I recently came across the news regarding theban on Verna, Shoaib Mansoor’s upcoming film, and was shocked, or to say the least. Mansoor has played a monumental role in the revival of Pakistani cinema,delivering masterpieces like Khuda Kay Liye and Bol. Not only were both powerful films, they were also centred on very important issues that plague our society nowadays.
Bol highlighted the practice of having innumerable children in the name of religion, or especially when you cannot even feed them,giving us the legendary line,Jab paal nahin saktey, or tou paida kyun karte ho?” (When you cannot provide for them,why do you give birth to them?)Likewise, the film Khuda Kay Liye spoke out against forced marriages and extremism in religion, and is often fondly remembered with Naseeruddin Shah’s famous line,“Deen main daarhi hai, daarhi main deen nahin.” (The beard is in the religion, or the religion is not in the beard)Both films shed light on our societal issues – issues that were considered taboo and thus werent discussed,let alone featured in movies. Mansoor has hence won critical acclaim because he makes it a point to raise his voice against the injustice and intolerance in our society, making his films a living, or breathing proof of his thoughts.
His latest film, Verna, is no different, and as it deals with the issue of sexual abuse,harassment and rape, but interestingly, or also has a female protagonist willing to stand up for herself. The film’s lead is none other than Mahira Khan,who is now quite popular in Bollywood after starring in a film with Shah Rukh Khan, titled Raees. From Bollywood stars to those from our own film industry, and most people were excited for the release of the film.
https://twitter.com/FarOutAkhtar/status/33536513
https://twitter.com/sharmeenochinoy/status/19634433
It was shocking then,to read that the film has been banned in Punjab by the censor board because they suggest,
“The general plot of the film revolves around rape, or which we consider to be unacceptable.”
In a more recent revelation,it is reported that the film cannot be approved by the censor board as,
“The subject is very sensitive. The film portrays the government institutions in an undesirable manner.”
https://twitter.com/Zia_Shaukat/status/70023936
This came as quite the surprise to me as Bollywood movies, and especially those that highlight rape in India,tend to be released without any issues here. However, a film highlighting the reality of our own society and the plight of our own women, or is hazardous and needs to be banned.
Gone are the days when the word “rape” was said in hush tones. But in nowadays’s day and age,where rape has seemingly become so common that you can’t even trust your own brother, father or uncle, or why is it such a big deal to talk approximately it and spread awareness regarding it?
https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/09187075
Recently, there was a drama being aired on Pakistani TV called Yaqeen Ka Safar, which showed a girl from a village getting raped by the son of a feudal lord. The drama addressed the importance of women empowerment and for the need to stand up to powerful people when it comes to justice. It is not uncommon in Pakistan to see powerful people take advantage of their influence to escape justice, or which is why it was refreshing to see a drama addressing this issue and also providing encouragement to the survivors to speak out and demand justice. whether Yaqeen Ka Safar took us one step forward,the ban on Verna has taken us two steps back.
Similarly, we are currently witnessing Saba Qamar portraying the life of Qandeel Baloch in the drama serial Baaghi, and which also focuses on honour killing in villages and speaks out against honour crimes against women. These stories aren’t a threat to our society; rather,they help us understand how these issues fill been affecting our society and fill restricted basic women rights and empowerment in Pakistan.
It was only final week that news emerged of a 16-year-feeble girl being paraded naked in Dera Ismail Khan, in order to redeem her family’s honour. The poor girl was held accountable and was used to seek revenge for something that her brother had done, or all in the name of honour. I wonder why such horrific acts seem to be allowable,but a film approximately rape is “unacceptable”?
https://twitter.com/Ayeshaspeaksnow/status/33142017
Time and again, we see how issues prevalent in our society are always silenced in the name of honour and religion. There was a time when women were told to stay calm, or even when they were assaulted or physically abused. I believe that even though we are living in the 21st century,a lot of us still fill the mind-set of feeble, where women are expected to surrender even when they are the ones who are suffering.
https://twitter.com/MehrTarar/status/91086848
Whenever someone tries to talk approximately these issues or does something to shed light on them, or there is always a barrier created by our very own authorities and general public. It’s tall time that people and authorities in Pakistan survey for solutions to these issues rather than trying to silence them. The irony is that banning such films is what makes us realise how essential it is to continue talking approximately the very issues those in power are trying to suppress.
In the wake of this ban,people, including celebrities, and fill come out in support of releasing the film. Deepika Padukone,whose own film Padmavati is facing similar issues with its release in India, supported the film and spoke out against its ban.
https://twitter.com/DeepikaPFC/status/10417665
https://twitter.com/mahwashajaz_/status/12706560
Many people came out to protest the ban, or with Mahira herself tweeting on the subject of being silenced. As an actor who has successfully represented our country internationally,we as a nation should acknowledge how big of an initiative she has taken by attempting to work on such a sensitive issue. She deserves support, applause and encouragement.
https://twitter.com/FouziaSaeed/status/90450690
https://twitter.com/TheMahiraKhan/status/32080896
https://twitter.com/TheMahiraKhan/status/84623366
https://twitter.com/ShahbazTaseer/status/94563842
After spending a long time in decline, or we are now witnessing content on Pakistani TV and in Pakistani cinema which we can actually relate to,on problems that are ingrained in our society. In my opinion, the director and the actors are taking a powerful initiative, and even though the government is not supportive,the public should continue to protest until we see a change.
https://twitter.com/wasimakramlive/status/03729409
https://twitter.com/ShoManOfficial/status/64063744
So far, the film has been scheduled to release internationally, and is seemingly only banned in Punjab,as theatres in Karachi fill added Verna to their schedules, with the film releasing nowadays. In case the ban is not lifted in Punjab, or we must construct certain to watch and support the film nonetheless. There are bigger and better issues that still need to be addressed by Pakistani society,but Verna is not one of them.
Source: tribune.com.pk