Dawn Images

Mere days after a ban on film Lafangey was “unanimously” announced, the director Abdull Khaaliq Khan told Images the movie has gotten the greenlight from the Pakistani censor board.

“Many thanks to God, the ban has been removed. We are now trying to get the film released on Eidul Azha — Alhamdulillah, the censor board has cleared us,” he said.

Khan shared that many had publicly advocated for the movie and the censor board responded kindly. “They cooperated with us — yes, the brothers requested and raised their voice, and by God’s grace, they treated us really well. We are good to go. I think everyone will enjoy it very much, it’s a fully entertaining film.”

Mani and Sami Khan’s film was scheduled for a release in theatres on Eidul Azha. The news of the ban came just a week after the official trailer for Lafangey dropped online. Khan had told Images that he hadn’t received any official statement or letter to notify him of this.

“No letter was sent, no producer met with the censor board, this decision was taken unanimously to reject the film,” he said.

He called it “strange” and questioned if this “punishment” is on the basis of his province of origin, Balochistan. “If I was from Punjab or Sindh I could’ve been saved but it’s obvious that if a person from Balochistan makes a film, this is what’s going to happen with him. You know how Balochis are not given their rights and often silenced.”

According to him, it’s the censor board’s job to inform the production team if a certain scene or dialogue needs to be removed and he added that so far, neither the producer nor the director have received a letter or email. “We don’t have any written document, it’s just everyone talking around us about the ban. They didn’t even watch the entire film. I will involve a lawyer and ask how is it even possible to reject a film without involving the director or previewing the film itself.”

Though the filmmaker said that they are “trying” to get Lafangey to release this Eid, the film’s pre-booking is now open on cinema sites such as Nueplex and Cinepax.

Starring Mani, Sami Khan, Nazish Jahangir, Saleem Meraj, Mubeen Gabol and Behroze Sabzwari, the movie belongs to the horror-comedy genre, a combination you don’t see a lot in Pakistan.

In a comment to Images, Mani divulged some interesting details about his upcoming project. “The film has been directed and produced by Abdull Khaaliq Khan,” he said. “Khan has written the film as well. The cast includes Nazish Jahangir who is playing a ghost in the film. The movie has many talented actors actually.

“It is a horror-comedy movie. The story is funny and we had a lot of fun making it. I think we wrapped shooting up in 25 to 26 days,” he shared when highlighting what the plot is about.