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Should film censors be banned in Pakistan?

Should film censors be banned in Pakistan?

After the ban on Raees, there is news that another Indian film has run afoul of the censors...
Updated 26 Mar, 2017

Another week, another new absurdity from the guardians of Pakistan’s cinematic morality.

Two weeks ago, this paper carried an exposé about how the Shah Rukh Khan-Mahira Khan starrer Raees was denied a censorship certificate in Pakistan. The important thing about that exposé was how nobody in Pakistan’s three censor boards was willing to take responsibility for what almost everyone (including people within those boards) considered a ridiculous decision, and yet the decision stands.

Now there is news about another film, a Punjabi film named Dushman, which has run afoul of the censors. According to its Indian filmmakers, the film is about how a Pakistani manages to turn a prejudiced anti-Pakistani Indian, to see the error of his ingrained biases.

Also read: Mahesh explores scope of Punjabi movie Dushman

But according to the Islamabad censor board (the so-called ‘Central Board of Film Censors’), the film is “a controversial and a propaganda [sic] movie against the State of Pakistan.” The film’s importers have been issued a “show cause” notice asking them to explain why the film should not be banned.

I have not seen the film so I can’t obviously talk about this particular case with any great certainty but having seen enough of how our censor boards operate, both as the director of the Karachi International Film Festival (KaraFilm) and as a member of the Sindh Board of Film Censors (SBFC), there is a fairly plausible chance that the decision by the CBFC is based on a misreading of the film and an inability to understand how drama works.

"Drama seems beyond the scope of understanding of many of those people who are appointed to these censor boards, who often have no understanding of film or art. What are the criteria for these appointments, nobody really knows."

How can you have drama when there is no dramatic tension between opposing viewpoints? For a resolution to work cinematically, you need there to be conflict in the first place. This seems beyond the scope of understanding of many of those people who are appointed to these censor boards, who often have no understanding of film or art. What are the criteria for these appointments, nobody really knows.

In 2013 I was appointed to the SBFC, without as much as a by-your-leave. Although I was initially opposed to the idea of filmmakers having to approach each provincial censor board separately, which I thought would be a logistical nightmare, I accepted after speaking with some of the other newly appointed members, most of whom were actually from the film fraternity. Our hope was to turn the SBFC into a model board where decisions were taken on merit and with a great degree of common sense. Stories of corruption and unaccountability in the old centralised system (based out of Islamabad) were legion and we were determined to eradicate at least these elements in the SBFC.

The initial few months were actually excellent — the SBFC was indeed turned into a model board, and filmmakers and importers preferred having their films assessed by fairly liberal-minded members who understood the importance of preserving the filmmaker’s artistic point of view and realised their decisions only pertained to the small cinema circuit — far more people could see whatever they wanted from off the internet and via pirated DVDs anyway. In most cases, we would rely on ratings rather than chopping up films since we also understood that the choice should be with viewers about what they wanted to watch.

But I also discovered the difficulty of working with a bureaucracy that was still living in the Zia era. For people who’d cut their teeth as clerks of a system whose instinctive reaction to anything controversial was to clamp down on it and to pretend it did not exist, I am sure the new kids on the block were also very troubling.

"Perhaps it is time we spoke about disbanding the censor boards altogether. They serve little purpose in an era where technology has made the idea of restricting content superfluous. Who in Pakistan who wanted to watch Raees has not seen Raees after all?"

Some day I should write about the hilarious exchanges that sometimes arose in these SBFC meetings, mostly with nervous bureaucrats troubled we’d let something go without chopping. More often than not all they were concerned with was physical intimacy and bare skin. Brains getting blown out in graphic fashion barely registered on their radars (“But that’s normal,” was once said when I pointed out a film was too violent for kids and thus a ‘universal’ rating). Mostly they had no idea about content. Mostly they were simply worried about their jobs.

And they were masters of intrigue. They were not ‘civil servants’ in any sense of the term; their only loyalty was to centres of power, whether it was politicians or other bureaucrats above them in the pecking order. I stopped attending the SBFC meetings when it seemed the bureaucrats had won. There really seemed no point in devoting a large chunk of my time to a process when decisions would be taken elsewhere, without any accountability.

Perhaps it is time we spoke about disbanding the censor boards altogether. They serve little purpose in an era where technology has made the idea of restricting content superfluous. Who in Pakistan who wanted to watch Raees has not seen Raees after all?

But perhaps what needs to happen is an implementation of the original vision of the SBFC when it was established: moving from ‘censorship’ to ‘certification’ — an enforced ratings system that trusts the people of Pakistan — a clear-cut policy about the criteria of appointment on these boards, and more transparency about the decisions. Is that really that so difficult to accept in a democracy?

Hasan Zaidi is a filmmaker and Editor Magazines at Dawn. He tweets @hyzaidi


Originally published in Dawn, ICON, March 26th, 2017

Comments

s.khan Mar 26, 2017 09:42am
It is time to start treating movie goers as mature adults. They can make their own judgment. In this age of social media and 24 hour news cycle people are aware of the events occurring in Islamic world. Hiding from the people doesn't make things wonderful. For censor board to act as morality police is insulting to the intelligence and values of the people. Cut out nudity and anti islamic contents and let the rest be shown. If something is unacceptable, movie will fail through word of mouth publicity. I am sure people won't rush to watch a movie that is insulting to Islam or Pakistan. Release Raees.
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SATT Mar 26, 2017 09:43am
Everybody knows what mindset is behind banning the films but everybody fears for saying truth.
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FRANK Mar 26, 2017 10:07am
No. Propaganda movies should be banned.
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Saameer Mar 26, 2017 11:27am
In my opinion every Indian movie should be banned. Bashing Pakistan in some form or the other is widespread in Indian movies.
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Abdulla Hussain Mar 26, 2017 12:17pm
There is no need for Indian films on Pakistani screens. The censor board is on the right track.
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ali Mar 26, 2017 01:03pm
All indian movies and channel must be banned in pakistan.
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Ashraf Mar 26, 2017 02:08pm
This movie shows us in bad light,
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Ashwin Mar 26, 2017 02:17pm
I don't know about other things but Raees should have been released in Pakistan. The people were intensely waiting for that movie but the board didn't release it. They have no value for the public sentiments. If it were released, the public would have enjoyed and after 1 or 2 months it would have dissappeared from cinemas. What wrong would have done.
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Imtiaz from berlin Mar 26, 2017 02:46pm
All media content from India should be banned movies, dramas n advertisement it will help local movie production companies to grow. Why should we give billions to India why not to our own Pakistanis.. Belive in Made In Pakistan
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r sultan Mar 26, 2017 03:33pm
Indeed a very thought provoking and practical suggestion.
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r sultan Mar 27, 2017 12:38am
@Imtiaz from berlin So Mr nationalist what are you doing in Berlin?
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kavita Mar 27, 2017 01:01am
@Saameer Bashing Pakistan in Indian film enrages you! However, you need to do a reality check. Surely a Pakistani movie would highlight the villain as Indian. Think back how Hollywood had a labelled KGB agents as the scum of earth that needed to be killed mercilessly. Did the Russians worry about it at all? Do not watch a movie if you are so sensitive to fiction.
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ManI Mar 27, 2017 01:51am
Indian films should not be banned. If people think they are discriminatory propaganda then Pakistanis should have the integrity not to watch it and let it flop. A ban only helps it's publicity. It's common sense.
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enigma Mar 27, 2017 03:42am
A watchdog organization overseeing Pakistan's film industry may seem an archaic system per the writer. No doubt, most in Pakistan today have online access to a wide array of movies. Alternatively , with due respect, does the writer genuinely believe a rating system enforcement at movie venues is possible in Pakistan? IMO, not very likely. Thus a Federal censor board is necessary comprising of seasoned film industry members with opposing views engaging in a no-holds barred civil debate and dialogue when censoring movies. Unlike India where uncensored Bollywood and English movies reign, Pakistani movie goers are generally conservative and prefer going with families. FYI, American movie theaters (unlike in Europe), there's a strict age enforcement when purchasing tickets. ID cards are requested if there's a doubt that the movie goer is underage, and unless accompanied by a parent or other adult - an underage child cannot watch a movie rated for 18 + years.
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Changez Khan Mar 27, 2017 04:02am
Absolutely positively NOT. No freehand for Indian films.
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Akil Akhtar Mar 27, 2017 04:38am
In india the writers argue in favour of banning all Pakistani movies, dramas and artists and in Pakistan our writers argue about allowing everything indian......wonder why we are not respected....?
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saeed Mar 27, 2017 05:16am
Limits are essential. It should be proper empowering of the censor authorities. All Indian films shpould be banned.
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anonymouse Mar 27, 2017 06:51am
I fully support Pakistan censor board. Our youth have been polluted by the vulgarity of Bollywood and incorrect portrayal of facts.
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M.Jaz Mar 27, 2017 06:53am
@Abdulla Hussain Are Indian channels coming in Pakistan?
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SKG Mar 27, 2017 08:12am
@Imtiaz from berlin Sir for your information, you have tried to ban Indian movie. Even you people thought to screen movies from other countries like Iran, China, Korea, etc, but did not work. Your last timing banning did not effect the business of India but closed down your movie theatres and business of small people. You want to ban Indian movies, and other things, then why you feel bad when any Indian want to ban actors, singers or artist from Pakistan, then you say artist should not have any boundaries.
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Joe Mar 27, 2017 09:02am
Ban weapons, Ban Drugs, Ban Prostitution, Ban discrimination, Ban Poverty, Ban Illiteracy, Ban bad politician, Ban bad cops Don't ban movies its for entertainment
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El Cid Mar 27, 2017 10:45am
It is time to ban all films from India. Else witness the continued degradation of society and disintegration of the social structure.
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BNJ Mar 27, 2017 11:19am
In the world of internet,censorship has no meaning.
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asad Mar 27, 2017 12:13pm
Its double standard, you ban a movie yet do not charge the pakistani lady for committing to obscenity!
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MJ Khan Mar 27, 2017 01:10pm
Censor board is the only thing preventing invasion of Indian culture into Pakistan. If we remove it, we will be swept away in the wave of hindu culture.
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zafar Mar 27, 2017 01:12pm
@Imtiaz from berlin Fellow sitting in foreign shouting for bans which won't affect him...Hilarious.
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sam Mar 27, 2017 01:15pm
@s.khan "Cut out". So you oppose censors but midway also advocate for it...make up your mind first.
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Dr. Ali Mar 27, 2017 04:02pm
@El Cid Sir so movies from which country or countries should be allowed that represent OUR culture and social values? Iran? China? UAE? Turkey?
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henrysmith0 Mar 27, 2017 04:21pm
i agree that All indian movies and channel must be banned in pakistan. District News
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NW Mar 27, 2017 05:52pm
There should be no ban on movies
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naeem malik Mar 27, 2017 09:22pm
it appears that moral and mutual respect have very low importance in Pakistan. Patriotism is obviously expected from those who are on the lower end of the sosiety and properity, where the well off know no rules. Give the nation cricket matches and indian films to watch and rule as you like.
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Usman Khan Mar 30, 2017 12:02pm
Indian Content shouldn't be allowed to aired in Pakistan... Ban them all. We are not their money making machine. If you miss that much than torrent them...
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