Zindagi Tamasha

Zindagi Tamasha (lit. 'Circus of Life') is a 2019 Pakistani drama film directed by Sarmad Khoosat,[1] the name inspired by a song in Naukar Wohti Da (1974).[2] It is produced by Khoosat's sister, Kanwal Khoosat and written by Nirmal Bano. The film features Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz and Ali Kureshi.[3] The film was set to release on 24 January 2020 under the banner of Khoosat Films, however, Pakistan's Central Film Censor Board asked director of film to approach the Council of Islamic Ideology for critically reviewing his film. This film shows an intimate portrait of a family, who lives in Lahore.[4][5]

Zindagi Tamasha
Poster
Directed bySarmad Khoosat
Produced byKanwal Khoosat
Written byNirmal Bano
Starring
Music by
  • Saakin
  • Shamsher Rana
CinematographyKhizer Idrees
Production
company
Khoosat Films
Distributed byIMGC Global
Release date
  • 6 October 2019 (2019-10-06) (Busan)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryPakistan
Language
  • Urdu
  • Punjabi

Zindagi Tamasha premiered at the 24th Busan International Film Festival under the section 'A Window on Asian Cinema'.[6][7] It was selected as Pakistan's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[8]

Plot

A devout Muslim who writes, composes, and even records hymns praising the Prophet, Rahat is a respected elderly man who works in real estate and takes care of his bedridden wife.[9] One day, he attends the wedding of a friend's son, where he inadvertently shows off a dance in front of his friends. His dance gets recorded and then uploaded to social media, which then gets broadcast on television.[10] And the chaos begins to ensue in his quiet life. Other than his wife, no one else in the world understands Rahat's circumstances. His daughters and neighbors criticize him, his friends turn their backs on him. Circus of Life provides a calm and detailed picture of challenging issues,[11] in a strict Muslim society and the search for the identity of an elderly man who gradually comes to realize his "minoritiness".[12]

Cast

Release

Zindagi Tamasha premiered at the 24th Busan International Film Festival on 6 October 2019.[16] The film was set to release on 24 January 2020 under the banner of Khoosat Films,[17][18] however, Pakistan's Central Film Censor Board asked director of film to approach the Council of Islamic Ideology for critically reviewing his film.[19][20]

Music

The soundtrack was released on 9 November 2019. [21]

Controversy

After releasing its first teaser, this film become controversial. Its teaser was removed from YouTube.[22][4] The release of the film was suspended after religious uproar.[23] Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan's Khadim Hussain Rizvi promoted protests on the release of this film. Rizvi further accused Khoosat of blasphemy. The supposedly "blasphemous" material includes criticism of ulama and an alleged reference to bacha bazi.[24]

Detractors of Rizvi were quick to point out that suggest criticism of ulama is blasphemous, may in itself constitute blasphemy as it implies ulama hold sacred or holy rank. Rizvi was also criticized for using charges of blasphemy to prevent criticism of religious fundamentalism. No charges against Rizvi have been filed at this point for engaging in blasphemy.[23] A petition against TLP was subsequently filed by Irfan Ali Khoosat, director of Khoosat Films.[25] The Sindh government also banned the film.[26]

Accolades

It has been awarded the Kim Ji-Seok Award at Busan International Film Festival.[27][28]

See also

References
  1. "Sarmad Khoosat's film Zindagi Tamasha cleared for release". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  2. "'Zindagi Tamasha' makes it big ahead of its release!". HIP. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  3. "Sarmad Khoosat reveals characters of his film 'Zindagi Tamasha'". Something Haute. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. "Sarmad Khoosat's Zindagi Tamasha trailer removed from YouTube". Samaa TV. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. "Trailer released for Sarmad Khoosat's second film 'Zindagi Tamasha'". The Nation. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  6. "Sarmad Khoosat's 'Zindagi Tamasha' to be screened at Busan Film Festival 2019". The Express Tribune. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  7. "Sarmad Khoosat's 'Zindagi Tamasha' wins the Kim Ji-Seok award". Samaa TV. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  8. "'Zindagi Tamasha' is Pakistan's submission to the Oscars". The Express Tribune. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  9. "'Zindagi Tamasha' trailer is a grim glimpse of society". Daily Times. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  10. "Zindagi Tamasha Trailer Taken Down From YouTube". ProPakistani. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  11. Kalam, Kayenat (29 September 2019). "'Zindagi Tamasha' Trailer: An Intense Plot with A Dark Twist!". Box Office Insights. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  12. Javed, Aamir (1 October 2019). "Zindagi Tamasha Story Review and Trailer". Medium. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  13. "Zindagi Tamasha cast". The5Ws. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  14. "Character posters of Sarmad Khoosat's Zindagi Tamasha unveiled". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  15. "This is How Ali Kureshi Bagged a Debut in "Zindagi Tamasha"". Lens. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  16. "Sarmad Khoosat's 'Zindagi Tamasha' to be screened at Busan Film Festival 2019". The Express Tribune. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  17. "Exclusive: Here Is The Release Date Of Zindagi Tamasha". 24 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  18. "Sarmad Khoosat announces release date of 'Zindagi Tamasha'". Daily Times. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  19. "'Zindagi Tamasha' will be assessed by Council of Islamic Ideology to ensure accurate portrayal of Islam". Filmi Tips. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  20. "Film Censor Board approaches CCI for critically reviewing 'Zindagi Tamasha' : Firdous". Associated Press Of Pakistan. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  21. "Zindagi Tamasha's Ajj Sik Mitraan Di is hauntingly beautiful". Something Haute. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  22. "Zindagi Tamasha trailer goes missing from YouTube". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  23. "Film about cleric held over 'risk to Muslims'". BBC News. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  24. "Film about cleric held over 'risk to Muslims'". BBC News. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  25. "Petition filed against TLP over the release of Zindagi Tamasha". Samaa TV. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  26. "Sindh bans Sarmad Khoosat's upcoming film 'Zindagi Tamasha'". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  27. "Sarmad Khoosat's Zindagi Tamasha bags the Kim Ji-seok Award at BIFF". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  28. "Sarmad Khoosat's 'Zindagi Tamasha' wins the Kim Ji-Seok award". Samaa TV. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
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