Yasir Hussain, known for his candid opinions, recently voiced his thoughts on item numbers in Pakistani cinema. After previously commenting on extra-marital affairs, the actor turned his attention to the controversial topic of item songs—musical segments featuring suggestive dancing by women in revealing outfits, often disconnected from the film’s storyline and primarily aimed at attracting audiences.
Yasir highlighted the cultural contradiction, where society disapproves of item numbers yet consumes them widely. “We need to ask ourselves what defines our culture — is it pre- or post-partition?” he questioned.
As Pakistani commercial cinema has expanded, many big-budget films now include item numbers, with stars like Ayesha Omar in Tutti Frutti and Saba Qamar in Kalabaaz Dil. Yasir noted that this trend isn’t new; the tradition of watching women perform dances dates back to the pre-partition era. “Heeramandi existed during the Mughal period, and people paid to watch women dance,” he explained. “This was shut down in the 1980s but has now resurfaced through item songs.”
Referring to earlier Pakistani films, he said, “Look at old movies — Noor Jehan sang item songs, actresses danced. It wasn’t considered unusual then. So, what changed?”
Clarifying his stance, Yasir stated, “I don’t support item numbers in Pakistan because after watching Nora Fatehi perform, our versions fall short. I can’t lower my standards like that.”
He advised filmmakers to raise production quality if they insist on including such songs and suggested that the government should impose heavy taxes on item numbers rather than banning them. Despite ongoing criticism, he acknowledged that these songs continue to generate millions of views online.
Recently Yasir Hussain blamed women for Extra-marital affairs, faces strong public criticism
