Pakistan has lifted the ban on the film 'Verna', which is a thriller that shows a woman’s quest for revenge after she is kidnapped and raped. The Central Board of Film Censors hadn’t given the film a go-ahead because of its mature themes and ‘edgy content’.
People did not take the decision well and women’s rights activists accused the board of suppressing dialogue about sexual assault. The hashtag #UnbanVerna went viral. Hours before the film was slated to premiere, the board lifted the ban. Theatres had already sold out screenings before the ban was lifted.
Shoaib Mansoor, who makes films about social issues, including about transgender people and the impact of 9/11, directed the film.
The film shows a teacher who is kidnapped while on vacation with her husband. When she is rescued, the justice system does little to help her. So she takes matters into her own hands
“In our culture, when a woman is raped, we say she was robbed of her honour. If a woman is raped, she has not been robbed of her honour, it is the rapist who has for doing such a crime. The film reflects the gender and power dynamics this hypocrisy creates,” said the film’s actress Mahira Khan.
"It’s not just about sex or rape, it is about one person having power over another and how people misuse that power – and the only way to break the dynamics of power is when you are brave enough to speak up about it,” she said.
Many high-profile celebrities supported the film's ban being lifted, including Wasim Akram and Deepika Padukone, who is facing her own battles on censorship, given her film 'Padmavati' is facing opposition from the Rajput Karni Sena, who have alleged that the film distorts historical facts.
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Picture Credit: Indian Express
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