Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha’s release on this 24th January seems uncertain as he pens down a letter to state institutes seeking help in release of the film. The “Manto” director in his letter referred to a group of people with ‘political agenda’ who are trying to hinder release of the film based on some wrong assumptions made from the film’s trailer.
According to the details revealed in the letter, the said group launched a complaint against the film which made Sarmad to resubmit the film to the censor board for second time despite its initial clearance. But despite the clearance given for the second time with some minor cuts to appease the complainants, pressurizing tactics are now been used by the same group to stop the film from releasing, a week before its release.
“As a law-abiding citizen and with full conviction that there is nothing offensive or malicious in the film. In response I submitted the film for another review to the censor board. It was cleared once again with a few cuts to appease the complainants”, reads the letter.
میں بھی پاکستان ہوں
An open letter to:@ImranKhanPTI@ArifAlvi #Chiefjusticeofpakistan #Chiefofthearmystaffpakiatan#ministerofinformationpakistan@DanyalGilani #censorboardofpakistan #ZindagiTamasha #pakistanicinema pic.twitter.com/D10lS1V1gw— Sarmad Khoosat (@KhoosatSarmad) January 16, 2020
“I am bringing this to your notice not just because my team and I are being bullied and pressurized but also because this series of episodes undermines a state institution like the Central Board of Film Censors and strips it of its authority and stature,” he added.
Concluding the letter by saying, “The space for rational and artistic thinking and expression must not be annexed by a few troublemakers for their political ends but I fear this is what will happen if we buckle under this time.”
The synopsis of “Zindagi Tamasha” reads “the film is an intimate portrait of a family as well as a scorching political commentary on little gods on this earth who police our private passions.” The end of the teaser also hints that the flick will also be shedding a light on the misuse of blasphemy law.
The movie’s cast includes Arif Hasan, Samiya Mumtaz, Eman Suleman and Ali Qureshi in pivotal roles and the soundtrack has been composed by Lux Style Award winner Saakin band.
