After years of delays and controversies surrounding Zindagi Tamasha, Sarmad Khoosat has taken matters into his own hands as he announced the film’s free release on YouTube.
Frustrated with the roadblocks faced in getting the movie released in cinemas, the acclaimed filmmaker has stated he will upload the full version of the film on August 4.
In a heartfelt video, Sarmad Khoosat expressed his desire to “free Zindagi Tamasha” for the public. He acknowledged the challenges and controversies surrounding the film and the sense of failure, not just his own, but of the system that led to its ban.
Sarmad Khoosat said,
Happy Independence Day to all of you, it’s yours. Zindagi Tamasha is free and it’s yours now.
Zindagi Tamasha is an independent film without any corporate sponsors, and Khoosat’s biggest wish was for it to be screened in cinemas. However, due to the unfairness and injustices faced by the movie, it will now be available for free on the official Khoosat Films YouTube account.
He emphasized that the version uploaded on YouTube will be the one approved by the censor boards. Additionally, a director’s cut of the film will be made available on Vimeo as a video on demand feature.
While acknowledging the financial loss incurred due to the controversies, Khoosat made a request to the audience to watch the film on YouTube or Vimeo and not via torrents. He also provided a link in the YouTube description box for those who want to support artistic independence and a small production house.
Zindagi Tamasha was Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars in 2021 and received critical acclaim and awards at international film festivals. Despite its success, the film faced political controversy and protests from Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which alleged that it was blasphemous.
In the end, Sarmad Khoosat’s ultimate goal is for viewers to watch Zindagi Tamasha with an open mind and judge it on its own merits and demerits, disregarding the surrounding controversies. With the film now available on YouTube, viewers have the opportunity to experience it firsthand and form their own opinions.
Zindagi Tamasha features an impressive cast, including Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz, and Ali Kureshi.
Despite not being screened across cinemas nationwide, the film holds a significant place in Pakistan film industry, and with its release on YouTube, it has become accessible to a wider audience worldwide.
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