Among the many releases that were set to grace the big screen this Eid-ul-Adha, Lafangey definitely stood out. A horror-comedy by genre, the film contained elements of humor that we’ve seen air on the big screen in the past, but are definitely eyebrow-raisers, especially in the current social climate. The title track of the film even states that the film is quite risky, which is why the ongoing chatter about Lafangey seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Is Lafangey Banned?
Here’s what we know. Journalist Hasan Kazmi took to Twitter to share that the Central Board of Film Censors has “unanimously rejected” the film, with the Chairman CBFC stating that the film contains “vulgar, and double-meaning language” alongside “several below-the-belt words,” and that the film “cannot be allowed in Pakistani cinemas.”
Trade analyst Ali Zain confirmed to Galaxy Lollywood that the censor boards have not passed the film, and it has been referred to a full board review in Islamabad.
The director of the film, Abdull Khaaliq Khan, in conversation with The Independent Urdu, expressed sorrow over this decision, stating that the film did not contain anti-state or anti-religious elements. He went on to state that if there were abuses, beeps could have been utilized or scenes could have been cut, but the banning of the entire film didn’t add up for him.
Cast, Crew, And Story
The film features Sami Khan, Mani, Saleem Mairaj, Mubeen Gabol, and Nazish Jahangir. It has been written and directed by Abdull Khaaliq Khan, produced by Al Wafiq Studios.
It features an array of faces we have come to love, sprinkled with humor, some tongue-in-cheek humor, and elements of the paranormal. It’s about four friends who are as thick as thieves. They chance upon a haunted house, where supernatural occurrences leave them with no choice but to eliminate their sense of fear and get to the bottom of what’s happening.
Given the hullabaloo that tends to encapsulate the entire process of films being banned, we must wait it out and see where Lafangey stands with the utmost certainty with regards to its rapidly approaching release date.
