‘Hijrat’ cleared for release

Film to hit theatres following excision of ‘anti-state’ dialogues

KARACHI: After undergoing multiple delays, Farooq Mengal’s upcoming drama Hijrat has finally been given the green light by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film will be released in cinemas across Pakistan on Friday (today), after undergoing minor excisions in reference to trivial scenes and some “anti-state dialogues”.

Talking to The Express Tribune, CBFC Chairman Mobasher Hasan said, “Although we have cleared Hijrat for release across the country, the panel has made a few cuts to the movie because of which some dialogues have been censored.” Although Hasan did not reveal the exact reason behind the committee’s decision, he did reassure it was made keeping film laws in mind. “All I can tell you is that certain dialogues were anti-state, but in a very subtle way. That is why we have decided to mute them,” he explained.

Hasan went on to say that the cuts were minor and would have no implication on the progression or narrative of the film. “The cuts themselves are just of a few seconds so they won’t be affecting the story of the movie in any way whatsoever,” he elaborated. Hijrat has also been cleared for release by the Punjab Board of Film Certification (PBFC), whereas officials from the Sindh Board of Film Certification (SBFC) were not available for a comment.

Shot in Quetta and Istanbul, Hijrat tells the story of a man, played by Asad Zaman, who comes all the way from Turkey to Quetta to conduct some research and, in the process, falls in love with the character essayed by actor Rabia Butt. It features an ensemble cast which includes Ayub Khoso, Salma Agha and Jamal Shah. In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Mengal had explained the reason behind the movie’s lengthy production process, citing the decision to shoot on film as a major factor with the conversion and post-production taking a lot of time.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd,  2016.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.