'Zindagi Tamasha' will represent all of us, our ‘Pakistan’ at the Oscars, says Sarmad Khoosat

In January this year, TLP (Tehreek-e-Labbaik Party) workers had vowed to hold a countrywide protest against the screening of Sarmad Khoosat's Zindagi Tamasha. The Federal Ministry of Information & Broadcasting then intervened in the matter calling for a postponement of the film’s release.

While the fate of the film’s cinema screening still hangs in the balance 10 months after scheduled release, Zindagi Tamasha has been selected as Pakistan’s entry to the upcoming Oscars. Khoosat, for once, is extremely humble about the selection.

Talking about the outrage his venture had caused earlier, the director said, “All the heartache that Zindagi Tamasha gave me has somehow restored my faith in the power of art too: the sheer, almost physical power of art to make life imitate it. This announcement, for me, is a very bright light shining at the end of this dark tunnel of a year. I made this film in Pakistan and foremost, for Pakistan, for my people and the misfortune that my people have remained deprived of it weighs quite heavy on my artistic conscience."

He went on to add, "Some pride is slowly kicking in though and no matter how far we go with this official selection, Zindagi Tamasha will be representing all of us - our ‘Pakistan’. I feel honoured on behalf of my entire team and I am extremely grateful to the committee for finding it worthy enough."

“What was most important to me was exploring the idea of tolerance. Tolerance not just to others (to allow people to exist the way they are) but also tolerance to self – and this is where the concept of shame, need for approval, etc come in to play,” Khoosat had told Variety at Busan. “I have been in situations where I have felt I should have been more tolerant of others and more accepting of my own self.”

Soon after the announcement, industry insiders took to social media and congratulated the celebrated film-maker over this milestone.

Film-maker Asim Abbasi called it Pakistan's strongest Oscar submission to date. "For me, Zindagi Tamasha is the strongest submission from Pakistan since 2013," the Cake director remarked. "Grateful to have been on the committee and to have seen this film, memories of which still haunt me, weeks after. Kudos to Sarmad and the team!" Abbasi wrote.

Singer Meesha Shafi took to Instagram and shared, "Divine justice Mubarak ho, Sarmad." The Coke Studio star further added, "I have a feeling you are going to win. However, you are already a winner in my eyes."

Mehwish Hayat shared she was proud to be a part of the Oscar selection committee that chose Zindagi Tamasha as the Oscar contender.

Directed and co-produced by Khoosat and written by Nirmal Bano, Zindagi Tamasha features Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz, and Ali Kureshi. The film is set in Lahore and chronicles the chaos that ensues in the life of a staid, devout elderly man when a video featuring him gets uploaded on social media.

The film had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2019, where it won the prestigious Kim Ji-seok award. 

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