‘Joyland’, Pakistan’s First Official Oscar Entry Banned In The Country: Here’s Why

According to the Associated Press, Pakistan has outlawed the critically adored movie ‘Joyland’ because it contained “very inappropriate material.” In the made-upup story Joyland, which is situated in Lahore, a patriarch who strictly governs his two sons and daughters-in-law. The grandfather wishes for his children to produce grandkids for him, although when his son Haider develops feelings for Biba, an intersex performer he dances for, everything shifts.

The movie, which is Pakistan’s authorized Oscar entry for 2023, was issued a certificate by Pakistani officials in August of this year permitting it to be exhibited. But since then, criticisms of the movie’s substance have been made. With this, the movie—which had previously been the inaugural Pakistani production to screen at Cannes—can no longer be played in Pakistan.

What The Ministry Said

“Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality’ as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979,” is what was stated by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting when they were asked about this on the same lines.

This Is What The ‘Joyland’ Is About

‘Joyland’ is a tragedy movie in Punjabi that was produced and directed by Saim Sadiq in 2022 as his first motion picture. The large traditional Ranas household, who longs for the arrival of some other guy, is the focus of the movie featuring Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, and Sarwat Gilani.

If it is taken up this way, it does seem something very tacky to do. But if we judge on a moral level, this might seem validated. Though this does seem unfair when it is seen in the way of cinematography and directory, media line aspect.