Showbiz celebrities demand govt to lift ban on Joyland

From the showbiz industry, voices started rising against the ban on the screening of the Pakistani film 'Joyland' based on the theme of transgender persons.

Photo of Web Desk Web DeskNovember 14, 2022
Joyland ban

From the showbiz industry, voices started rising against the ban on the screening of the Pakistani film ‘Joyland’ based on the theme of transgender persons.

Actress Sarwat Gilani, who is part of the cast of the film, described the government’s decision as shameful, whereas, Osman Khalid Butt, Nadia Jameel and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Salman Sufi demanded a review of the decision from Information Minister Marriyun Aurangzeb.

After the ban imposed by the federal government, Joyland’s Oscar nomination was also in jeopardy.

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Sarwat Gilani wrote a Twitter thread, “There’s a paid smear campaign doing rounds against #Joyland, a film that made history for Pakistani cinema, got passed by all censor boards but now authorities are caving into pressure from some malicious people who have not even seen the film. 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 away this moment of pride and joy from our people!”

She added, “No one’s forcing anyone to watch it! So don’t force anyone to not watch it either! Pakistani viewers are smart enough to know what they want to watch or not. Let Pakistanis decide! Don’t insult their intelligence and our hard work!”

Actor Osman Khalid Butt raised questions over the ban and posted a Twitter thread, “The CFBC cleared Joyland for release in August. So the members of the Board had no issues with the theme/content of the film, correct? The film is set to release on the 18th, which makes point 2 not just severely misleading but factually incorrect.”

“As a nation that has celebrated Joyland’s many milestones and achievements, it is incredibly disheartening to see you cave under the pressure of ‘written complaints’ (by..who, exactly? Where and how have these people seen the film?) It’s baffling to me that even after Joyland made history at Cannes, after all the international critical acclaim it has received, after Pakistan itself submitted the film for Best International Feature at the Oscars, it is somehow (a week before release) unfit for our audiences?”

Butt said, “There are testimonies by people who’ve seen the film at Cannes, at TIFF (not those judging by hearsay/bias), who claim there’s absolutely nothing objectionable about Joyland. We’ve seen the same happen with Verna, with Maalik, with Zindagi Tamasha. Can our cinema please, for once, not be held hostage by what seems to be an entirely arbitrary Ordinance? There seems to be no issue with hyperviolence, regressive themes, adult jokes and content, overt sexualisation onscreen…but trans representation is where we draw the line?”

“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,” concluded Butt.

Nadia Jamil said, “I am so proud of the appreciation Joyland has received. I’m proud of the film maker @saim.sadiq & everyone attached to this film. We have a bad habit of not appreciating our own National treasures. Of allowing the rest of the world an opportunity to award & adore our talent, while we dismiss it, disrespect it or neglect it. Time to stand up for Joyland!”

“Time to protect both our talent & our right to watch beautiful cinema, our right to watch a film the rest of the world is giving standing ovations to. Time to own what’s ours & protect it from extremist attitudes. I grew up in Zias era of Martial Law,w censorship & clamps on creativity. The progressive writers movement,classical dance, music,creativity was all banned. Our culture was suffocated,muted, disrespected. Our right 2be creative stolen from us. This time we must protect that right.”

The actor said, “Joyland, which had previously passed all 3 censor boards has now been termed “uncertified” by the board but has not been banned yet. A select few people are pressurising the government to ban the film by fake smear campaigns on social media, especially Twitter.”

Jamil appealed to start a Twitter campaign for the release of the film. She added, “Please be part of the solution. Please allow our people the right to enjoy our own art! Please know, silence gives strength to the problem. We are protecting our freedom. Our freedom to make art, and watch art. Our freedom to think for ourselves whether we like a film or not!”

Nadia Jamil retweeted a video shared by Indian journalist Namrata Joshi that showed queues of moviegoers outside the cinema waiting to watch Joyland.

PM’s aide Salman Sufi tweeted, “I personally do not believe in banning films that highlight issues faced by marginalized segments of our society. People should be trusted to watch & make their own mind. I will request my friend @Marriyum_A to see if it’s possible to review the ban & meet the team #Joyland”

Joyland was slated to be premiered in cinemas across Pakistan on November 18 while JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan demanded a ban on the movie.

The movie has also created a controversy which was highlighted by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan as he claimed that Joyland was against the institution of marriage and nikah and it depicts homosexuality.

In a Twitter message, JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said that Joyland is against the social values of Pakistan and it tried to promote homosexuality.

The senator said that he was told by the information ministry that permission was given for the film to be released across Pakistan while the Film Censor Board did not find any controversial content in Joyland.

He said that such films are part of planned attacks on the social values of Pakistan and that the screening of Joyland should be banned. Senator Khan also announced to launch a campaign to ban the movie.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Oscars Selection Committee had shortlisted Joyland as the country’s submission to the 95th Academy Awards for the ‘International Feature Film Award’ category.

 

Photo of Web Desk Web DeskNovember 14, 2022
Photo of Web Desk

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