After facing flak over her viral pictures with Ranbir Kapoor, Mahira Khan is back in news. This time it is because of her much-awaited film Verna. Reportedly, the Censor Board in Pakistan banned the film for dealing with rape and violence. Pakistan CBFC Chief Mobashir Hasan took to Twitter and said, “Verna banned by the #CBFC pending further appeal.”
According to The Express Tribune reports, the Sindh Board of Film Censors (SBFC) general secretary Abdul Razzaq Khuhawar has said that the film is objectionable. As per his report, “The topic is rape, and the culprit is the governor’s son. The film doesn’t have to be banned, and can be tweaked and censored a bit to be deemed fit for release.”
The film is the story of a young couple. Their lives are disrupted by an unfortunate incident. It shows how a female protagonist fights for her rights against violence. Since the reports of a ban have come out, Twitter massively outraged and showered tweets largely condemning the Pakistan Central Board of Film Certification’s move.
Ban #ChildMarriage #Vani & barbaric jirga decisions decreeing innocent girls to be raped and humiliated NOT films like #Verna. Such films can help in changing mindsets! #ChangingMindsets #Verna #Rape #Women #Zabarjinsi
— Samar MinAllah Khan (@SamarMinallahKh) November 14, 2017
Uncanny how ‘Khuda Kay Liye’ had broken records in a reign of a ‘dictator’ that too when mullah brigade was burning down the videos stores and breaking TVs and today a woman centered social account has been banned under a ‘democratic’ government. Such a shame #Verna
— MINION© (@TheOmarrization) November 14, 2017
So #Verna has been banned by the usual idiots on the Islamabad censor board who appar think topic (rape) should not be talked about. Was cleared by Sindh. Going into full board appeal today.
— Hasan Zaidi (@hyzaidi) November 14, 2017
I question to CBFC,
What message are you sending when you ban a film that stood up against violence?
You let the powerful win again.#Verna— Aftab Iqbal (@_AftabIqbal) November 14, 2017
The ban on #Verna is itself a rape of growth of pakistani film industry, Authorities are banning the movie instead of controling the crime. I strongly condemn the act & m standing with @ShoManOfficial
I demand #Verna should be released on its release date
RT if u agree with me pic.twitter.com/SiiH5BkxrK— Haseeb Ur Rehman (@ItsHaseeb_) November 14, 2017
So according to the Censor Board having rape prevalent in your country is not a problem but talking about it is? How about banning the filth movies that objectify women instead of banning one that empowers them. This is insanity #Verna
— Laila (@fizakhawar) November 14, 2017
Maybe it was banned for not having enough item songs, vulgar dialogues, and other cheap titillation. Such a mature content seems to have offended a few… #Verna
— LubNaa (@LubnaSabir1) November 14, 2017
Movies promoting violence against women are okay? e.g. #ChainAyeNa but #Verna is problematic because it talks about a ‘social taboo’ aka rape? If this is what’s happening at the censor board, it’s worrying. Also want to know how many female official members does the board have?
— Quratulain (@quratulain_s) November 14, 2017
#Verna is banned, because it is haram and indecent to talk about rape, so remain silent and suffer !!
— Faisal Rafi (@faisalrafi) November 14, 2017
Verna is director Shoaib Mansoor’s comeback project and the film was scheduled to release on November 17. Shoaib is known for hard-hitting films like Khuda Ke Liye and Bol.
