I haven’t seen Pakistan’s highest-grossing Punjabi film ‘The Legend of Moolah Jit’ yet, but my seven-year-old son has been asking for days to go to the cinema to watch it.
I tried to lovingly explain to the child that Moolah Jatt is not a movie for children to watch, as it has too much noise.
But the child replied that many of his classmates have seen this movie in the cinema along with their parents, so now he has to watch this movie too.
I came to know from friends that Moolah Jat has a lot of noise and violent scenes, and it is also rated ‘PG’.
Check out some posts on social media where children can be seen in the cinema with the poster of Moolah Jat.
I have raised the question in various Facebook groups whether Moolah Jat, which depicts violence and gore, should be watched by young children.
In response, user Zanira Tariq wrote: ‘These days kids are seeing so much violence in the news and in cartoons on Netflix that watching Moolah Jat doesn’t matter.’
Arsha Shuja was of the opinion: ‘Kids, even adults should not watch such a violent film.’
Another user Sayeka wrote that ‘her five-and-a-half-year-old daughter found Moola Jatt scary’, while one user admitted to watching Moola Jatt with her five- and three-year-old children.
Alize Butt wrote: ‘This film is intended for adults, or may be shown to children over 16, not at all to children younger than that.’
Another user wrote: ‘Bhai dikha two kids, who will the parents leave the kids with and go to the cinema to watch a movie?’
The responses on social media confirmed my son’s point, but was confused as to whether we have a law or rule that a movie with violence that is rated ‘PG’ can be viewed by children. Not to be shown?
Film screening in Pakistan
The Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) is a film censorship board and classification system under the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan. After the 18th amendment to the Pakistani constitution, its jurisdiction is limited to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, while Punjab and Sindh are Punjab Film Censor Board (PFCB) and Sindh Board of Film Censors (SBFC) respectively. ) are
Under the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979, the responsibilities of these boards include regulating the public exhibition of films.
Rating of movies
According to the law, CBFC after examining a particular film decides whether the film is suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, family exhibition, public exhibition under parental guidance, public exhibition after cutting some parts or 18 years and above. Whether or not it is suitable for aged persons or public display.
According to the same law, the following certificates are given to films according to their exposure.
1. Universal Certificate (U): A film suitable for unrestricted public exhibition,
2. FAMILY CERTIFICATE (F): A film worth watching with family or family members.
3. Parental Guidance (PG) Certificate: The film must be watched under parental guidance, and
4. Adult Certificate (A): The film is rated for viewing by persons aged 18 years and above.
Further rules of rating
Sindh Censor Board member Umar Khattab said in a conversation with Independent Urdu that there are sub-categories of PG rating, including PG 13, PG 15 and PG 16.
‘Mula Jatt is a PG 13 film, suitable for children aged 13 and over under parental supervision, and children are not allowed to bring such a film into the cinema.’
He said that in case of rating A films, persons below 18 years of age cannot enter the cinema anywhere in Sindh.
Punjab Censor Board’s Film Inspector Muhammad Haseeb while talking to Independent Urdu said that in the case of the presence of scary scenes in the film, which children cannot watch, ‘PG’ or ‘A’ rating, while also on the presence of violence. Rated PG’.
He added that films with an adult theme, like ‘Joyland’, are also given an ‘A’ rating.
Hamza Ali Abbasi has played the role of Noori Naat in the movie “Legend of Moolah Jat” (Publicity Poster).
Referring to Moulajit, he said that the film is rated ‘PG’ and can be watched by children below 13 years of age under parental guidance.
He further said that in ‘PG’ movie, children watch the movie with their parents so that if there is a scary scene, the children don’t get scared. “Many films get a certificate at the federal level, but in Punjab it does not happen, while the reverse also happens.”
Procedure of Boards
Explaining the process of evaluating the films, Sindh Censor Board member Umar Khattab told Independent Urdu that the board consisting of 14 members belonging to different schools of thought (ten private sector and six government officers) will give their opinion after watching the film. and after a long discussion it is decided to give the film a certificate.
Punjab Censor Board film inspector Mohammad Haseeb said that in Punjab, at least five and maximum 10 board members watch the film for rating purposes, and it is the board’s prerogative to grant or deny a certificate to a film.
Possible reasons for non-grant of certificate
The Board shall not publish any material in any film that ridicules, insults or attacks Islam or any religious sect, caste or creed, questions the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan, or offends national sentiments, offends public order, decency or morals. Hoda may refuse to issue a certificate on the presence of dialogues, songs, gestures, praise of evil or crime.
How is the rating process?
Umar Khattab said that it is the responsibility of the management of the cinemas and against them and in case of complaint, a particular theater can be closed.
However, he said that the board has not yet received any such complaint regarding Mola Jat.
Explaining the procedure of action against the cinema, he said that the authority to seal the cinema rests with the Deputy Commissioner of the district, which can be followed in Surat on the board’s complaint.
He further said that usually the district administration does not act on the first complaint but it is done after receiving four or five complaints.
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He said that showing a film like Moolah Jatt to children depends on the will of the parents, as the cinema management will only ensure that only the parents buy the tickets for the child.
Rating for Mola Jat in progress?
To find out what age group of children are being allowed to watch Moolah Jat in cinemas in Lahore, the management of the famous Q Cinema was contacted by telephone.
The man who picked up the phone answered a question about children being allowed to watch the film: ‘Children above three years will have tickets.’
When his attention was drawn to the rating of the film as ‘PG’, he said that children of any age can come to watch the film.
Film critic Iqbal Khursheed while talking to Independent Urdu said: ‘Moola Jat director Bilal Lashari had told before the release of the film that it is not for children.
“I myself saw Moolah Jat twice in the cinema and there were children there, while there are many other 16 and 13 rated films that children come to see.”
Explaining the reason for this illegality, he said that the buyer of 10 tickets in the cinema will not be inquired about the presence of children.
Iqbal Khursheed said that at the time of ticket sale, it is one of the responsibilities of the management of the cinemas to record the ages of those who come to watch the movie.
“And in the federal capital, Islamabad, this law is fully implemented.”
(Editing: Abdullah Jan)
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#children #watch #Moola #Jat #presence #parents
2024-09-15 17:35:17
What are the potential psychological effects of children watching violent movies like ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’?
Table of Contents
The Great Debate: Should Children Watch Violent Movies like ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’?
As a parent, I was surprised when my seven-year-old son asked to watch ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, Pakistan’s highest-grossing Punjabi film, at the cinema. My initial reaction was to explain to him that the movie is not suitable for children due to its violent and loud scenes. However, he countered by saying that many of his classmates have watched the movie with their parents, and now he wants to see it too.
This sparked a debate in my mind, and I decided to ask friends and social media users about their opinions on the matter. I was shocked to learn that many children have watched the movie, despite its ’PG’ rating, which suggests that it should be viewed under parental guidance.
The Rating Conundrum
In Pakistan, the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) and other regional censor boards, such as the Punjab Film Censor Board (PFCB) and Sindh Board of Film Censors (SBFC), are responsible for regulating the public exhibition of films. According to the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979, these boards examine films and decide whether they are suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, family exhibition, public exhibition under parental guidance, or for viewers aged 18 and above.
The ‘PG’ rating, which ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ has received, suggests that the film should be viewed under parental guidance. However, this raises questions about what exactly this rating entails. Are children below a certain age allowed to watch the movie with their parents, or is it intended for older children and adults only?
Sub-Categories of PG Rating
According to Umar Khattab, a member of the Sindh Censor Board, there are sub-categories of PG rating, including PG 13, PG 15, and PG 16. ‘Mula Jatt’ is a PG 13 film, which means it is suitable for children aged 13 and over under parental supervision. This implies that children below 13 should not be allowed to watch the movie, even with their parents.
The Laws and Rules
In Pakistan, the laws and rules governing film censorship are often unclear or not strictly enforced. While the CBFC and other censor boards have guidelines in place, these are not always followed by cinema owners or parents.
The question remains: should children be allowed to watch violent movies like ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’? The answer is not a simple yes or no. While some argue that children are already exposed to violence in cartoons and news, others believe that parents should use discretion when allowing their children to watch such films.
As a parent, it is essential to take an active role in deciding what is suitable for your child. While the laws and rules are in place, it is up to us to ensure that our children are protected from harmful content. The debate will continue, but ultimately, it is our responsibility as parents to make informed decisions about what our children watch.
Keywords: Maula Jatt, Pakistani cinema, film censorship, parental guidance, movie ratings, CBFC, PFCB, SBFC.
Child development experts and examining its themes, the movie contains violence, strong language, and mature content that may not be suitable for young viewers.
The Debate Over Age-Appropriate Movies: Should Children Watch Pakistan’s Highest-Grossing Film “The Legend of Maula Jatt”?
As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned about the content our children are exposed to, especially when it comes to movies. Recently, I’ve been facing pressure from my seven-year-old son to take him to watch “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” Pakistan’s highest-grossing Punjabi film. However, after researching the movie, I’m not convinced it’s suitable for young children.
The Concerns
“The Legend of Maula Jatt” is rated ‘PG’, which might lead parents to think it’s appropriate for their kids. However, after consulting with
