Response to Afghan Star

The very context which Afghan Star is filmed in makes the documentary and the idea of a singing contest poignant. The same features seen in the contest mostly remain the same with its Western counterparts – namely, the allure of prizes and fame, advertising, in-fighting between contestants and public participation through voting. However, for a country emerging from oppression, democracy even in the form of singing and voting becomes a great privilege. Essentially about a reality competition, Afghan Star is therefore intertwined with socio-political issues of the country where the brutal reality of life for those who seek to express themselves appear dismal and dangerous.