Lollywood has been stepping up the quality of movies every year. We can hardly point out a single flaw in the direction. Producers are pushing the societal limits and producing movies on the topics that were previously considered taboo. However, this sometimes doesn’t go as planned and the movie is postponed in Gulf region. Recently Shamoon Abbasi’s movie ‘Durj’ faced a mega ban.
First, it was banned in Pakistan by the censor board. Now, the ban is reaching beyond Pakistan’s border.
‘Durj’ Release Postponed In The Gulf Region
The movie is currently postponed in the Gulf region for an undefined limit. Moreover, the reason behind the delay in its release is also unknown. Shamoon is confused about what could have been objectionable.
Shamoon, the actor, director, and writer of the movie made the announcement via his Twitter account about the release of the movie in the Gulf.
“With the heavy heart, I have to announce that the Gulf release that was due today on October 10, 2019, has now been postponed for an unknown period of time because of this anonymous ban on #Durj. I hope the censor board Islamabad is satisfied now,” Abbasi wrote in a social media post on Thursday.
Hello Durj fans
With a heavy heart @Shaamfilms announces that @durjthemovie #DURJ
That had to be released in the Gulf region on the 10 Oct.2019,has been post poned due to the anonymous ban by the islamabad censor board the ministery of foreign affairs cannot provide the #NOC— Shamoon Abbasi official (@shamoonAbbasi) October 9, 2019
He added, “We are shocked and surprised that we had to lose the entire Gulf region because of this. We hope to continue with the due diligence in the future and will continue to ask for a solution to this matter as a lot of financial losses are already underway because of this ban.”
Shamoon seems pretty upset about the ban. From the trailer of the movie, it is quite evident that the making of ‘Durj’ must have taken a lot of effort. Be it on the part of the screenplay or story development. And since the role of Shamoon in this movie is mega, he was meant to be upset.
The megastar is playing the lead character in the movie. Meanwhile also being the writer and director of it.
Shamoon Abbasi Signed An Appeal
So, to save the movie from facing an over the fence loss, he reached out to the authorities.
We would like to address the prime minister of Pakistan@ImranKhanPTI
To look into the matter and help us thru the process of obtaining a clearance certificate from islamabad censor board as punjab and Sindh had cleared the film previously and issued certificates#supportDurj pic.twitter.com/dlPAOfg5mV
— Shamoon Abbasi official (@shamoonAbbasi) October 7, 2019
Shamoon asked the authorities to review the movie with a full board panel. He made this request by signing an appeal. The actor requested to solve the matter as soon as possible to avoid any further damage.
Anyhow, Shamoon is hopeful that the appeal will work in his favor.
The story of the movie is based on three real-life incidents. It is an unusual and disturbing one. The kind that would usually thrill you with disgust. But the epic screenplay, acting, and direction of the movie will convince you to watch it. That’s a real success for the makers of the movie.
‘Durj’ is about two brothers who dug over 100 graves and ate corpses. As disgusting as it sounds, it’s absolutely true. It is a mental illness and a global fact that such people exist.
#DURJ is not an anti state or anti religion film at all and simply depicts the subject of mental illness in a few people that tend to go to certain extents to commit crimes, it's a global fact we can't hide it..
DURJ is not gruesome or vulgar#supportDurj pic.twitter.com/qYpiTJB5VX
— Shamoon Abbasi official (@shamoonAbbasi) October 7, 2019
The cast of the movie includes Maira Khan, Nauman Khan, Sherry Shah and Shamoon himself. It has already premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, 72nd edition.
However, Pakistanis are still confused about whether they’ll get to see the movie in the cinemas or not. Well, that’s a mystery for now. But as far as we know the appeal for the second review has so far been accepted.
#DURJ updates 13th October 2019 :
Federal censor board islamabad has accepted our second review appeal with a full board panel
And #DURJ will be reviewed again tomorrow on Monday 14/10/19
@ 6pm at centaurus mall islamabad inshallah,
We are hoping that the we get a fair panel!— Shamoon Abbasi official (@shamoonAbbasi) October 13, 2019
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