ISLAMABAD – ‘Slackistan’, a British-made movie about young people living in Islamabad, has been banned in Pakistan because of scenes showing swearing and drinking. But its director, London-based Hammad Khan, has told that he is refusing to make changes demanded by Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC).
“I am not interested in making a film that suits them,” he said. The CBFC, which has also called for religious references to be taken out, was unavailable for comment. Inspired by the 1991 US movie ‘Slacker’, directed by Richard Linklater, Khan’s debut movie focuses on privileged and disaffected 20-somethings living in Pakistan’s capital city.
Khan says he has refused the CBFC’s requests to edit the movie, saying it is “true to life – it’s not offensive, there’s no vulgarity, no politics and no sex”.
And he complains that “Hollywood and Bollywood films of the same genre are played uncut in theatres”. According to the CBFC website, it examines films “in the light of the censorship code provided by the federal government”.
Fans of the film are backing director Hammad Khan’s refusal to compromise. It says it considers whether movies “give offence to any section of the public”, “hurt national sentiments” or contain content deemed “vulgar, obscene or indecent”. Fans have criticised the decision on the film’s Facebook page – calling it “ridiculous, unbelievable and sad”.
The low-budget film follows the young Pakistanis as they spend their time dating, drinking and going to parties despite attacks on their city by militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The film has already been screened in Abu Dhabi, New York, San Francisco, Goa and London. Khan has donated some of the film’s box office takings to the flood victims of Pakistan.
Last year, a spoof Indian movie about Osama Bin Laden – ‘Tere Bin Laden’ – was banned by the CBFC although the decision was later reversed.
