"Neerja" banned in Pakistan
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor’s much awaited movie “Neerja” which is supposed to release on 19th February 2016 seems to have run into trouble already. Ever since the release of its trailer, the movie has been in the spotlight, but unfortunately it looks like Pakistani fans of Sonam Kapoor will not get the opportunity to watch it on the big screen.The Film is banned in Pakistan already, oddly even before it could be submitted to Pakistan Censor board for clearance.
According to Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, the reason for the ban is that according to them the movie “Neerja” shows Pakistan and Muslims in a bad light.
According to IMGC’s executive director, the movie has anti-Pakistan elements which might not have go down well with audiences.
"Neerja" is a biopic based on the real life hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi airport in 1986. The movie revolves around one brave flight attendant named Neerja Bhanot single-handedly fighting with the hijackers using her intelligence and saving hundreds of lives. She was shot dead by the hijackers while she struggled to save as many lives as possible. Some newspaper adverts of the movie showed its release across Pakistan in multiplexes and single screen theatres on February 19th, but it appears like the ministry of commerce had earlier approved the import of the movie but later changed its decision.
Not the first Indian film to be banned
Though Indian films have done well in Pakistan since the ban on Indian movies was lifted by the former Pakistani President and former military director Pervez Musharraf during his tenure, it's not new for Bollywood movies to be banned in Pakistan. Earlier movies like “Haider” “Ek tha Tiger” and “Phantom” have faced similar bans.
Apart from Sonam Kapooras the title character, the movie also stars Shabana Azmi and Shekhar Ravjiani in pivotal roles. The movie is directed by Ram Madhvani and produced by Atul Kasbekar under the Fox Star Studios banner. Hopefully the ban will be lifted and audiences will be able to see it.
