Government insiders signaled on Saturday, September 28, 2024, that the release of the Pakistani Punjabi-language film, “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” in India is facing potential blockage. This comes in the wake of significant political backlash spearheaded by Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Thackeray firmly stated last week that he would mobilize efforts to obstruct the film’s screening in any cinema across Maharashtra.
Reacting to such vehement opposition, producers decided to alter the release plan. Initially, the film was slated for an all-India release; however, it will now be limited to the state of Punjab, according to a spokesperson for the film’s production team. Directed by Bilal Lashari and featuring celebrated actors like Fawad Khan, “The Legend of Maula Jatt” was originally released in 2022. Subsequently, it was approved by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) following submission by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, the movie’s Indian distributor. Despite being green-lit by the CBFC, its anticipated Indian release in 2022 was abruptly shelved by Zee.
Amid the current controversy, a spokesperson for Zee Entertainment declined to comment on the government’s effort to prevent the film’s release. As clarified by the Cinematograph Act, the Union government lacks revisional powers to block a movie after it has been cleared by the CBFC, thereby leaving limited formal recourse for halting its release.
Inquiries regarding whether the authority had requested a ban from PVR INOX, which manages 90 screens in Punjab, were met with no immediate response. Although the film is planned for an October 2 release—a Wednesday—tickets were still not available for purchase as of Saturday, September 28, 2024.
The Indian market for Pakistani entertainment has faced stringent restrictions in recent years. This trend intensified following the 2016 Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir when the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association resolved to prohibit Pakistani actors and crew members from participating in Indian projects.
For over a decade, no Pakistani film has enjoyed wide release in India. The last major success was “Bol,” which hit Indian cinemas in 2011.
. Subsequent to “Bol,” the film “Joyland,” Pakistan’s official submission for the Oscars, faced similar issues. Scheduled for a March 2023 release, “Joyland” never reached Indian theaters beyond a few privately arranged screenings. The CBFC did not clear the film, further complicating its release prospects.
The decision to block “The Legend of Maula Jatt” comes against a backdrop of long-established bans on Indian films in Pakistan since 2019. Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, some collaborative efforts have persisted, most notably from Zee Entertainment. Until 2017, Zee ran a TV channel almost exclusively devoted to Pakistani TV shows. This channel was shut down in the wake of the Uri attack, which claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers.
Resilient, the Zee-branded network transitioned to online-only operations and revived Pakistani collaborations shortly thereafter. A notable production is the 2020 web series “Churails,” directed by British-Pakistani filmmaker Asim Abbasi for Zee. Although initially banned in Pakistan, Zee5’s decision to reinstate “Churails” led to Pakistani government actions preventing local banks from processing payments to the streaming service.
Another collaborative effort included the web series “Barzakh,” also produced for Zee. After facing backlash due to the inclusion of a gay character, the series was subsequently blocked from YouTube within Pakistan following its conclusion.
As the future of “The Legend of Maula Jatt” in India hangs in the balance, the film’s production team and distribution partners remain in a state of uncertainty. This latest episode highlights the fragile state of cross-border cultural relationships and reflects a persistently contentious atmosphere shaped by both political and societal factors. The industry waits with bated breath to see if the scheduled October release in Punjab will proceed without further interruptions, or if it will be mired in escalating political controversy.
