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Happy Bhag Jayegi director writes fiery open letter to Pakistan censor boards

Happy Bhag Jayegi director writes fiery open letter to Pakistan censor boards

Mudassar Aziz writes to those in charge to question why his film was banned
Updated 25 Aug, 2016

Happy Bhag Jayegi director Mudassar Aziz is not pleased.

The filmmaker wrote an open letter to those in charge of the censor board in Pakistan and wanted to make it known that they had no valid reason to ban it.

Aziz points out that Pakistan is often taken as a horrifying place but a visit is enough for a person to know how wonderful it really is.

Says Aziz in the letter, "I realised that this “perception” of lawlessness and lack of freedom of choice is untrue. Pakistan actually is a land of limitless potential and bright, eager minds. It left me pleasantly surprised."

"In fact it seemed like I came back from a visit to the neighbours, just as neighbours should be!"

Because of this, the ban came as a shock to the director, who claims there is nothing in the film to defame Pakistan but in fact shows it to be a good place with good people, the way he found them to be.

"The first ever film content that showed people on both sides of this seventy-year-old border as simple human beings with affection, honesty, love and their small shortcomings was found OFFENSIVE by you! Wow!"

Aziz challenges those in charge to actually show the film to the average Pakistani and see if they do find something offensive in the movie.

"I dare you to show Happy Bhag Jayegi to one common Pakistani. One who loves his family, strives for his daily bread, loves his cricket, loves his films and lives his life under the nonsensical garb that you force down his throat. Let that common smile-deprived Pakistani who is tired of being viewed as the only stranger in the world that has largely become one big melting pot today, come and tell you that he finds Happy Bhag Jayegi offensive, and I promise you that my apology note to you will be even longer than this letter."

Aziz wants to know the reason for the ban, because after casting Pakistani actors Javed Sheikh and Momal Sheikh and showing good ties between the two countries, he insists there should be a very strong reason to do so, a reason he cannot discover in his movie.

He ends his letter with a "Thank you but no thank you" and titles his film as Happy Bhag Jayegi- The film that dared to show the nicety and affection of a common Pakistani. Something that you seem to want to hide!"

We're curious to know if Mudassar Aziz will receive an answer now!

Comments

Aamer Aug 24, 2016 05:53pm
Great job Pakistan cencor board. Any Propaganda against Pakistan should be dealt with. Shame on all those who back this movie.
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nida Aug 24, 2016 05:53pm
So the Momal sheikh and family have no good connections ! and this is bizarre.
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aamchi mumbai Aug 24, 2016 06:36pm
Its a good movie & Pakistan is shown in positive light.
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Qamar Valliani Aug 24, 2016 06:47pm
Aziz should have appealed against the decision of censor board as everybody does throughout the film industries of the world. He should not gave written an open letter.
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Muhammad Ali Aug 24, 2016 07:28pm
I have seen this movie in Canada, very funny and there is noting negative or any thing that defame Pakistan or any Pakistani.
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Luqman Hafeez Aug 24, 2016 08:29pm
The movie seems to have hardly anything that should prompt the censor board to ban the movie. This is not fair, neither with the movie nor with cinema-goers here in Pakistan. Such light movies will help stem misconceptions about Pakistani society and will bring up its real face of love and innocence. Don't be so touchy guys.
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Seedoo Aug 24, 2016 09:07pm
Why should a movie be banned, just because it has parts that some might consider offensive? People need to grow up and get a thicker skin. When you try to please everyone, no one will be happy.
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Haris Aug 24, 2016 09:19pm
Its really a good movie. Nothing bad
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Abdulla Hussain Aug 24, 2016 09:52pm
"The filmmaker wrote an open letter to those in charge of the censor board in Pakistan and wanted to make it known that they had no valid reason to ban it" He is just an ordinary film maker, has no right to pose such question, not appreciated at all.
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Jyoti Parkash Aug 24, 2016 11:39pm
Very nice movie . I liked the Momal sheikh,s powerful role with wonderful expression. Today I came to know that she is Pakistani actress. After watching movie , you want to visit this b,full country . Really surprised to know that this movie is banned in pakistan
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Atif Naveed Aug 25, 2016 12:01am
I watched only the beginning and left.Movie had many offensive comments against Pakistan and its people.
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Optimistic pakistani Aug 25, 2016 09:35am
If there is nothing then I hope the censor board will take off the ban. I think Javed sheikh should play his part as he is very influential here.
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WHO CARES Aug 25, 2016 11:31am
Quick! Charge him with sedition! He just said nice things about Pakistan
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jamal Aug 25, 2016 11:59am
the director should realise that this censor board of pakistan which is a sovereign country. its upto the board to pass a film or not and there is a procedure of appeal. open letters just show the superiority complex of the director. tell the distributor to challenge board decision with competent authority and follow the prescribed procedure. what is he trying to achieve with open letter?
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gogo Aug 25, 2016 04:19pm
Pakistanis need not waste money in making films.
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Farhan Aug 25, 2016 06:21pm
@Atif Naveed Likewise. I was offended by several dialogues.
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Raza Aug 25, 2016 11:01pm
I am okay with the decision to ban this movie. I hope that the censor board's detailed decision has been sent to the angry director of HBJG. In his open letter "To whoever the incharge", he himself used an offensive language. Indians need to stop patronizing Pakistan and Pakistanis.
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Another Indian sri1 Aug 25, 2016 11:18pm
@Atif Naveed "I watched only the beginning and left.Movie had many offensive comments against Pakistan" Isn't that the problem? Too much ego drives your ilk away even before you can realize that those very perceptions change 180 degrees by the second half of the film. Talk of preconceived notions (biases, rather) about Bollywood.
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Farwa Aug 26, 2016 11:47am
Great job by Pakistan censor board. We don't want to see another crap from Bollywood. Indians need to realise Pakistanis won't tolerate indians biasedness towards worldclass leaders like Barrister Jinnah & we neither agree with their twisted history . Shame on the director/producer of the junk for showing us where they are coming from.
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SalvatoreSingh Aug 27, 2016 09:24am
Its a light and enjoyable movie but I could see how some dialogues were obviously witten for an indian audience and could rub pakistanis (and the censor board) the wrong way. For example, Afridis recurring laments are at pakistans expense and funny mainly to indians. Other than that the pakistani characters are very balanced and relatable portrayals.
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