The film, due to be released on July 21, was not released in Punjab over objectionable content. Farrukh Mahmood, secretary of the Punjab Film Censor Board has reportedly said that there will be a full review of the film, and it will be censored where deemed necessary. He did not clarify which content the board finds objectionable.
The film was cleared for screening in Islamabad and Sindh though.
Greta Gerwig’s Mattel extravaganza, that stars Margot Robbie as the famous doll and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken, is about the hellish trap women have been forced into – to be thin, beautiful and eternally smiling and grateful. It is said to be about self-awareness with a coat of pink lacquer. And as the word has it, the film contains some LGBT content.
The film censor board in Punjab has once again underestimated the power of curiosity. It is stuck in the overthink trap like many times before. Remember how it killed Joyland in Punjab.
“Let’s admit moulvis influence Punjab. The Punjab parliament is more religious that other parliaments. So to avoid rage, vandalism and destruction, the Punjab film censor board members exercise caution,” says a film producer and former member of the censor board. “I can safely say that the Punjab censor board comprises of sensible and experienced individuals. They know what they are doing. They feel even a slightest oversight on their part may burn down the province.”
The Punjab Film Censor Board was constituted in May 2023 by the caretaker government of Mohsin Naqvi. It comprises Tauqeer Ahmad Nasir and Wasey Chaudhry as Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively. Among the non-official members are Dr Younis Butt, Mian Amjad Farzand, Kanwal Nauman, Masood Ahmad Butt, Juggan Kazim, Khalida Yusuf, and Anjum Rasheed. official members of the board include the Secretary Information & Culture, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), and Secretary Law & Parliamentary Affairs (or their nominees of the rank of Additional Secretary).
She recalls that during her time at the board, constructive discussions were held on issues of obscenity, acceptable guidelines, reforms and challenges faced by filmmakers. “We agreed that we could get away with violence and bloodshed but no display of sexuality,” she says.
Cinema has always been conservative in Pakistan. Definitely, more now than ever before. There has never been any tolerance for sexuality, not even a kiss, at best a peck on the cheek. The scene is the same in most conservative societies. Regardless, the appetite for such scenes and themes is huge.
Like it not, the LGBT cinema has branched out to such a degree that it has become a genre in itself. It is artful as well as thoughtful. But it is hated with vengeance. And it shall remain so, till we remove our blinkers.