Celebrities Rally To Support ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ In Face Of Release Uncertainty

zindagi tamasha mahira

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.

https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1218883372375838721

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.”

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.”

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?”

Journalist Mahwish Aijaz, also the writer of upcoming Yaara Vey tweeted:

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.”

 

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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