Pakistani first selection in Oscar’s International Feature Film Joyland raked a hand full of accolades at global forums but continued to be in bad light back at home.
The recent controversy related to LGBT-themed movie stemmed with Sajal Aly’s latest, drama Kuch Ankahi, which managed to grab attention soon after its release. However, country’s famous designer Maria Butt denounced the project, calling it out on a public platform for promoting Joyland.
In a social media post, the designer slammed officials for encouraging transgender. Maria calls it agenda, and mentioned that ‘transgender communities are taking over the rights of true intersex people.’
Her unusual criticism promoted strong reactions on social media and now Pakistani TV star Faysal Qureshi responded to her criticism in a recent program aired on a local news channel.
When asked about Joyland’s poster in Kuch Ankahi, Qureshi, who was flanked by Atiqa Odho, justified the drama, saying a poster of another Pakistani movie ‘Kamli’ was also mounted on the wall.
Should there be a poster of Pathaan on the wall? he asked, lamenting the Bollywood that slander Pakistani armed forces and intelligence agency.
