The uncertainty over the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s upcoming film Zindagi Tamasha has escalated with the director sharing disturbing threats he has been receiving over the past week. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the Manto filmmaker said: “Getting dozens of threatening phone calls and msgs. Should I withdraw Zindagi Tamasha?” Following his open letter to the prime minister, he penned another note in the same tweet addressed to “anyone whom it may concern”, where he described the sustained campaign of threats and harassment against his film.
Getting dozens of threatening phone calls and msgs. Should I withdraw Zindagi Tamasha? pic.twitter.com/OJB396B1xq
— Sarmad Khoosat (@KhoosatSarmad) January 19, 2020
In the note, Sarmad quite emphatically stated that that people should not be allowed to “spew hate, fear, and anger in the name of religion,” and that he “did not make Zindagi Tamasha to hurt, offend or malign anyone.”
Prominent celebrities and journalists rallied to support Sarmad and the film, with many voicing their concern for protecting the voice of independent filmmakers in the country. Mahira Khan, star of the director’s hit show Humsafar tweeted “Time and again we are made to realize our power and our influence. A film (that people haven’t seen) can make some this scared.”
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.
Mushkil ko bata ke tera Allah kitna bara hai @KhoosatSarmad https://t.co/AGVeTl8Dfh— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) January 19, 2020
Star Humayun Saeed, who is witnessing a career-high with Meray Paas Tum Ho urged the government to “address this (i.e. concerns raised in Sarmad’s letter) at the earliest.”
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 tweeted: “Zindagi vaqai tamasha hai. 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?”
Zindagi vaqai tamasha hai. 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://t.co/WvsJySGDFC
— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) January 20, 2020
Journalist Mahwish Aijaz, also the writer of upcoming Yaara Vey tweeted:
Hi @ImranKhanPTI this is happening under your watch pls ensure that Sarmad is able to release his film and he and his team are safe from harm’s way. You owe it to the artists and those who stood with you to bring tabdeeli. Stand with them & support them please. #ZindagiTamasha
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) January 19, 2020
Activist and journalist Beena Sarwar also rallied to Sarmad’s support, saying “This choked me up. With you Sarmad in solidarity. Stay strong. This too shall pass.”
This choked me up. With you Sarmad in solidarity. Stay strong. This too shall pass. #Pakistan #ZindagiTamasha #Censorship https://t.co/7j9vxJNbUU
— beena sarwar (@beenasarwar) January 20, 2020
With the country’s leading showbiz personalities and progressive voices echoing the sentiments of many fans of Pakistani cinema, who want to see more diversity and depth in content, Sarmad seems to have brought the issue in the public spotlight it deserves, for it to be urgently addressed by the authorities. Here’s hoping better sense prevails!
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