Punjab authorities have finally given the green light for the screening of the fantasy-comedy film ‘Barbie’ in the province. This decision comes after more than 10 days since the movie’s release in Pakistan. The film’s debut in Punjab was initially put on hold due to concerns about “objectionable content,” despite the Punjab Film Censor Board having issued a no-objection certificate for it.
Earlier, Punjab Information Secretary Ali Nawaz Malik had stated that the screening of ‘Barbie’ was stopped by the caretaker government in response to public complaints. However, on Monday, Punjab’s interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi instructed the censor board to make a decision regarding the exhibition of the Hollywood film.
Following this directive, a meeting of the full censor board was held, during which the movie was carefully reviewed, and ultimately, approval was granted for its screening.
The ‘Barbie’ movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, features Margot Robbie as the famous doll and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken. Despite facing opposition in Punjab, the film has previously encountered challenges in other countries as well. Vietnam, for instance, had banned it due to scenes featuring a map showing China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Pakistan has a history of banning certain films from being screened, and ‘Barbie’ is not the first to face restrictions. In November, the government banned ‘Joyland,’ a Cannes prize-winning film and Pakistan’s entry for the 2023 Oscars. The reason cited was that the film was “clearly repugnant to the norms of decency and morality” of the country. However, after a review was ordered by the government, the national censor board eventually cleared ‘Joyland,’ though it remained banned in Punjab.
Another example is the film ‘Zindagi Tamasha,’ which was banned in 2019 following allegations of blasphemy against its director by a far-right religious party. The party objected to the movie’s portrayal of a religious man.
Read more: ‘Barbie’ Film Faces Content Editing Demands in Punjab, Not Banned
The approval for the screening of ‘Barbie’ in Punjab is a positive development for moviegoers who were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to watch the film. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by filmmakers and the film industry when it comes to navigating censorship regulations and cultural sensitivities in different regions.
