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Release of Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt stalled in India

Release of Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt stalled in India

Indian media reports that Raj Thackeray’s political party MNS had warned cinema-hall owners against screening the movie.
31 Dec, 2022

Pakistani blockbuster The Legend of Maula Jatt, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, due to release in India on December 30 has run into rough weather, The Indian Express said on Friday.

A spokesperson for multiplex chain INOX said, “The distributor has conveyed that the release of the film in India has now been postponed indefinitely, and we have not been given any new date or the reason for stalling the release.”

Zee Studios had acquired the distribution rights of the film, which was to have a limited release in Delhi and Punjab. Zee Studios did not respond to a request for comment from The Indian Express.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not comment on the Pakistani movie, but sources involved in its release said announcements by theatres are usually “done only after CBFC clearance” has been obtained for the films.

The Legend of Maula Jatt was to be the first Pakistani film to be released in India in more than a decade, after Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol.

The Express said Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had warned cinema-hall owners against screening the movie and sent letters to various establishments, including Zee Studios, Movietime Cinema, August Entertainment and Tilak Enterta­inment. MNS leader Ameya Khopkar said, “We want to tell the sympathisers of Pakistani artists in India that if an attempt is made to show any kind of support to them, they will also face a boycott.” Earlier this month, Pakistan-based OTT streaming platform Vidly TV was banned in India for “streaming anti-India content”, The Express added.

However, sources in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, under which the CBFC functions, were quoted as saying, “Even as there is no official ban on the release of Pakistani films in India, no Pakistani film has been released in the country in the wake of the dastardly Uri and Pulwama attacks.”

The CBFC of India has also asked the makers of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan to implement “advised changes…including the songs and submit the revised version”. The move comes days after one of the movie songs, ‘Besharam Rang’, featuring Deepika Padukone in a saffron monokini, faced social media backlash allegedly for “hurting Hindu sentiments”.

Pathaan joins the list of big-ticket movies, such as fantasy action saga Brahmastra, which featured Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, and Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha to face calls for a boycott.

Originally published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022

Comments

Ahmed Dec 31, 2022 11:56am
Yeah. The Indians are totally over 1947.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Dec 31, 2022 12:00pm
What else could be expected under the auspices of racist, bigot, crooked, wicked, liar, prejudiced and biased Modi and his fascist, corrupt, cunning, crafty, crazy and criminal R.S.S. and BJP cronies, running overwhelmingly in the corridors of power in Old and New Delhi with a sinister Hindutva agenda to eliminate, eradicate, obliterate, liquidate and terminate all Indian minorities from India in general and the Muslim minority population of India in particular?
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Simba Dec 31, 2022 12:08pm
Pakistanis need to realise that the Majority in India wants nothing to do with Pakistan. In a democracy the majority 's wishes prevail when backed by strong Govt.
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pursuing Dec 31, 2022 12:19pm
Madaari people with small hearts! Never mind
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M. Emad Dec 31, 2022 12:23pm
Violent Film.
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Joe Dec 31, 2022 12:32pm
Are Bollywood movie shown in Pakistani theaters? That should answer
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SUV Dec 31, 2022 12:33pm
Pakistan doesn't want to trade with india , why it want to release it's film.
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Joe Dec 31, 2022 12:36pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad "all Indian minorities from India in general and the Muslim minority population of India in particular? Was India not divided on religious bases? If so why are there more Muslims in India than in Pakistan? Another fact for you, Richest Minority citizen in India in terms of wealth has more money than the Richest Muslim in Pakistan.May hurt you but is the fact
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Nawaz Dec 31, 2022 12:47pm
Self respecting Pakistanis should now boycott buying Indian medicines just like every other Indian thing is not allowed.
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Simba Dec 31, 2022 12:49pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad going overboard with vitriole and bile isn't going to help one bit.
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Gurpreet Singh Dec 31, 2022 12:58pm
Why does Pakistan expect India allow the release of Pakistani movies when Indian movies are banned in Pakistan? It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
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Simba Dec 31, 2022 12:59pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad so what is Pakistan going to do about it?
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Ed Dec 31, 2022 01:00pm
This is the true face of so called secular and tolerant India .
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Ed Dec 31, 2022 01:02pm
@Simba no one is begging India, that is India’s wishful thinking. Pakistans Media and movie fraternity never mixed arts with politics but India does because of right wing extremists.
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Ed Dec 31, 2022 01:02pm
@Simba such actions by India only shows non-secular Indian government.
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Shaun Dec 31, 2022 01:03pm
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is doing what the Indian Government should have done in the first place. Indian movies are banned in Pakistan, so why should Pakistani movies be allowed in India.
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Shaun Dec 31, 2022 01:04pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad What can you do about it? Nothing.
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Indian Dec 31, 2022 01:27pm
No Indian movies in Pakistan then also you are expecting Pakistani movies in India, you are really 'brave'.
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NYS Dec 31, 2022 02:27pm
Understood already
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Dec 31, 2022 02:38pm
Is Raj Thackeray the Ruler of the Sikh dominated Punjab.?
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Shahbaz Ahmed Dec 31, 2022 02:40pm
@M. Emad yes, Pushpa was comedy movie..
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Joker Dec 31, 2022 02:46pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad brainless comment.
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Imtirian Hozmydadi Dec 31, 2022 04:42pm
Question for the Ahmeds and Salarias.. Bollywood movies are screening in Pakistan??
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Bestbest Dec 31, 2022 05:58pm
You know I was looking forward to this ..saw it and thought what a waste of time that was!
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Nawaz Dec 31, 2022 06:18pm
Mahira gets what she wants from the Indians in Dubai. She does not care about others
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Ahsan Gul Dec 31, 2022 07:05pm
When a person has no respect for his own native country how he can make others respect? Pakistani media and public must stop even writing articles about India. As long BJP and modi in power, no friendship between india and Pakistan will be!
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Raja Dec 31, 2022 07:38pm
It’s strange but bottom line is india Pakistan trade products there’s no ban on that’s from both countries when comes to entertainment ban! It’s sheer nonsense joke! I personally think art and sport should be no boundaries as Indians and Pakistanis watch each other’s movies songs they can come visit each other’s country’s were is the ban it’s whole thing is political move that’s all it’s a joke..
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Umar Dec 31, 2022 07:56pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad hey buddy how many Indian films released in Pakistan. What doctor are you? Vetinerarian
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parveez shafi Dec 31, 2022 08:10pm
@Joe indian films were shown in Pakistan. It was the indians with black hearts who stopped stopped Pakistan dramas and Pakistanis stars from working in india. Best thing would be to stop all contact with india. If there is a change in government policies in india then one can think of starting a new relationship. Too much hate in modi's government right now.
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parveez shafi Dec 31, 2022 08:12pm
It was all a big publicity stunt. There was no way this film would be released in india as long as modi's government in power.
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IMRANZ Dec 31, 2022 11:31pm
@Simba So you're aware and there is no more confusion in your mind; the feeling is absolutely mutual.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:15am
@Ed India- secular,democratic, increasingly prosperous, progressive,strong,stable -has said No! Which part of No don't you understand?
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:28am
@Ed India is a Sovereign Constitutional Democracy - its rules and requirements are Supreme. No is a No - nothing changes that - more so for a Pakistani film.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:33am
@Ahsan Gul Where have you been? India has, apart from supplying medines to save sick Pakistanis, has cut back ties somewhile back.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:36am
@Raja 100% joke is you have not been following the serious downgrade of trade, exchanges etc.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:39am
@Nawaz Mahira gets what she can when she can because she understands which side of the roti has the ghee.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:42am
@Umar, likely Dr from a seminary school in Afghanistan or Iran.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:45am
@parveez shafi you may have to wait for awhile for change of Govt in India meanwhile pray the Taliban don't take over here and ban films,cinemas etc.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:49am
@IMRANZ my fellow countrymen tend to confusion and emotion when the Indians say No! Glad to meet for a change an unconfused Pakistani.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 12:51am
@IMRANZ be careful on Fridays in NZ - let there be no confusion.
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RaminderSingh Jan 01, 2023 01:40am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad But Pakistan does not allow Indian movies... Or did you no know that?
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RaminderSingh Jan 01, 2023 01:43am
@Umar he is the highest qualified doctor of Pakistan, well that's how bright they must be.
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Simba Jan 01, 2023 02:35am
@IMRANZ adled as seen
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Fayyaz wali Jan 01, 2023 03:01am
This movie is very poor but old Movie is the best Always Time
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IsthisReal Jan 01, 2023 04:16am
@Nawaz give up tea?
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Ibrahim S Jan 01, 2023 06:13am
Can someone please let me know if there was a sane person in the movie who didn’t look weird with burning eyes and frown on their faces
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Omveer Singh Jan 01, 2023 08:27am
As far as India is concerned, we are already flooded with movies from Bollywood and ott platforms. Pakistan movies are not welcome. When was the last movie from India screened in Pakistan?
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