Breaking the Silence: Music in Afghanistan

Breaking the Silence: Music in Afghanistan (2008) is a music, documentary film directed by Simon Broughton.

All since the Soviet invasion in 1979 musicians have lived under restrictions in Afghanistan, before Mujahedin and Taliban tightened the reins even more. This documentary explores the position of music through more than twenty years of the country’s history. We meet musicians in Afghanistan and in exile, in addition to both believers who reject music and those having it as a central part of their religion.

Cast

Aziz Ghaznawi

Himself - Head of Music Radio & TV Afghanistan

Mashinai

Himself - Musician

Khaled Arman

Himself - Ensemble Kabul

Shiraz Siddiqi

Himself - Kabul Resident

Naqib Ahmad

Himself - Former Mujahidden

Naghma

Herself - Singer

Walayad Khan

Himself - Rubab Maker

Amir Jan

Himself - Musician

Aziza Feroz Afghan

Herself - Singer

Mike Wooldridge

Narrator (voice)