Suhaib Ilyasi demands security for Ustad Ghulam Ali against Shiv Sena threat in Delhi

BCR NEWS (New Delhi): The makers of commercial feature film Ghar Wapsi after a brave but failed attempt to hold a music launch in Mumbai with legendary Pakistani music maestro Ghulam Ali Saab will now hold the music launch of the film in New Delhi on Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Royal Plaza Hotel at 3.30 pm.

Also in attendance to lend support to Ghulam Alisaab and Ghar Wapsi will be legendary music maestro Pandit Jasraj, music sensation Daler Mehndi and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

Producer-Director Suhaib Ilyasi says that the inability of the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Government to give any assurance to the cancelled music launch of the film Ghar Wapsi in Mumbai, has prompted him to shift the location, in view of a threat from the right wing political party in Maharashtra – Shiv Sena.

At a press conference held at the Press Club in New Delhi on Thursday, March 17, Ilyasi reiterated the fact that a legend like Ghulam Alisaab should not be dragged into controversies and should not be made a scapegoat to petty politics between Shiv Sena and BJP.

“Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena was very categoric when he said that he would not allow Ghulam Alisaab on Indian soil and would oppose it. Shiv Sena has a certain strength in the Capital and we want to ensure that Ghulam Alisaab is safe and secure,” said Ilyasi.

Rajender Singh Raja, a former Delhi chief of Shiv Sena attacked his former party’s dual edged sword. “Ghar Wapsi is a film about a great subject of homecoming of Muslims and Christians. Why the Shiv Sena behaved like this is shocking,” he opined.

Ilyasi also attacked the Congress for making an issue of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ (the homecoming of converted Hindus  organised by Indian Hindu organisations – Vishva Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to bring back non-Hindus to Hinduism) because they could not find corruption issues with the Narendra Modi led BJP government.

“Indian Muslims have been very tolerant. My father himself was an Imam of Imams. My forefathers have been Rajputs and I am a proud practicing Muslim today and proudly say Bhara Mata Ki Jai. But today if any Hindu who has converted to Buddhism, Islam or Christianity and wants to go back to his first religion, then Congress is creating an issue because they are unable to find political mileage in other issues,” remarked Ilyasi on the issue of ‘Ghar Wapsi’.

Ghar Wapsi by Ilyasi is about a family that is faced with multifarious issues and the dilemma of a cultural identity. It is about a family that is unable to cope with the cultural dichotomy during their homecoming. The film which is in the final stages of post- production is set for release this summer and stars Farida Jalal,  Zarina Wahab, Alok Nath, Reema Lagoo, Deepak Tijori, Srishti Goutam, Harsh Nagar and marks the debut of Ghazal singing legend from Pakistan, Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan.