Movie Review: Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Khuda ke liye’

We had a preview of the movie Khuda Ke Liye at ATP where we had posed a question whether Shoaib Mansoor will be able to revive Pakistan cinema? A probable answer comes from myself who recently got chance to see this movie. The record breaking Pakistani film Khuda Ke Liye has become my favorite film overnight- Hollywood inclusive. Or more accurately I should say, that there hasn’t been a film in the past that has moved and affected me in this way.
Given the standing ovation the film is getting in theatres all over Pakistan from rich and poor alike, one can safely say that I am not the only one. For one thing it is a uniquely Pakistani story, which could have only come out of Pakistan. To sum it up, it is about us - the people of Pakistan warts and all- take it or leave it.
The genius of Shoaib Mansoor was never in doubt for those who have seen his videos or for that matter the famous Alpha Bravo Charlie - the TV Drama on Pakistan Army. What I was unprepared for was the depth in his thought and the way he has managed to capture the Pakistani dilemma on screen. Ours is a complex and rich predicament which needs to be captured in all its nuances and appreciated in all its paradoxical colors. KKL did just that.

I went to the theatre expecting to see the same old liberal v. fundo arguments. There were those, but unlike how these arguments play out in “The Friday Times” and the “Nawai Waqt“, this remarkable film is fully conscious of its Pakistani identity and the strong Islamic component that forms part thereof.
At the risk of spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, this is the story of two brothers, Mansoor (played by Shaan) and Sarmad (played by theatre actor/musician Fawad of EP fame) both musicians, brought in a well to do Pakistani family. Mansoor and Sarmad are torn apart by the latter’s increased involvement with a certain Maulana Taheri (based most probably on Maulana Sami ul Haq of JUI-S component of the MMA), who turns the soft spoken Sarmad into full fledge Jehadi.
Things are complicated when the brothers’ cousin Mary arrives from London to spend a few days with them, only to discover that she has been tricked by her father into coming to Pakistan to avoid her marrying her Non-Muslim boyfriend Dave. Meanwhile Mansoor leaves for Chicago to enrol at the “School of Music” there. In an epic that switches from London to Lahore to Waziristan to Nangahar Afghanistan to Chicago, these ordinary Pakistanis are increasingly faced with both internal and external conflict. And then there is September 11.
Shoaib Mansoor does not miss a beat, he does not leave any stones unturned. While all characters have more or less the same significance in this plot, it is Mansoor who is at the centre of it: Mansoor who is a proud Pakistani and secure in his Muslim identity, Mansoor who warns Sarmad against extremism, Mansoor who puts the best Muslim and Pakistani foot forward, Mansoor who is abducted by FBI in the middle of the night and beaten and tortured to a pulp, humiliated and abused for being a Pakistani and a Muslim. He is the contrast to Sher Shah and Maulana Taheri. But there are contrasts on the other side as well… Jenny who loves Mansoor for being Mansoor, his classmates who spontaneously join in when Mansoor performs his “music from Pakistan”, his African American professor… all stand in contrast to the American torturers of Mansoor.
The dialogue reaches a fever pitch in a court room in Lahore, where Mary is engaged in a prolonged legal battle. Enter the Bollywood star Naseeruddin Shah. He plays the character of a long bearded progressive Islamic scholar (probably based on Maulana Ahmed Javed and Allama Javed Ahmed Ghamidi of Lahore). In what would be the localised version of “Inherit the wind” Courtroom drama, he engages Maulana Taheri and his coterie in an argument on Islamic law and Islamic dress code.
“There is beard in religion, but no religion in beard,”
declares Shah, adding that
“Two men who did the greatest service to Islam in Pakistan, Mahomed Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal, did so without a beard and out of the so called Islamic dresscode, in western dress.”
It was on this line that the entire hall filled with applause. Islam - the universal faith - has no uniform. This lays the stage for the final scene- the most poignant scene of the movie, filmed in Lahore’s beautiful Wazir Khan Mosque- the scene which once again made a Muslim out of me. I’ll let you watch it yourself to understand what I am talking about.As for the film itself, there seem to be a few technical glitches earlier on but they are easily forgotten. Iman Ali’s performance as Mary or Maryam in the beginning is annoying and one finds her concocted British accent a little annoying at first. However it grows on you and one discovers the fullness of her effort- which is by far the best I have come across by a Pakistani actress. As for the music, those of you who have only heard Bandaya, you are in for a surprise. The film is as a whole an incredible musical experience. What is more is that you discover how aptly Shoaib Mansoor has placed his music in the various scenes. Indeed, driving back from Lahore on the motorway, I could recount/recollect every scene just by listening to the soundtrack.

Ramchand Pakistani - Movie Review

Most Pakistani films are synonymous with loud acting, garish sets and blood-n-gore. But KHUDA KAY LIYE earlier and RAMCHAND PAKISTANI now signify the changing times, the changing outlook, the changing mindset.
RAMCHAND PAKISTANI is a simple story, a true story in fact, of a kid and his father crossing the LOC and being held captive in an Indian prison. A theme like this ought to be handled with gloves and director Mehreen Jabbar does just that. A sensitively told story that succeeds in making you think of the plight of scores of people who’ve accidently crossed the border and are, perhaps, still languishing in various jails.
Give RAMCHAND PAKISTANI a try. Chances are you might like the experience!
RAMCHAND PAKISTANI is a true story concerning the accidental crossing of the India-Pakistan border during a period of extreme, war-like tension between the two countries by two members of a Pakistani Hindu family.
The child from Pakistan, aged eight years, learns to cope with the trauma of forced separation from his mother [Nandita Das] while being held prisoner, along with his father in the jail of India. What transpires is the crux of the story.
Real life stories are difficult to interpret on reel, but Mehreen Jabbar tries and succeeds. It may not be the most mesmeric tale you’ve experienced, but the story and how Mehreen and the writers adapt it cinematically makes it a moving experience.
Having said that, you can’t turn a blind eye to the discrepancies in the screenplay. A few portions running parallel to the story just don’t hold. Wish the director would’ve concentrated on the main issue, instead of deviating into unwanted tracks, like the female jailor’s [Maria Wasti] relationship with one of the guards, or the helpless mother’s [Nandita Das] secret admirer [Noman Ijaz].
RAMCHAND PAKISTANI is also watchable due to the fine performances delivered by just about everyone in its cast. But it works mainly due to Syed Fazal Hussain’s sterling act as the young Ramchand. He conveys the pathos and helplessness with aplomb. Even the grown-up Ramchand, Navaid Jabbar, is equally competent.
Nandita Das is efficient. Rashid Farooqui [Ramchand's father] is equally competent. Pakistani actors Noman Ijaz, Shahoor and Maria Wasti — popular names on Pakistani TV circuit - deliver fine performances.
On the whole, RAMCHAND PAKISTANI is a simple story well told. Business-wise, the problem is that it faces a strong opposition from two major releases this week. Besides, a film like RAMCHAND PAKISTANI caters to a select audience, which means that it might go unnoticed in the domestic circuit.

PRIETY ZINTA PROFILE

Preity Zinta’s impish looks in the Cadbury’s Perk commercial and her forthright character in her debut Dil Se, on par with her off screen persona stole the show and had her fans begging for more.Pretty PowerPreity Zinta, born on the 31st January 1975 in Shimla comes from a non-filmi family. Her father Durganand Zinta was in the Indian Army and her mother is Nilprabha. Her older brother Deepankar is with the Indian Army and a younger brother Manish lives in California. Zinta’s parents were in a car accident that killed her father while her mother made it with severe injuries.Zinta spent her early years at the Jesus and Mary boarding school in Shimla. She is a graduate in English from St.Bede’s College in Shimla after which she did a degree in Criminal Psychology.Her break into show business was a matter of chance, when she was featured in the Cadbury Perk’s commercial. She went on to be the Liril girl and part of other ads. She made a move into movies in 1997. Her debut Shekhar Kapoor’s Tara Rum Pum Pum with Hrithik Roshan was cancelled after which she landed a role in Mani Rathnam’s Dil Se.Zinta was dating Marc Robinson. She is currently dating Ness Wadia, a businessman who comes from the family that runs Bombay Dyeing.

Skating on thin iceZinta was awarded the Godfrey’s Mind of Steel Award and the Red and White Bravery Award for testifying against the underworld who had threatened her during the Bharat Shah case. She was one of the few witnesses who stood her ground.More recently, Zinta was accused by singer Suchitra Krishnamurthy for being the reason behind her divorce from director Shekhar Kapoor, which Zinta denied.IPLZinta’s life has been more than just show business. She wrote for the BBC News Online about women’s issues. She is actively involved in various social causes like AIDS awareness, clean up drives in Mumbai, human trafficking etc. Her prize money from Kaun Banega Crorepathi was donated to the Red Cross Society in Shimla. She was one of the celebrities, who as part of NDTV’s Jai Jawan, visited the army men based in Hisar, Haryana.In 2008, she became the youngest and only woman to own a franchise of the Mohali based Twenty20 cricket team of the Indian Premier League. She was in the news for her rapport with the team’s players and support that she extended towards them during the matches. Shaadi ke pehle, you know, honkabonkabonk???

1998 to 2000 Preity Zinta’s first release was in Mani Rathnam’s

Dil Se (1998) with Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. Her role as the outspoken Preeti Nair and her song sequence Jiya Jale was enough to seal the deal. Her second movie the same year was as the lead in Soldier with Bobby Deol. She won the Filmfare Best Debut Award. She also acted in a Telugu movie Premante Idera. In 1999, she appeared in another Telugu movie Raja Kumarudu and as a CBI officer in Tanuja Chandra’s Sangharsh, which was inspired by Silence of the Lambs. In 2000, she played Priya Bakshi in Kya Kehna which dealt with pre-marital sex and the ostracization of a single, pregnant woman. This was followed by Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega with Rani Mukherji and Salman Khan and Mission Kashmir in which she played a journalist opposite Hrithik Roshan.2001 to 2004She starred once again with Rani Mukherji and Salman Khan in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001), which was mired in controversy as it was supposed to have been financed by the underworld. Then there was the groundbreaking Dil Chahta Hai which cast her as Aamir Khan’s love interest. Dil Hai Tumhaara, her only release in 2002, did not do well at the box office. Armaan, in 2003, saw her in a negative role and part of Bollywood’s sci-fi movie Koi Mil Gaya with Hrithik Roshan. It was Naina Catherine Kapoor’s role in Karan Johar’s Kal Ho Na Ho that cinched the Filmfare Best Film Actress Award.
In Lakshya she famously played the role of journalist Barkha Dutt and Veer –

Zaara, a love story between a Pakistani woman and an Indian man won her praise. 2005 to 2009Salaam Namaste, set in Australia starring Saif Ali Khan had her in the role of Amber a radio jockey in a live-in relationship and for the third time on screen she was pregnant out of wedlock.Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna, another multi starrer by Karan Johar, did well in 2006. Jhoom Bharabar Jhoom in 2007 didn’t do well in India but did better business overseas. Rituparno Ghosh’s The Last Lear got mixed reviews. In 2008, she played Kuljeet Kaur, a war-widow in Heroes and Chand in Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth that was about domestic violence. Jahnu Barua’s Har Pall, is her next release in 2009 and has her starring with Shiney Ahuja.

AMITABH BACHAN PROFILE

Name Amitabh Bachchan
Father’s name Harivanshrai Bachchan
Mother’s name Teji Bachchan
Date of birth 11 October 1942
Height 6’ 2’’
Family: Wife Jaya Bachchan
Son Abhishek Bachchan
Daughter Shweta Nanda

Address Pratiksha 10th Road JVPD Scheme
Mumbai 400049
Debut film Saat Hindustani (1969)


Awards:
Padma Bhusan in 2001
Padma Sri in 1982
D Lit by the Monfort University in 2006
National Award Best Newcomer for Saat Hindustani in 1970
Filmfare Award Best supporting actor for Anand in 1972,
Best supporting actor for Namak Haram in 1974
Best Actor Amar Akbar Anthony'in 1978,
Best Actor for Don in 1979
National Award Best Actor for Agneepath in 1991
Filmfare Award Best Actor for Hum in 1992
Best actor for Mohabbatein in 2001
National Award Best Actor for Black in 2006
Critics’ award Best Actor for Aks in 2002.
BBC Online Superstar of the Millenium in 1999

The living legend Amitabh Bachchan is the only Megastar of the twentieth century of Indian cinema. His acting prowess, sky-high popularity, towering personality and versatile ingenuity have made him an Institution. He is the first Indian actor whose wax statue has been installed in the Madam Tussaud’s museum in London. With scores of awards to his credit, Amitabh has surpassed all Indian cine personalities in name and fame.

Amitabh Bachchan joined the Bollywood in 1969 at the age of 27 in Saat Hindustani, which was a box office sink. He was, however, noticed by eminent director Mrinal Sen who used his baritone voice in his memorable movie Bhuban Shome.

Amitabh’s struggle fructified in Anand in which he co-starred with the then superstar Rajesh Khanna.. The film was a super hit. More than Amitabh Bachchan, it was Rajesh Khanna who earned accolade for his role in the film. Thereafter, Amitabh played in some movies all of which were flops.

His break came with the release of Zanjeer in 1973. In the movie he played the part of an angry young man, the image he carried throughout his film career save those, which were made in his later years. Since the success of Zanjeer, there is no looking back. Amitabh climbed on and on to reach a pinnacle untouched by any other in the Indian cinema as a whole.

He came out magnificently in 1975-made Sholay, which received unimaginable public support for its all out super performance by each cast and crew. Pitted with the then Superstar Dharmendra, Amitabh acted confidently and he stole the limelight making all surprised over his smart but sensitive acting.
After Sholay, Amitabh became the busiest actor in the Bollywood churning out one afrer another super hits - Deewaar (1975), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979) and Shakti (1982).
Amitabh' also showed his talents in comedies like Chupke Chupke (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Namak Halal (1982) and Satte Pe Satta (1982) among others. He is also great in romantic films like Silsila..
Amitabh dominated Hindi filmdom from late 1970s to 1980s. He was still popular in 1990s. In 1990, Amitabh opened his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation limited under whose banner was produced Mrityudata. However, the company soon met rough weather and Amitabh experienced the worst financial crisis in his life. He started appearing in TV serials and AD films.
The 1990s witnessed his successful performances in Major Saab (1997), Sooryavansham (1999) and Lal Baadshah (1999).

After he crossed the age of 60 years, Amitabh was still the most sought after hero in Hindi films. Stories are made to suit his age and in the process we get Ek Rishta, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham in 2001, Bhagban in 2003, Black in 2004, Sarkar in 2005 and Kabhi Alvida Na Kahena in 2006 among other movies.

Born to an illustrious father Hindi poet Harivanshrai Bachchan at Alhabad in 1944, Amitabh graduated from the Sherwood College in Naitital.. After being a graduate, he tried for odd jobs. He served as a medical representative in Calcutta for some years before joining the Bollywood.

When he is known as flop master in the film industry, roaring actress Jaya Bhaduri married him. His son Abhishek Bachchan is a superstar in the Bollywood. His would be daughter-in- law Aishrywa Rai is a former Miss World and presently the reigning heroine in Hindi film industry..

The films
The Jhoom Barabar Jhoom 2007
God Tussi Great Ho 2007
Shoot Out at Lokhandwala 2007
Cheeni Kum 2007
Zamaanat 2007
Eklavya 2007Om Shanti Om 2007The Last Lear 2007 Talisman 2007 Sarkar Sequel 2007 Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay 2007 Teen Patti 2007 Kamagatu Maru 2007 Johny Walker 2007 Aankhen 2007 Bhairavi 2007 Struggle 2007
Aladin And the Misery of the lamp 200764 Square 2007Bhootnath 2007 Babul 2006 Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahena 2006
Samarjit Singh Talwar Aka Sam 2006
Darna Zaroori Hai 2006Family-ties of Blood 2006 Happy New Year 2006 Ganga 2006
Amrithadhara 2005Ek Ajnabee 2005 Dil jo Bhi Kahey 2005 Ramil Londonwaley 2005
Ram Balaram Aur Ramkali 2005Viruddh 2005 Sarkar 2005 Paheli 2005 Prineeta 2005 Narrator
Bunty Aur Babli 2005
Waqt –Race Against Time 2005 Black 2005Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo 2004 Veer Zaara 2004 Hum Kaun Hai 2004Kyon Ho Gaya Na 2004Deewaar 2004Lakhsya 2004 Dev 2004 Insaaf 2004 -Narrator Rudraksh 2004 Narrator Khakee 2004 Aetbaar 2004 Fun2ssh 2003 Narrator
Bhagban 2003Boom 2003 Mumbai se Aaya Mera Dost 2003 NarratorArmaan 2003 Khushi 2003 NarratorKantee 2002 Agni Varsha 2002 Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin 2003 Aankhen 2002Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gham 2001 Aks 2001 Lagaan 2001 Narrator Ek Rishtaa 2001Mohabbatein 2000 Hello Brother 1999 Kohram 1999 Hindustan Ki Kasam 1999 Biwi No 1 Soorvavansham 1999 Lal Baadshah 1999 Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan 1998 Major Saab 1998 Mrityudaata 1997 Tere Mere Sapne 1996 Narrator Ghatak 1996 Professor Ki Pasosan 1994 Insaaniyat 1994 Zulum Ki Hukumat Narrator Khuda Gawah 1992 Akela 1991 Houseo 13 1991 Indra Jeet 1991 Ajooba 1991 Hum 1991 Ajooba Kudrat Ka 1991 Aaj Ka Arjun 1990Krodh 1990 Agneepath 1990 Main Azad Hoon 1998 Jaadugar 1989Toofan 1989Batwara 1989 Narrator Ganga Jamuna Saraswati 1988
Hero Hiralal 1988
Shahensha 1988 Soorma Bhopali 1988 Ek Hi Maqsad 1988 Jalwa 1987 Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara 1987Dosti Dushmani 1986 Aakhri Raasta 1986
Ek Rukh Hua Faisala 1986Mard 1985 Giraftaar 1985Ram Tere Kitne Naam 1985Aamir Admi Garib Admi 1985. Sharaabi 1984 Inquilab 1984 Kanoon Kya Karega 1984 -NarratorPet Pyar Aur Paap 1984Coolie 1983Pukar 1983 Mahaan 1983 Andha Kanoon 1983 Nastik 1983 Film Hai Film 1983 Shakti 1982 Khud-Daar 1982 Namak Halal 1982 Desh Premee 1982 Bemisaal 1982
Satte Ke Patta 1982Kaalia 1981 Yaraana 1981 Silsila 1981 Lawaaris 1981 Barsat Ki Ek Raat 1981
Naseeb 1981
Commander 1981 Chasme Baddoor 1981Shaan 1980 Ram Baltam 1980 Dostana 1980 Do Aur Do Paanch 1980
Naya Bakra 1980 Suhaag 1979 Ahsaas 1979 Kala Pathhhar 1979 Cinema Cinema 1979 Mr Natwarlal 1979
Manzil 1979 Jurmana 1979 Golmaal 1979 The Great Gambler 1979 Muqaddar Ka Sikandar 1978 Don 1978 Trishul 1978
Kasme Vaade 1978Ganga Ki Saungandh 1978 Besharam 1978 Parvarish 1977 Khoon Pasina 1977 Imaan Dharam 1977 Adalat 1977
Charandas Charandas 1977
Shatranj Ke Khiladi Naraator Khatta Meetha 1977 Chala Murari Hero Banane 1977Alaap 1977Amar Akbar Antony 1977 Hera Pheri 1976 Kabhie Kabhie 1976 Do Anjane 1976 Chhoti Si Baat 1976 Sholay 1975 Zameer 1975 Deewar 1975Chupke Chupke 1975 Mili 1975 Faraar 1975 Majboor 1974 Benaam 1974 Roti Kapda Aur Makan 1974 Kasati 1974
Dost 1974 Anand 1974 Kunwara Baap 1974
Augustine 1974
Namak Haram 1974 Saudagar 1973
Abhimaan 1973 Gehri Chaal 1973Zazeer 1973
Bandey Hath 1973Bada Kabotar 1973Bombay to Goa 1972 Garam Masala 1972 Raste Ka Pattar 1972 Bawarchi 1972 Narrator
Ek Nazar 1972Sanhog 1972 Piya Ka Ghar 1972Bansi Birju 1972 Pyar Ki Kahani 1971 Guddi 1971 Reshma Aur Shera 1971 Anand 1971Bombay Talkies 1971 Mourner in Funeral 1971
Parwana 1971 Anwar Ali 1969
Bhuban Dhome 1969 Narrator
Saat Hindustani 1969

ICE HOCKEY

Ice hockey (frequently simply called hockey in countries where it is the most popular form of hockey) is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport. Ice hockey is most popular in areas that are sufficiently cold for natural reliable seasonal ice cover, such as Canada, the northern United States, Scandinavia, and Russia. With the advent of indoor artificial ice rinks it has become a year-round pastime in these areas. Ice hockey is one of the four major North American professional sports. Worldwide the National Hockey League (NHL) is the highest level for men and the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) and the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) are the highest level for women. It is the official national winter sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity. While only six of the thirty NHL franchises are based in Canada, Canadians make up a slight majority of the league's players.
While there are 66 total members of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), 162 of 177 medals at IIHF World Championships have been taken by seven nations: Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States[1][2]. Of the 63 medals awarded in men's competition at the Olympic level from 1920 on, only six did not go to the one of those countries. All nine Olympic and 27 IIHF World Women Championships medals have gone to one of those seven countries.

TENNIS

Tennis is a sport played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a strung racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt (most of the time Optic Yellow)[1] over a net into the opponent's court. The modern game of tennis originated in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis" which has heavy connections to the ancient game of real tennis. After its creation, tennis spread throughout the upper-class English-speaking population before spreading around the world. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs. In the United States, there is a collegiate circuit organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The rules of tennis have changed very little since the 1890s. Two exceptions are that from 1908 to 1960 the server had to keep one foot on the ground at all times, and then the adoption of the tiebreaker in the 1970s. A recent addition to professional tennis has been the adoption of "instant replay" technology coupled with a point challenge system, which allows a player to challenge the official call of a point.
Tennis enjoys millions of recreational players and is also a hugely popular worldwide spectator sport, especially the four Grand Slam tournaments (sometimes referred to as the "majors"): the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

FOOTBAAL

Football is the word given to a number of similar team sports, all of which involve (to varying degrees) kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer".
The English language word "football" is also applied to "gridiron football" (a name associated with the North American sports, especially American football and Canadian football), Australian football, Gaelic football, rugby football (rugby league and rugby union), and related games. Each of these codes (specific sets of rules, or the games defined by them) is referred to as "football".
These games involve:
Two teams of usually between 11 and 18 players; some variations that have fewer players (five or more per team) are also popular
a clearly defined area in which to play the game;
scoring goals and/or points, by moving the ball to an opposing team's end of the field and either into a goal area, or over a line;
goals and/or points resulting from players putting the ball between two goalposts
the goal and/or line being defended by the opposing team;
players being required to move the ball—depending on the code—by kicking, carrying and/or hand passing the ball; and
players using only their body to move the ball.
In most codes, there are rules restricting the movement of players offside, and players scoring a goal must put the ball either under or over a crossbar between the goalposts. Other features common to several football codes include: points being mostly scored by players carrying the ball across the goal line and; players receiving a free kick after they take a mark/make a fair catch.
Peoples from around the world have played games which involved kicking and/or carrying a ball, since ancient times. However, most of the modern codes of football have their origins in England.
Ancient games
The Ancient Greeks and Romans are known to have played many ball games, some of which involved the use of the feet. The Roman game harpastum is believed to have been adapted from a team game known as "επισκυρος" (episkyros) or phaininda, which is mentioned by a Greek playwright, Antiphanes (388–311 BC) and later referred to by the Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215 AD). The Roman politician Cicero (106-43 BC) describes the case of a man who was killed whilst having a shave when a ball was kicked into a barber's shop. These games appear to have resembled rugby football. Roman ball games already knew the air-filled ball, the follis.[2][3]
Documented evidence of an activity resembling football can be found in the Chinese military manual Zhan Guo Ce compiled between the 3rd century and 1st century BC.[4] It describes a practice known as cuju (蹴鞠, literally "kick ball"), which originally involved kicking a leather ball through a small hole in a piece of silk cloth which was fixed on bamboo canes and hung about 9 m above ground. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), cuju games were standardized and rules were established. Variations of this game later spread to Japan and Korea, known as kemari and chuk-guk respectively. By the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618–907), the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air-filled ball and cuju games had become professionalized, with many players making a living playing cuju.[citation needed] Also, two different types of goal posts emerged: One was made by setting up posts with a net between them and the other consisted of just one goal post in the middle of the field.
A revived version of Kemari being played at the Tanzan Shrine.
The Japanese version of cuju is kemari (蹴鞠), and was developed during the Asuka period. This is known to have been played within the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto from about 600 AD. In kemari several people stand in a circle and kick a ball to each other, trying not to let the ball drop to the ground (much like keepie uppie). The game appears to have died out sometime before the mid-19th century. It was revived in 1903 and is now played at a number of festivals
There are a number of references to traditional, ancient, and/or prehistoric ball games, played by indigenous peoples in many different parts of the world. For example, in 1586, men from a ship commanded by an English explorer named John Davis, went ashore to play a form of football with Inuit (Eskimo) people in Greenland.[6] There are later accounts of an Inuit game played on ice, called Aqsaqtuk. Each match began with two teams facing each other in parallel lines, before attempting to kick the ball through each other team's line and then at a goal. In 1610, William Strachey of the Jamestown settlement, Virginia recorded a game played by Native Americans, called Pahsaheman. In Victoria, Australia, indigenous people played a game called Marn Grook ("ball game"). An 1878 book by Robert Brough-Smyth, The Aborigines of Victoria, quotes a man called Richard Thomas as saying, in about 1841, that he had witnessed Aboriginal people playing the game: "Mr Thomas describes how the foremost player will drop kick a ball made from the skin of a possum and how other players leap into the air in order to catch it." It is widely believed that Marn Grook had an influence on the development of Australian rules football (see below).
The Maori in New Zealand played a game called Ki-o-rahi consisting of teams of seven players play on a circular field divided into zones, and score points by touching the 'pou' (boundary markers) and hitting a central 'tupu' or target.
Games played in Mesoamerica with rubber balls by indigenous peoples are also well-documented as existing since before this time, but these had more similarities to basketball or volleyball, and since their influence on modern football games is minimal, most do not class them as football.
These games and others may well go far back into antiquity and may have felt the growing pains of the elected officials also influenced which later affected football games. However, the main sources of modern football codes appear to lie in western Europe, especially England.