Following the controversy that sparked surrounding the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha, celebrities including Mahira Khan, Osman Khalid Butt and Mansha Pasha have extended their support to the filmmaker and raised their voice against the intolerance in the society.

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I’m smiling in this picture but im crying on the inside. A member of Tehreek e labaik pakistan will be sitting with the censor board to review the film “Zindagi TAMASHA” which has been for the record, CLEARED TWICE BY ALL THREE CENSORBOARDS ACROSS PAKISTAN. Just a few days ago the state boasted about putting many of them in jail. And now they will be sitting with esteemed artists in the censor board reviewing a film that the most celebrated filmmaker in Pakistan made? These are the SAME PEOPLE WHO WERE THREATENING SARMAD KHOOSAT DAY IN AND NIGHT OUT! And instead of the state providing security to the recipient of pride of performance Pakistan, they are putting him through the shame and torture of having a TLP MEMBER REVIEW HIS FILM? This is a national outrage. As artists we clearly have no standing in this country. This is a sad time for the arts in Pakistan. A precedent just got set. Our state has failed us artists. #istandwithsarmadkhoosat #nocensorship #bolkelubazadhaintere

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I want everyone to read this post by @sarmadkhoosat . Its heartbreaking. I have been friends with @sarmadkhoosat for more than 15 years. He is not only an extremely talented film maker but one of the most kind, honest and decent people i know. He has high values, strict principles and morals. Sarmad would never ever think of hurting the sentiments of anyone and i can personally vouch for him. Im in shock that some people would stoop so low as to send him such horrible threats. Sarmad has put his heart and soul into #zindagitamasha. It is unfair that the film story is being judged and interpreted wrongly by a group of people who haven't even watched it. What have we become ? How can we pass judgements on the hardwork of someone even before watching the film. It breaks my heart ? to see the sad sorry state of affairs in this country!! Sarmad is a Pakistani, im a Pakistani. We are all Pakistani regardless of our cast,color or creed. And we all have the right to voice our opinion and tell our stories. #sarmadkhoosat @khoosatfilms #khoosatfilms #pakistan #pakistanis #bolkaylabazaadhaintere PLEASE SHARE THIS!!!

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On Tuesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan announced that Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha will be critically reviewed by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). The film’s producer was also directed to postpone the release of his film for the time being.

Before that, the Government of Punjab had barred the filmmaker from releasing his film “in wake of persistent complaints received from different quarters”. The government also said that the film will be re-examined and the film’s makers have been directed to arrange a show in this regard “in any cinema house” on February 3 at 3pm, so it may be reviewed. The film’s team has also been told to ensure the presence of a representative “for personal hearing, if required by the committee”.

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Similarly, the Sindh Government also placed a ban on the film as it may create unrest within the religious segment of the society and disrupt peace.

Read more – Council of Islamic Ideology to ‘critically review’ ‘Zindagi Tamasha’

Earlier, after Khoosat penned an open letter to the Prime Minister, President, Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff, Humayun Saeed and Sanam Saeed had also requested the government to facilitate the smooth release of the film.

Written by Nirmal Bano and directed by Sarmad Khoosat, Zindagi Tamasha starres Arif Hassan, Samiya Mumtaz, Eman Suleman and Ali Qureshi in the lead. The film is centred around a naat khwan Rahat Khawaja (played by Hassan) and his family who are outcast from the society when a secret of Khawaja’s is leaked.

The official synopsis states: “The film is an intimate portrait of a family as well as a scorching political commentary on little gods on this earth who police our private passions.”

The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival held in October 2019 where it also won the prestigious Kim Ji Seok Award.

It was scheduled to hit cinemas on January 24.