The release of much-anticipated film Joyland directed by Saim Sadiq has been banned a week before its release. Joyland is facing a major setback as the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting canceled its exhibition license issued months ago. Joyland tells the story of Haider (Ali Junejo), the youngest son of the Ranas family, who, while working as a background dancer, falls in love with Biba (Alina Khan), a transgender woman.
What Is The Dispute About?
The government of Pakistan faced pressure from hardline Islamic groups who called its depiction of a love affair between a man and a trans woman “repugnant” and “highly objectionable”. Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed tweeted a letter initiated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcast that deemed the previously certified film ‘uncertified’.
الحمدللہ! @GovtofPakistan
نےمتنازع فلم جوائےلینڈکوجاری کردہ نمائش کالائسنس منسوخ کردیاہے۔نوٹیفیکیشن جاری،یہ حکومت کااحسن اقدام ہے۔پاکستان اسلامی مملکت ہےیہاں کوئی قانون، کوئی اقدام،کوئی نظریہ خلافِ اسلام نہیں چل سکتا۔#BanJoyland pic.twitter.com/tib00zo6Dd— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan (@SenatorMushtaq) November 12, 2022
What does the Censor Board Say?
According to close sources with the Sindh Censor Board, some members were initially skeptical about the content of the film and were not fully sure how the audiences will respond to a love story between a man and a trans person. “Yes, it has been passed and certified with edits that have been conveyed to the producers and we are not sure of any other development so far,” the source told Express Tribune. A Punjab censor board official also confirmed the same. “We are not aware of any letter issued by the government. From our end, the film has been certified and ready for release,” said the official while requesting anonymity.
PM Shehbaz Sharif Forms A Special Committee
Under pressure, the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday constituted an eight-member committee to “deliberate on complaints” against the movie. They comprised of minister for political affairs and economic affairs and law and justice chairperson, minister for information and broadcasting, minister for communications, minister for board of investment, minister for information technology and telecommunications, adviser to the PM on Gilgit-Baltistan, PTA chairman and PEMRA chairman.
The Star Cast Is Dismayed
The team of Joyland, including Sarwat Gilani, Sania Saeed, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq and Abdullah Siddiqui took to social media and shared a note regarding the apparent ban on their film. Gilani who is one of the prominent stars of Joyland feels that 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 in to pressure from some malicious people who have not even seen the film.” She wrote
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. #ReleaseJoyland @MoIB_Official
— sarwat gilani (@sarwatgilani) November 12, 2022
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! #ReleaseJoyland @MoIB_Official @GovtofPakistan
— sarwat gilani (@sarwatgilani) November 12, 2022
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! #ReleaseJoyland @MoIB_Official @GovtofPakistan
— sarwat gilani (@sarwatgilani) November 12, 2022
Actor Sania Saeed, who also stars in Joyland, told Taimur Rahman, a political activist and musician, “If it [Joyland] doesn’t release in Pakistan, there are going to be some difficulties for the Oscars submission. But what’s even more upsetting is that the entire world appreciated a Pakistani film, our film, story and people and Pakistan won’t be able to see the film, that’s sad.”
Don’t listen to Maria B #ReleaseJoyland. The film has passed all 3 censor boards. Don’t listen to fake news. pic.twitter.com/YHEErM0loR
— Dr. Taimur Rahman (@Taimur_Laal) November 14, 2022
Celebrity Support
Several other artists such as Osman Khalid Butt, Tooba Siddiqui expressed disappointment over the call for Joyland to be boycotted.
Osman Khalid Butt
To the @MoIB_Official:
Can you please confirm the authenticity of this letter (shared by a member of Senate), because if Joyland has been declared an uncertified film, I've got some questions.
/cont'd. pic.twitter.com/YqnVjuGymF— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) November 12, 2022
Tooba Siddiqui
Mira Sethi
The Paristan actor called out Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb directly in her tweet.
Hi @Marriyum_A. The ban on #Joyland makes no sense.
(1) You can’t claim to be a democrat but go around banning movies and art!
(2) We go on about “showing Pakistan’s positive side”—this movie does exactly that, by putting Pakistani cinema on the world map. #ReleaseJoyland
— Mira Sethi (@sethimirajee) November 13, 2022
Sanam Saeed
There is no reason not to release Joyland
#ReleaseJoyland ! There is no reason not to. Be proud of the work that our artists create not afraid! Give your own people the respect they get in foreign lands. Support us, stand by us and we as Pakistani artists will make this country proud! https://t.co/6jQizg0Xbx
— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) November 13, 2022
Final Word
Art and culture help communities across the world to connect. Cinema, in particular, helps break barriers. But it seems to be the opposite in Pakistan. Banning a film that won big at various international forums comes across as highly regressive. No film can please everyone and those who do not like can choose not to watch it.
