'Mulk' banned in Pakistan, say makers; director urges viewers to watch it 'illegally'
Mumbai, Aug 3: "Mulk" movie has been banned in Pakistan, according to Bollywood film's makers who are upset over the "prejudiced verdict". Director Anubhav Sinha has urged viewers in Pakistan to "watch the film illegally, if you must".
According to a statement issued on behalf of the makers on Thursday, the Federal Censor Board of Pakistan has banned the film, a courtroom drama around restoring the honour of a Muslim family accused of treason.
Danyal Gilani, Chairman, Pakistan's Central Board of Film Censors ( CBFC), told IANS via the social media: "Members of the CBFC unanimously decided not to approve the trailer of 'Mulk' as its contents flout the Censorship of Film Code, 1980."
"Mulk" co-producer and presenter Deepak Mukut of Soham Rockstar Entertainment is disheartened.
"We are disturbed by this prejudiced verdict and it's such an irony because our film talks about this very prejudice. We urge the Pakistani Censor Board to reconsider their decision.
"They will realise how essential it is to the well-being of the human race across the world."
Sinha has penned a "letter to Pakistan", through which he raises a question about why the censors in Pakistan are not letting the citizens watch a film "that talks about coexistence".
Addressed to "Dear citizens of Pakistan" in what he calls a "risk of being called an anti-national by some losers back home", Sinha's letter reaches out to film lovers across the border as they will not be able to see the film legally.
"Why is it that they do not want you to see the film that talks about coexistence. I know, sooner or later, you will have access to the film. Please do watch it and give me your opinion why did the Pakistan censor board ban the film.
"I really wanted you all to see this film legally, but do watch it illegally, if you must, though our digital team at home is working hard to stop all piracy," wrote Sinha, who also pointed out how based on the trailer, some people in India thought it was pro-Muslim and people in Pakistan felt it stereotyped Muslims.
Sinha has maintained the film is about "love that all of us individuals should have".
"You have Hindus as a minority in your country and we have Muslims as a minority in ours. We all must work towards co-existing in peace and harmony."
A Benaras Media Works production, "Mulk" is produced by Mukut and Sinha. The film features Rishi Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Prateik Babbar, Rajat Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Manoj Pahwa and Neena Gupta.
Bollywood's other releases for Friday -- "Karwaan" and "Fanney Khan" -- have been cleared for release in Pakistan.
Satish Anand, head honcho of Eveready Group of Companies, which is releasing both movies in Pakistan, said word-of-mouth publicity could work for both movies if the viewers approve the content.
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Allahabad HC sets aside maintenance order in favour of earning wife, says she didn't tell truth
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court has set aside a lower court order mandating a man to pay maintenance to his estranged wife, observing that she earns her living and did not reveal the true salary in her affidavit.
Justice Madan Pal Singh also allowed a criminal revision petition filed by the man, Ankit Saha.
"A perusal of the impugned judgment indicates that in the affidavit filed before the trial court, the opposite party herself admitted that she is a post-graduate and a web designer by qualification. She is working as a senior sales coordinator in a company and getting a salary of Rs 34,000 per month," the court said in the December 3 order.
"But in her cross-examination, she has admitted that she was earning Rs 36,000 per month. Such an amount for a wife who has no other liability cannot be said to be meagre; whereas the man has the responsibility of maintaining his aged parents and other social obligations," it observed.
The high court observed that the woman was not entitled to get any maintenance from her husband "as she is an earning lady and able to maintain herself".
The man's counsel argued in court that the estranged wife did not reveal the whole truth in the affidavit.
"She claimed herself to be an illiterate and unemployed woman. When the document filed by the man was shown to her before the trial court, she admitted her income during cross-examination. Thus, it is clear that she did not come before the trial court with clean hands," the counsel submitted.
The court, in its order, said, "Cases of those litigants who have no regard for the truth and those who indulge in suppressing material facts need to be thrown out of the court."
It impugned the lower court's February 17 judgment and order, passed by the principal judge of a family court in Gautam Buddh Nagar and allowed the criminal revision petition filed by the man.
