also made several films on the Swara ritual.
Samar Minullah says that when he saw these students playing cricket, he was very impressed. These students were in full screen according to their customs. They were present on the playing field with full enthusiasm wearing big sheets.The game was very important to him. "
He said that now in Islamabad female students and women also ride bicycles and motorbikes, play a lot of sports, but all of them have some or the other facility available while the female students in 'out swing' Even basic facilities are not available.
"These families are in the cycle of subsistence to maintain the relationship of the soul with the body."
Samar Minallah said that these students have been given the facility to study in a school called Mashal in the area of Bari Imam in Islamabad. Where they not only get education but also work hard and do housework, which is a big deal.
Is it difficult to keep children safe in this environment of education?
The Mashal School was founded 15 years ago by Zeba Hassan. She says the school was really for the underprivileged. The majority of the children in this school are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who were forced to leave their area. There is an environment in which it is difficult to educate children or to protect them.
The torch school started with about 50 students and now has about 800 students," she said. The frog is tested every year. Last year, 70 of our students were successful.
Zeba Hassan said that we not only teach but also create character. We sit with them, talk, eat together one day a week. Explain to them what is character, what is morality and how to live life. As a result, the climate is changing.
'Turn defeat into victory'
He says he has been serving at Mashaal School since 2013 and leaving his hometown to play cricket and find a way to progress.
"Cricket is my passion," he says. I am enduring every difficulty to play and teach cricket.
Akhtar Zeb says that he started his decision to coach female cricketers on the advice of one of his cricket coaches that if you teach others, you will learn more and the game is not only fun but also creates a fighting spirit in the players.
He said that the boys and girls teams of Mashal School have been participating in various sports, similarly in the cricket tournament their boys team won and the girls team lost, on which these girls were very disappointed.
"There were tears in his eyes," says Akhtar Zeb. Due to the defeat, they were not able to meet each other's eyes. When I saw this scene, I could not get rid of it. I talked to these students. "What happened to those who lost? If you guys are ready, we will work hard and win again."
"It simply came to our notice then. Together with these students, I began to lay the foundation for victory. I was busy too and she was busy too. But we still spent time together, getting together and practicing. This is not a common practice. It's about winning and committing. "
Telling the story of her winning journey, she said, "When the tournament was over again, we made the impossible possible and these students returned with a trophy which was not only a pleasant surprise for everyone but also a proof that a lot They can do something, after that our female students did not look back.
'Playing cricket is not so easy'
Akhtar Zeb says that the out-swinging students have grown up a bit this year, now their engagements have increased, some are still playing and some are not playing, but they have been replaced by some other students.
"I hope this journey continues," he said. It may take some time but some diamonds are coming out of the outswing team, they are on their way.
Samar Minullah says it took her at least two years to make the outswing. What actually happened was that these students were very busy. School, housework, when I went to their area, there would never have been one player, not another, which is why it took so long.
He said that the living conditions of these girls could not be ascertained by the rich and upper middle class of Islamabad.
"In these families, a girl has to take care of household chores, give warm food to her father and brother, clean the house, after which she has hardly time for education and sports."
"Someone should go and ask them about the importance of sports. This game has now shown them the way forward in life which they are following and moving towards success.
'Lives have changed'
Samar Minullah says, "Two years is a long time (and during that time) many girls of my film 'Out Swing' team are on the path of development. Cricket and sports have changed the lives of many girls. They have set their goals and objectives. "
He said that some have decided to continue their education despite all the difficulties. She is now receiving formal education for which she is having a hard time. He said that one girl wants to become a lawyer by enrolling in law college while two girls are dreaming of becoming doctors.
Sakina in 'Out Song' was the star player of her team. After her marriage, she moved to Karachi with her husband. Sakina has studied till matriculation while her husband has done B.Sc. The couple is moving back to Islamabad in a few days.
Sakina's husband Mashal will serve as a teacher in the school while Sakina became the coach of the cricket team.
Sakina says that opportunities have started to come with sports and education. I was a star player in my school cricket. Now I will be coaching my school. My husband will be a teacher there. They have not only allowed me to continue my education but will also guide me. "
Sakina said that she hopes that now she will have the opportunity to continue her education and play cricket.Which, of course, made the video an overnight sensation.
Wajiha Nasir Khan is a matriculation student and a character in 'Out Song'. They are the third of seven siblings. His older siblings are uneducated. Until a few years ago, she was not even a student.
"My father works as a security guard," says Wajiha Nasir Khan. It was only yesterday that I had no consciousness. When I would just leave the house in the morning, the only wish was that the gram would be licked. We were not even allowed to stand around the evil Imam. That's why he used to hide from the eyes of the police.
"When I came to school, I found out that the world is something else," he said. At a very young age, she used to play street cricket with her brothers. When I saw him playing cricket at school, I joined the team. When I joined the team, I was obsessed with winning.
Wajia Nasir says that playing cricket helped me to understand how to fight and win again in life. It requires hard work. Working hard Cricket continues with studies.I want to be a lawyer in the future. I will play cricket in the national team and make the name of the country and the nation bright.
"I have received the information. I found out that he had to go to university. There will be expenses for that. I will work to meet these costs. I continued my studies with him.
Samar Minullah said that she has strong hopes that these girls will be successful and will go ahead and support themselves and their families, however, she thinks that Akhtar Zeb has a big role in this.
Our society, government, filmmakers and the media should not only create stories about characters like Akhtar Zeb and Zeba Hussain of Mashal School but also encourage them to be the basis for a big change."
