I did not tell this tale out of enmity: Sarmad Khoosat opens up on 'Zindagi Tamasha'

In a no-holds-barred interview, the filmmaker laid it all out in the open

In an explosive, fiery, and straightforward interview with BBC Urdu, filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat recently opened up about his latest offering, Zindagi Tamasha, its "ban," and its digital release. The celebrated director did not hold back when asked about the circumstances surrounding the censorship and eventual release of the film. 

When asked about his journey that began with the prohibition of the film's release and its eventual showcasing on the internet, Sarmad revealed, "The journey was very long, difficult and testing. Sometimes, the censor certificate was taken back, and sometimes a reissue or review was needed. Even the YouTube release, those incidents that proved to be the catalysts behind it were such that we released the film alongside a fundraiser. After that, a print was suddenly seen online - in torrents, on YouTube, or WhatsApp groups - which people began forwarding."

He continued to state, "The last nail was when I received a WhatsApp saying that Zindagi Tamasha was available to watch for Rs300. That was the last straw. Money, etc., aside, my film is in Rs300, without my permission; how is someone sending it on a WhatsApp group or announcing on a Facebook group that we're screening it someday and we'll watch it online?"

When asked about how the film has permission to be released in certain provinces and whether or not he would capitalise on that opportunity, the filmmaker said, "No. No longer. Consider it my obstination and irritation, but I don't just need permission from Federal, KP, or Sindh. I have one country. I am a passport holder from one country. I want the freedom of release in my entire country."

Pertaining to the video he released before the release of the film where he said he is leaving the judgment to people by showcasing Zindagi Tamasha online when asked whether or not he's received that reply, Sarmad said, "The power of the truth. People said this again. And I want to say on the record that there was this problem from the beginning where people assumed, 'Oh no, this is a film against [those with] beards; it is against religion.' To the point that a few days ago, my team showed me a comment [from a bearded individual] that said, 'I came to report the film. Then, I asked myself whether I should watch it before reporting. For two hours, I just kept searching what was [worth reporting] in the film.'" 

He shared further, "There were screenshots of people saying if two people watched it, they bought tickets worth Rs2000; if five people watched it, they bought tickets worth Rs5000. Someone said that when they go to the cinema, they spend Rs700 on a ticket, so they spend that amount. You cannot give back or compensate for this love or sincerity. So no, it has been mostly - actually, not even mostly - 100% heartwarming. Even those who abuse, ever since the comments have been turned on, aren't abusing."

When questioned about why the censor board did not showcase the film, Sarmad said, "In the beginning, the first screening was for Punjab. And they deemed it 'adult' for 18+ people with no cuts. Then, we had a Federal review. They didn't mark it 'adult,' I could be wrong, but whatever rating they gave, it passed, and behind the certificate - the things that need to be deleted, it's called 'hazf karna' - at no point, from any censor board, was a video deleted, nor was there an objection to any visual shot. There was a scene with abuses; we were asked to beep those. In another scene, a character abuses his friend, who has to be beeped. And there is a scene at the Milad where we were asked to edit it at the end to make it smaller. There was no other censor. Never. Why was I told on the phone that it was not valid? Give it to me in writing. I'm saying this now as well. Punjab Censor Board and concerned departments - tell me if they have a letter for banning. Have they ever banned the film? Give me that document."

Tackling a query regarding the fact that, on the one hand, his film was banned, and on the other, he is receiving a Sitara-e-Imtiaz, when asked how he felt about the same, Sarmad said with a laugh, "I don't know...I really don't know. I see so many other shining stars who have not received this specific kind of recognition. Manto Sahab was acknowledged after 2010, so where do we stand? What is our worth? I don't know. This really came as a surprise. Some friends told me that my statement should be that I don't want this honour. I said, 'No, I still won't do drama. Yes, I will not thank anyone else when I write the thank you note. I am only thanking my country.'"

Answering whether or not he would make similar films in the future and if his work process would change, he stated, "Yes, one thing I'd like to admit on the record that I've reflected on would be that perhaps I should have omitted those lines in the trailer. Those three or four lines in the film are far apart, and by the way, when packed in the trailer, everyone thought that the film was very angry and it would give a discourse on so many 'important' ideas. That, maybe, I don't know." 

He went on to state, "Yes, initially, when all this happened, there was a lot of confusion, stress, and fear. And, I don't know, I would like to believe I came out of it because I would not want to believe that I pass my work through any filters that aren't just internal. I believe I've been doing this for a while, and I should be confident in my understanding and leave space for betterment...I did not tell this tale out of enmity with anyone. I did not invent this tale. I did not pull this from space. There are incidents around us. I'm not saying this as a challenge, but show me one scene people believe is unfamiliar, whether that's a scene at home, where people eat in bed, where you're passing in an alley, and someone calls out to you, or where an elder starts dancing at a wedding, and you can't help laughing. Or a scene where you see people in power exploiting the same. None of these were alien things. I believe there is far more escapism, and presence of unfamiliar elements, that is mainstream."

He continued to state, "Someone directly messaged me saying their mother had never watched the film. She liked my drama. They told the mother that my film had come out. What they said next was the mother's message. She wrote in Punjabi, 'I am a common woman, but tell Sarmad, I am with him.' I don't know if I deserve that. I don't know if your work has that power."

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