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Mudassar Aziz protests the ‘Happy’ ban

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Thu, 08, 16

Happy Bhag Jayegi, the Diana Penty and Abhay Deol starrer that also features Javed and Momal Sheikh in pivotal roles, was banned in Pakistan after the censors considered it unfit for viewing on this side of border. Writer and director of the film, Mudassar Aziz, initially expressed his disappointment but then decided to protest a little more aggressively. And he wrote an open letter to the censor board. Here’s an extract of the heartfelt essay:

Happy Bhag Jayegi, the Diana Penty and Abhay Deol starrer that also features Javed and Momal Sheikh in pivotal roles, was banned in Pakistan after the censors considered it unfit for viewing on this side of border. Writer and director of the film, Mudassar Aziz, initially expressed his disappointment but then decided to protest a little more aggressively. And he wrote an open letter to the censor board. Here’s an extract of the heartfelt essay:

“…By banning the release of Happy Bhag Jayegi in Pakistan, you... Mr In-Charge (whoever you are) left me flummoxed. The first ever film content that showed people on both sides of this seventy year old border as simple human beings with affection, honesty, love and their small shortcomings was found OFFENSIVE by you! Wow!

“I was shocked! What a shame! I wish I could respect the offence you felt, but sorry I cannot. I’ll tell you why... Because it’s fake!

“I dare you Mr In-Charge (whoever you are). I dare you without even having lived in your country, without even being its citizen. I dare you to show Happy Bhag Jayegi to one common Pakistani. One who loves his family, strives for his daily bread, loves his cricket, loves his films and lives his life under the nonsensical garb that you force down his throat. Let that common smile-deprived Pakistani who is tired of being viewed as the only stranger in the world that has largely become one big melting pot today, come and tell you that he finds Happy Bhag Jayegi offensive, and I promise you that my apology note to you will be even longer than this letter.”

We confess that while we haven’t been able to see the film, we are extremely intrigued by it. Unfortunately, most of us will have to resort to pirated channels to view a bad copy of the film before it makes it to the DVDs. And whatever we’ve seen in trailers does look tempting; Momal Sheikh looks mighty impressive. We would like to know why it has been banned, at least!