Film’s success is Pakistan’s success – Celebrities speak up in support of Saim Sadiq for Joyland’s release
KARACHI (The HQ News) Internationally recognised film Joyland is facing a major roadblock in its journey to release in its home country as the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has revoked the censor certificate granted to the filmmaker months ago.
Ever since a copy of the notification made it to social media, celebrities have been up in arms, calling for an end to the ban and for the film to be released.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan of the JI shared on Saturday a copy of the notice dated November 11 that read that the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) Islamabad granted the censor certificate on August 17 this year.
However, after receiving complaints that “the film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ’decency and morality; as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979,” the federal government has declared Joyland “uncertified”.
A few hours after Joyland’s actor Sarwat Gilani and musician Abdullah Siddiqui were joined by other celebrities to decry the decision, director Saim Sadiq shared his statement on Instagram, “We — as a team — are gutted by this development but fully intend to raise our voice against this grave injustice. I am compelled to point out that this sudden U-turn by the Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is absolutely unconstitutional and illegal.”
He also shared that Joyland got certified by all three censor boards earlier in August. “The 18th amendment in the Pakistani Constitution gives all provinces the autonomy to make their own decision, yet the Ministry suddenly caved under pressure from a few extremist factions — who have not seen the film — and made a mockery of our federal censor board by rendering their decision irrelevant,” Sadiq wrote.
He added that in addition to their censor certificate being revoked, the ministry has also gone “against the Constitution by ordering all the other provincial censor boards, Sindh and Punjab, to follow its decision,” and that Joyland is still certified to release in Punjab and Sindh on its original release date, November 18.
“I am thankful for all the messages on mainstream and social media in support of the film and against this decision to hinder the film’s release in its home country, which show that Pakistani audiences are sensible and don’t want to be dictated about which film they should or should not watch,” Sadiq wrote.
Actor Sania Saeed, who also stars in Joyland, told Taimur Rahman, a political activist and musician, “If it [Joyland] doesn’t release in Pakistan, there are going to be some difficulties for the Oscars submission. But what’s even more upsetting is that the entire world appreciated a Pakistani film, our film, story and people and Pakistan won’t be able to see the film, that’s sad.”
Saeed reasoned that the film is for adults, therefore, they must be trusted with what kind of content they want and don’t want to watch. “I believe we should leave this decision up to the people. For the film to go up in cinemas, we need your support. The more people tweet in favour, the possibility for its release increases even more. I request all friends, who believe in freedom of what they should and should not watch, to raise voice for the release of Joyland via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook,” she said.
Actor Zhalay Sarhadi re-shared Sadiq’s post and wrote, “Why!!! We need to have this played in our cinemas!” with the hashtag Sadiq encouraged everyone to use for Joyland.
Amid the ban on Joyland’s nationwide release, actors Osman Khalid Butt and Sarwat Gillani has spoken up in support of the film.
Sarwat, who is a part of this venture, stated: “Shameful that a Pakistani film made by 200 Pakistanis over 6 years that got standing ovations from Toronto to Cairo to Cannes is being hindered in its own country. Don’t take way this moment of pride and joy from our people.”
On the other hand, Osman Khalid Butt also came out in support of the film and said: “Can our cinema please, for once, not be held hostage by what seems to be an entirely arbitrary Ordinance?”
“If the themes of Joyland (and this is a hypothesis – I haven’t seen the film) are too sensitive/mature for general audiences, then give it an appropriate rating. There’s precedent. But don’t deprive us of watching the film, remarked OB.”
Joyland’s plot revolves around the story of the youngest son of middle-class patriarchal Rana Family, who joins theatre and ends up falling in love with a Trans starlet. His love story elucidates the desires and secrets of the entire Rana family.