Actor and director Shamoon Abbasi’s directorial venture, Durj, which was scheduled to hit cinemas in Pakistan on October 18, 2019, was banned by the Pakistani censor boards, citing that the film is on a subject that is ‘not a part of our tradition or culture’. However, after Abbasi’s appeal to the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) to review the film once again with new panel of judges/analysts, the film is being reviewed by the censor board for a second time.
Though Durj’s release (on October 10) was postponed in the Gulf countries, according to recent reports, the film had its international release in the US, UK, Canada, Norway and Denmark – on October 11 and received a 3-minute standing ovation at the exclusive screening held in Bradford Cineworld London, UK.
Actor Sanam Saeed took to social media, lending her support to Durj, which is a mystery thriller based on true events and revolves around the theme of cannibalism. “Why are films like Durj banned?” asked Sanam about the irrational ban on the film. “If Hollywood films with all their sexual innuendos and violence and dark topics can play in our cinemas then why can’t our independent, out-of-the-box films like Durj be played?” she questioned.
Earlier this month, Shamoon Abbasi shared that Durj is neither vulgar nor it is anti-state or anti-religion. It simply depicts the subject of mental illness in some people who tend to go to extremes to commit crimes like cannibalism.”
Let’s wait and see whether the CBFC gives a green signal to the film’s release in Pakistan after reviewing it for the second time.
