Swaarangi censor saga continues: Sindh board deems its quality too poor to run

Published September 8, 2015
Sindh Censor Board has asked the distributor to reconsider screening the film — Publicity photo
Sindh Censor Board has asked the distributor to reconsider screening the film — Publicity photo

In a surprising first, the Sindh Censor Board has spoken against the running of a film not for objectionable content, but for its poor production quality. The film in question is Swaarangi, and its release has already been a contentious matter.

Fakhre Alam, Chairman of Sindh Censor Board, spoke on behalf of the whole board on his official Twitter account that Swaarangi shouldn't be released because it's poorly made. He added that the board has the interests of Pakistan's cinema revival in mind, and Swaarangi's inadequate production may deter future investment in Pakistani cinema.

Although the board has requested the distributors to voluntarily withdraw the application, Alam also said that the board will issue a U-certificate to the film if they do not do so.

As of now, Swaarangi has been banned by the Central Board of Film Certification, which bars its screening in Islamabad and cantonments across the country, but has got the green light in Punjab.

The decision of Swaarangi's release in Sindh now rests with its distributor.

The film, which marks the comeback of Resham and stars veteran Ayub Khosa, delves into a real-life story of a drug addict and his family in rural Punjab. It is the director Phida Hussain's first feature film and boasts a soundtrack by Sahir Ali Bagga.

The film is slated to be released on September 11.

Opinion

Editorial

ICJ rebuke
Updated 26 May, 2024

ICJ rebuke

The reason for Israel’s criminal behaviour is that it is protected by its powerful Western friends.
Hot spells
26 May, 2024

Hot spells

WITH Pakistan already dealing with a heatwave that has affected 26 districts since May 21, word from the climate...
Defiant stance
26 May, 2024

Defiant stance

AT a time when the country is in talks with the IMF for a medium-term loan crucial to bolstering the fragile ...
More pledges
Updated 25 May, 2024

More pledges

There needs to be continuity in economic policies, while development must be focused on bringing prosperity to the masses.
Pemra overreach
25 May, 2024

Pemra overreach

IT seems, at best, a misguided measure and, at worst, an attempt to abuse regulatory power to silence the media. A...
Enduring threat
25 May, 2024

Enduring threat

THE death this week of journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who succumbed to injuries after being attacked by gunmen, is yet...