Censor Board clears 'Joyland' for release with minor cuts

Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms head Salman Sufi confirmed Wednesday night that Saim Sadiq's directorial, Joyland, is cleared for release in Pakistan after a committee deemed it appropriate for screening.

"The film Joyland has been cleared for release by the Censor board review committee formed at the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif," he tweeted. "Freedom of speech is a fundamental right and should be nourished within ambits of the law."

Sufi told The Associated Press the film would be allowed to release in Pakistan with ‘minor cuts’. “The decision is a simple yet powerful message that the government stands by freedom of speech and safeguards it, and cannot allow mere smear campaigns or disinformation to be used as choking creative freedom,” Sufi said. The government, albeit, has not yet withdrawn Joyland’s ‘uncertified’ status, which needs to be done in order for the film to be cleared.

An eight-member committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz upon the requests of fans, political figures and film fraternity members rallying for its release re-reviewed the film and found it unproblematic for release.

Chaired by Federal Minister Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, it was directed to consider the complaints against the said film being "contrary to social norms." And after thorough deliberation upon meeting in Islamabad yesterday, it concluded that the CBFC needs to conduct a full board review immediately, to take a final decision about its suitability for screening, as per a press release.

Malala speaks up

Film's executive producer Malala Yousafzai shared her thoughts in a Variety article where she spoke about the ban. "2022 proved to be a banner year for Pakistani artists" the youngest Nobel Prize laureate shared. "Aftab delivered the country’s first Grammy award, winning for best global music performance. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy directed episodes of Ms. Marvel, the critically-acclaimed Disney+ series featuring the first Muslim superhero in the Marvel universe."

"Debut writer and director Sadiq’s Joyland was the first Pakistani film selected to screen at Cannes, where it won a prestigious jury prize. After standing ovations from film festival audiences around the world, Pakistan selected it as their official Oscar submission. On November 18," she further shared. “Joyland was scheduled to open in the country where it was made — a long-awaited homecoming for the cast and crew, and a chance for Pakistanis to celebrate a film ranked among the best in global cinema. But last week the government caved to pressure from a small group of critics and overturned the censor board’s approval of the film, effectively banning it from screens across Pakistan"

Malala further commented, "As most of those lodging complaints have not seen the film, it’s difficult to understand why they claim Joyland is 'repugnant' and unfit for Pakistani audiences, but many comments on social media focus on a character called Biba, an ambitious dancer and trans woman, played by 24-year-old Lahori actor Alina Khan."

Adding how Joyland is not activism posing as art, she added, "It doesn’t argue for a particular point of view or issue a call to action. The film treats each character with compassion, from the aging grandfather imposing his will on his family to the young wife who wants more than the men around her are willing to give."

She added, "It’s a film about the ways in which patriarchy hurts everyone — men, women and children. It’s a film about the healing powers of female friendship and solidarity. It’s a film about the costs of ignoring our own dreams to conform to society around us. Joyland is also a love letter to Pakistan, to its culture, food, fashion and, most of all, its people."

Malala then commented, "How tragic that a film created by and for Pakistanis is now banned from our screens because of claims that it does not “represent our way of life” or “portrays a negative image of our country.” The opposite is true — the film reflects reality for millions of ordinary Pakistanis, people who yearn for freedom and fulfillment, people who create moments of joy every day for those they love."

Recalling instances of art being banned, the activist remarked, "Too often in my country, we expect art to serve as public relations. Tired of seeing negative portraits from the rest of the world, we want stories that cast ourselves as unequivocal heroes. The most popular films feature male leads vanquishing their mortal enemies and female characters who exist only in context of their romantic relationships."

She added, "A numbness sets in as we collectively decide we would rather believe the fantasy than look in the mirror. When a film like Sadiq’s raises up working class or trans characters, and women struggling to assert themselves against rigid and very real social norms, we turn away."

Malala commented how censoring art reflects as "rejecting the spectacular talent of Pakistani artists that a film like Joyland represents." She shared, "So many of our best and brightest — from Kumail Nanjiani to Kamila Shamsie to Shahzia Sikander — have found more success in Europe or the U.S. What message are we sending to the next generation who, like Sadiq, want to make films in Karachi or Swat Valley, when we ban art by our own people?"

Last month at the publication's Power of Women awards in Los Angeles, Malala told the audience that Muslims make up 25% of the world’s population, but only 1% of characters in popular TV series.

"When we do see Muslims on screen, they are often the perpetrators or victims of terrorism. That’s Hollywood’s problem to solve — and I, along with other Pakistani and Muslim creators, hope to be part of the solution. But audiences must also be open to the truth when our filmmakers reveal it," Malala concluded, "We should be the first, the loudest and the most jubilant supporters of artists who tell our stories. Joyland offers Pakistan that opportunity if only we’re willing to take it."

Backstory

Since its clearance was revoked by the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) upon receiving complaints about “objectionable material”, Joyland has been tied in a tug of war online with hashtags 'Ban Joyland' and 'Release Joyland' doing the rounds on social media.

Sadiq has also clarified on multiple occasions that the film contains nothing objectionable. In an earlier conversation with The Express Tribune, he informed that despite its heavy commentary on gender roles, Joyland cannot irk censor boards or offend Pakistani audiences at large.

The film is expected to release tomorrow with minor cuts.

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