External pressures on films

The government has stopped the release of the forthcoming film “Zindagi Tamasha” over its depiction of what it has termed ‘a sensitive’ topic. The move is not a new restrain as several films and dramas have previously been compelled to carefully tread over blurred lines.

“Zindagi Tamasha”  tells the story of a Muslim cleric who is shunned after a video of him dancing at a wedding goes viral. It raises questions about a ‘good enough Muslim’  without any mention of sect or faction, but the generic portrayal of a bearded man with other inhibitions seems to have struck a nerve with the moral brigade who have erupted in protest against the film.

The film was initially cleared by the censor board several times and was set to hit cinema screens this week. The government has now stopped the release and will hand it over to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for a critical review of the film. The information ministry will again hold a meeting to review the film in which a representative of the far-right group Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) will also participate.

“Zindagi Tamasha” has irked religious parties which termed it un-Islamic. The film’s director Sarmad Khoosat has received threats and said that he considered dropping the film on several occasions. It will now only be released if the members of the religious parties and government officials approve the film.

The film director has even penned a heartfelt note to Prime Minister Imran Khan requesting its release, saying that he had no intention to malign or hurt anyone. He complained of being bullied and pressurized by certain groups to withdraw the film. Khoosat hopes that the space for rational and artistic thinking will not be annexed by a few troublemakers while expressing fears that it will be so if the government buckles under this time.

Delay in the film’s release marks a sad day for freedom of speech and expression. It is proof that the state cannot maintain control over extremist groups who can strike fear, create chaos and control art and entertainment in the country.  Filmmakers will now have to be more cautious than creative, ensuring that their work receives the approval of both the censor board and political or religious parties. There should be no limitations on freedom of art and expression. The government needs to do more to promote arts without caving down to any external pressure.