The uncertainty surrounding the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s upcoming film Zindagi Tamasha is increasing with each passing day, especially after the filmmaker questioned as to whether he should withdraw from releasing it at all.
Khoosat shared disturbing threats that he had been receiving on his Facebook and Twitter since the past week. Taking to social media the director said on Sunday, “Getting dozens of threatening phone calls and messages. Should I withdraw Zindagi Tamasha?”
https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1218883372375838721
Following this, several showbiz personalities took to social media to amplify Khoosat's voice. They re-posted his open letter to the Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to further call out the way art and expression is being threatened in the country.
Starting off with Mahira Khan, the leading face of Pakistan's film industry, who took to Twitter to say, “Time and again we are made to realise our power and our influence. A film (that people haven’t seen) can make some this scared.” The celebrity pointed out how judgements are passed without viewing the whole scenario and in a sentence summarised how intolerance is prevailing.
Time and again we are made to realise our power and our influence. A film ( that people haven’t seen) can make some this scared.
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) January 19, 2020
Mushkil ko bata ke tera Allah kitna bara hai @KhoosatSarmad https://t.co/AGVeTl8Dfh
Humayun Saeed followed suit and spoke up against the ongoing threats the filmmaker is facing in a rather stern manner. “Address this (i.e. concerns raised in Sarmad’s letter) at the earliest. Filmmaking in Pakistan is already a tough challenge - those who dare to venture into it need to be encouraged and appreciated."
The government must address this at the earliest. Filmmaking in Pakistan is already a tough challenge; those who dare to venture into it need to be encouraged and appreciated https://t.co/H2ZP1Wjd8H
— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) January 18, 2020
Sanam Saeed also tweeted in a sarcastic tone, explaining how, “Zindagi vaqai tamasha hai (Life has actually turned into a circus)," as she went on to question the intolerance. "All this effort to ban thought-provoking stories despite censor boards giving it the go-ahead, despite it being edited time and time again to appease sensitive sensibilities of a certain few, why?”
https://twitter.com/sanammodysaeed/status/1219141362559410176
Mira Sethi also re-shared Khoosat's open letter, addressing the 'unofficial censor board'.
"The official censor board has cleared this film. The unofficial censor board - the one that wields street power - is threatening Sarmad Khoosat and his team. Deeply disturbing and problematic.
https://twitter.com/sethimirajee/status/1218903640787865600
Taking to Facebook, Khoosat also shared one of the several threatening messages he has been receiving.
[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157486561420280&set=a.10151035698765280"]
"I will not stoop like you," he said. "I have hidden your number.
This is one of at least 100 such messages. And my phone hasn’t stopped ringing. I had to switch it off. That’s my ID card number and phone number right there," posted Khoosat, as he revealed the severity of the matter.
Khoosat uploaded the letter on his social media on January 16, stating Zindagi Tamasha is yet again being stopped from release after the first complaint against it was entertained in a law-abiding manner.
https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1217818381149229062
Khoosat started his letter by providing details of his contributions to the film industry. “Like any other film, made in any part of the world, Zindagi Tamasha is a reflection of its setting. My team and I explored themes around gender constructs, class divisions and complex human experiences. There was never any intention to attack, to point fingers at or humiliate any individual or institution,” he wrote.
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