Sana Jaffrey, the co-producer and casting director of Pakistan‘s Oscar-nominated film Joyland, has demanded to know on what basis the film’s censorship certificate was withdrawn.
It has been heard that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is under pressure from various religious parties. The Ministry has not provided any clarification in this regard. He did not say clearly whether the film has been banned or not.
The Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had on November 11 withdrawn the censorship certificate given to ‘Joyland’ in cinemas in August.
According to the notification, the censor certificate issued for the film was issued on August 17, 2022, but a week before the film’s release, ‘written complaints were received stating that the film contains highly objectionable material which violates the social and moral values of our society. does not correspond to.’
According to the notification, ‘the film is contrary to morals and decency, hence it has been banned for exhibition in cinemas under section nine of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.
However, Sana says that if it is being said that she has received any complaints regarding the film, then anyone can file a complaint.
‘If anyone complains, the screening of the film will be stopped? There is no logic in it.’
He insisted that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should reconsider its decision and at least be informed of whatever decision it takes.
According to Sana, it is written in the notification that this letter is for the federation and it should be issued in other provinces as well.
‘If seen, technically the film has not been banned.’
Sana said that she has not yet applied in writing to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, but Sarmad Sultan Khost, the other producer of the film, is in touch with her.
‘There is no concrete answer from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it is only being told that there is pressure and they will see.’
He said that the film is going for Oscars for which it must be released in Pakistan.
It took six years and hundreds of people to make this film.
“This film was made in Pakistan and it was made for Pakistanis, so what’s the point if they won’t be able to see it.”
He said that by stopping the exhibition of the film, not only he will suffer financial loss, but his six years of hard work will go in vain.
Sana lamented: ‘Films and dramas that mock transgender people are not banned, but the community is mocked and dehumanised. Why are a few eunuchs so angry at seeing a girl as a human being?’
The film, based on the issues of transgenders and produced by Sarmad Sultan Khost, was slated to hit theaters across Pakistan on November 18.
It was previously screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022, where it was awarded the Jury Prize while the film was a Pakistani film entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards, along with films from other countries. included as
Regarding the ban on the screening of the film, Independent Urdu tried to contact Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, but her spokesperson said that she is out of the country, so it is not possible to contact her now, and issued a statement on her return. can
However, he confirmed the authenticity of the notification.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Musarat Jamshed Cheema, the spokesperson of the Punjab government, said regarding the ban, “The question arises from the federal government, why did it first allow the release of the film and why did it stop it now?” Did they realize late that this film is against our moral values.’
Independent Urdu contacted Sarmad Sultan Khost several times to get his reaction but he did not respond.
Ever since the notification came out, there have been mixed reactions on social media.
Writer, director and presenter Faseeh Bari Khan wrote on his Facebook: ‘Don’t make something different and different.
‘After Zindagi Tamasha, another film was released, who should be the lawyer?
Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami wrote in his tweet:
Alhamdulillah, the government of Pakistan canceled the exhibition license issued to the controversial film Joyland.
“Notification continues, this is a good initiative of the government that Pakistan is an Islamic state, no law, no action, no ideology against Islam can work here.”
Alhamdulillah! @GovtofPakistan
has canceled the exhibition license issued to the controversial film Joyland. The notification is issued, this is a good move by the government. Pakistan is an Islamic state. No law, no action, no ideology can go against Islam.#BanJoyland pic.twitter.com/tib00zo6Dd— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan (@SenatorMushtaq) November 12, 2022
A hashtag is also trending on Twitter in favor of the screening of this film.
A user On Cheema wrote: ‘I want to watch the movie that got standing ovation at every film festival in the world. We deserve good stories and good cinema #ReleaseJoyland.’
Actress Sarwat Geelani, who played the role of ‘Nachi’ in the film Joyland, wrote: “There is a paid smear campaign against #Joyland, a history making film for Pakistani cinema which was cleared by all censor boards but now The authorities are coming under pressure from some unscrupulous people who have not even seen the film.’
It is a shame that a Pakistani film made by 200 Pakistanis in six years was given a standing ovation by fans from Toronto to Cairo to Cannes.
‘Being a hindrance in your own country. Don’t take away this moment of pride and joy from us.’
In the thread of this tweet, Sarwat further wrote: ‘No one is forcing anyone to watch this movie so don’t force anyone not to watch this movie!
“Pakistani viewers are smart enough to know what they want to see and what they don’t want to see. Pakistanis decide! Don’t insult their intelligence and our hard work.’
There’s a paid smear campaign doing rounds against #Joylanda 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. #ReleaseJoyland @MoIB_Official
— sarwat gilani (@sarwatgilani) November 12, 2022
Writer and actor Usman Khalid Butt also wrote a thread on his Twitter in which he first questioned the authenticity of this notification from the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The Central Board of Censorship (CFBC) had cleared Joyland for screening in August. So the board members had no problem with the theme/content of the film, right?
The film is slated to release on the 18th, which makes point 2 not only grossly misleading, but factually incorrect.’
He added: ‘As a nation that has celebrated Joyland’s many milestones and achievements, it is incredibly disappointing to see you under pressure to write complaints.
Usman also said: ‘It is surprising to me that even after Joyland made history at Cannes, after all the international critical acclaim, Pakistan is still submitting a film for Best International Feature at the Oscars. After, the film has somehow become unsuitable for our audience a week before its release?’
They said that if the subject matter of Joyland (and this is an assumption – I haven’t seen the film) is too sensitive for general audiences, then give it an appropriate rating. And there are examples of this. But don’t deprive us of watching the movie.’
Earlier, Sarmad Sultan Khost’s another film Zindagi Namasha was also banned for release in Pakistan.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘2494823637234887’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Joyland #years #hard #work #wasted
2024-09-18 22:11:08
What are the reasons behind the censorship controversy regarding Pakistan’s film Joyland?
Pakistan’s Oscar-Nominated Film Joyland Faces Censorship Controversy: Co-Producer Demands Clarification
In a shocking turn of events, the co-producer and casting director of Pakistan’s Oscar-nominated film Joyland, Sana Jaffrey, has questioned the withdrawal of the film’s censorship certificate by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The move has sparked controversy and raised concerns about artistic freedom and censorship in Pakistan.
Censorship Certificate Withdrawn
On November 11, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting revoked the censorship certificate issued to Joyland in August, citing “written complaints” that the film contains “highly objectionable material” that violates the social and moral values of Pakistani society.
Pressure from Religious Parties
Rumors suggest that the Ministry is under pressure from various religious parties, which have objected to the film’s content. However, the Ministry has not provided any clear clarification on the matter, leaving the filmmakers and the public in the dark.
Sana Jaffrey Speaks Out
Sana Jaffrey has expressed her dismay and frustration over the decision, stating that the Ministry’s move is illogical and unfair. “If anyone complains, the screening of the film will be stopped? There is no logic in it,” she said. She demanded that the Ministry reconsider its decision and provide a clear explanation for the withdrawal of the censorship certificate.
Technicality of the Ban
Interestingly, Sana pointed out that the notification only withdraws the censorship certificate, but does not explicitly ban the film. “Technically, the film has not been banned,” she said. This raises questions about the Ministry’s intentions and the legal implications of the decision.
Impact on the Film Industry
The controversy surrounding Joyland has sparked concerns about the film industry in Pakistan. The film’s production took six years and involved hundreds of people, and its withdrawal from cinemas could result in significant financial losses for the filmmakers. Moreover, the censorship row has sparked debates about artistic freedom and the role of the government in regulating creative expression.
Reactions from Social Media
The news has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many people expressing their support for the film and its creators. Writer, director, and presenter Faseeh Bari Khan wrote on Facebook, “Don’t make something different and different. After Zindagi Tamasha, another film was released, who should be the lawyer?”
Oscar Nominations and International Recognition
Joyland has received international recognition, including a Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022, and has been selected as Pakistan’s entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards. The film’s creators are determined to see it released in Pakistan, arguing that it is a film made in Pakistan and for Pakistanis.
Transgender Community and Representation
The film’s storyline revolves around the issues faced by the transgender community in Pakistan, and Sana Jaffrey has pointed out the hypocrisy in banning a film that humanizes transgender people while allowing films that mock and dehumanize them to be screened freely.
Government Response
The Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb was unavailable for comment, but her spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the notification. The Punjab government spokesperson, Musarat Jamshed Cheema, questioned the federal government’s decision, saying, “Why did they first allow the release of the film and why did they stop it now? Did they realize late that this film is against our moral values?”
The controversy surrounding Joyland has raised important questions about censorship, artistic freedom, and the role of the government in regulating creative expression in Pakistan. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the fate of Joyland and the film industry in Pakistan hangs in the balance.
Keywords: Joyland, Pakistan, Oscar-nominated, censorship, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sana Jaffrey, film industry, artistic freedom, transgender community, representation.
