Writer-director Nandita Das’ biopic, Manto that chronicles the life of Saadat Hassan Manto, one of the most controversial poets of the subcontinent was released on September 21 in India. Despite Nandita’s efforts to release the film, which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role, in Pakistan, it didn’t see the light of day due to its controversial subject. However, recent reports suggest that the biopic has been reviewed and cleared by SBFC, according to Entertainment Pakistan. The site also stated that unfortunately the movie has four major cuts.
In the past, news was doing the rounds that Manto might release in Pakistan under the banner of Geo Films, if it gets the NOC and clearance from the censor board. However, back then the film was not cleared by CBFC.
Moreover, it was just a few days ago that the film, which emphasises on the most tumultuous period of the writer’s life, was released on Netflix.In 2015 actor and director Sarmad Khoosat also made Manto, which is set in post-partition years and chronicles the life of the poet, while Nandita Das’ take on the film is a bit different as it focuses on the four years (between 1946 and 1950) which were the most tumultuous in his life and how the partition of Pakistan and India impacted Manto personally. Let’s wait and see when Nandita Das’ Manto will hit theatres in Pakistan.