Hollywood movie 'Barbie' directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling recently faced a major setback in Pakistan's Punjab province. The screening of the film was temporarily halted due to what authorities called "objectionable content". The decision sparked a wave of speculation and criticism, especially on social media platforms.
The controversy started when the Punjab Film Censor Board did not issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the film. News of the film being banned started circulating online, with some moviegoers even claiming they were asked to refund their tickets as the film was stopped mid-screen. Major cinemas in the provincial capital Lahore, such as Q Cinemas, Cine Star, and Universal Cinema, were not showing the film, fueling speculation of a possible ban.
"Objectionable content" refers to conversations that allegedly promote homosexuality, a topic considered taboo and illegal in Pakistan. The film was later allowed to be released after these dialogues were removed. However, this decision faced strong reactions from various quarters. Critics argued that the censorship reflected intolerance toward LGBTQ content and a shift toward radical religious fanaticism.
Interestingly, local distributor HKC Entertainment initially resisted the Censor Board's demand to remove the said dialogues. However, they eventually agreed to make changes, and the film was later released across Punjab province. It is noteworthy that the film did not face any cuts in other regions of Pakistan including Sindh and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
