6 things you should do this weekend since you're not watching Veere Di Wedding
Did you clear your schedule this weekend especially to watch Veere Di Wedding? Don't know what to do with your time now that it's been banned in Pakistan?
We feel you, we're in the same boat.
Here are a few ideas for how you can use your time instead, while also staying true to the movie's badass theme.
1) Use your unused ticket money to support these awesome women's rights groups
If you aren't shelling out that Rs1000 to watch Veere Di Wedding, save it for NGOs that are all about helping women live more fulfilling lives.
Want to give fellow women a leg-up on their dreams? Give Circle Pakistan a shout-out. Startled by the poor health stats in villages? doctHERS will appreciate your support. Tired of seeing your friends being stalked online? Show some love to the Digital Rights Foundation. Or go ahead and find a charity or rights group you identify with, and then show them some love.
Veere's a film that champions women's right to live life on their own terms and you can do this too.
2) Go ahead and talk about sexuality in public
We think one of the biggest reasons behind the film's ban is the fact that the trailer shows women discussing their sex lives. And while censors say that's vulgar, we think it's zaroori!
You know what happens when there's no sex ed? Our burgeoning youth population has to turn to 'alternate' (read: dodgy) sources for information about 101 stuff like puberty, contraception and STDs.
Moreover, it's no secret that many married women struggle to find satisfaction in their sex lives due to issues that are possible to remedy should they have access to the right resources.
Talking about sexuality with people you trust lead to healthier, happier lives, so normalising conversations about sexuality is important.
3) Endlessly share the trailer on social media
Yep, just troll the censors right back.
4) Organise a movie night and watch other banned films like PadMan
The cinemas may not be able to bring the films to you, but you can bring the film to you and your movie buds!
Organise a banned movie night with your friends and enjoy films like PadMan and Raees, which were banned for arbitrary reasons like being against "our culture and traditions".
5) Tag the censor board and call out content that's actually offensive
Tweet at PEMRA to alert their attention to the actually horrible stuff on TV/cinema screens.
Enough said.
6) Support female talent in the arts by watching their movies, listening to their music and more!
Heard about that really awesome female-directed drama (Mehreen Jabbar's Jackson Heights, Angeline Malik's Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain) but never got around to watching it? Were you meaning to check out that female-run fashion brands your friend was talking about? Do it now.