Actor and plastic surgeon, Fahad Mirza defended Saim Sadiq’s LGBTQ film Joyland, starring his wife, Sarwat Gilani, on Sunday after Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) halted the its release this month.
The Parizaad actor tweeted his support for the film and called it a “true work of art”. He wrote:
It [Joyland] shows you life through the eyes of a transgender, someone who is born in that condition, it tells the story of people being forced to live in situations and how they cope! Don’t ban it, watch it, learn from it!
https://twitter.com/FahadZMirza/status/1591716265403596801?s=20&t=D4lNrO_MUtXTw40t-fkAEA
Sarwat Gilani, tweeted that the ban s part of “a paid smear campaign” on social media against “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”.
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
In a follow-up tweet, the Churails star expressed her disappointment with the CBFC’s decision to ban the film:
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!
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
She ranted that “no one’s forcing anyone to watch” the film, and no one should force anyone to not watch it either.
She added,
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!
Sarwat Gillani also tagged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB), and the Government of Pakistan’s official account in her tweet. Note that the CBFC comes under the ministry.
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
She concluded with a Quranic verse to emphasize her point:
#ReleaseJoyland @GovtofPakistan @MoIB_Official pic.twitter.com/msJ7P9HXy2
— sarwat gilani (@sarwatgilani) November 12, 2022
After several complaints, the MoIB issued a notification on 11 November, declaring that the previously certified film is now ‘uncertified’ as it contains “objectionable content”.
The news divided the internet, with several people approving the decision while many others argued that the ban is unjust.
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 | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) November 12, 2022
With a stellar cast that includes Sarwat Gilani, Ali Junejo, Rashti Farooq, and trans-actor Alina Khan, director Saim Sadiq’s thought-provoking film has enjoyed great success internationally as it was the first-ever Pakistani competitive entry at the Cannes film festival.
Joyland also won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard competition — a segment that focused on young, innovative cinema talent, and was also the winner of this year’s Queer Palme award.
Joyland was slated to be released on 18 November. It remains to be seen if the ministry decides to change its decision. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
