Zindagi Tamasha


Zindagi Tamasha is a 2019 Pakistani drama film directed by Sarmad Khoosat, the name inspired by a song in Naukar Wohti Da. It is produced by Khoosat's sister, Kanwal Khoosat and written by Nirmal Bano. The film features Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz and Ali Kureshi It premiered at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival. The film was set to release on 24 January 2020 under the banner of Khoosat Films, however, Pakistan's Central Film Censor Board asked director of film to approach the Council of Islamic Ideology for critically reviewing his film. This film shows an intimate portrait of a family, who lives in Lahore.

Plot

A devout Muslim who writes, composes, and even records hymns praising the Prophet, Rahat is a respected elderly man who works in real estate and takes care of his bedridden wife. One day, he attends the wedding of a friend's son, where he inadvertently shows off a in front of his friends. His dance gets recorded and then uploaded to the social media, which then gets broadcast on television. And the chaos begins to ensue in his quiet life. Other than his wife, no one else in the world understands Rahat's circumstances. His daughters and neighbors criticize him, his friends turn their backs on him. Circus of Life provides a calm and detailed picture of challenging issues, in a strict Muslim society and the search for the identity of an elderly man who gradually comes to realize his "minoritiness".

Cast

Zindagi Tamasha premiered at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival. The film was set to release on 24 January 2020 under the banner of Khoosat Films, however, Pakistan's Central Film Censor Board asked director of film to approach the Council of Islamic Ideology for critically reviewing his film.

Music

The soundtrack was released on 9 November, 2019.

Controversy

After releasing its first teaser, this film become controversial. Its teaser was removed from YouTube. The release of the film was suspended after religious uproar. Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan's Khadim Hussain Rizvi promoted protests on the release of this film. Rizvi further accused Khoosat of blasphemy. The supposedly "blasphemous" material includes criticism of ulama and an alleged reference to bacha bazi.
Detractors of Rizvi were quick to point out that suggest criticism of ulama is blasphemous, may in itself constitute blasphemy as it implies ulama hold sacred or holy rank. Rizvi was also criticized for using charges of blasphemy to prevent criticism of religious fundamentalism. No charges against Rizvi have been filed at this point for engaging in blasphemy. A petition against TLP was subsequently filed by Irfan Ali Khoosat, director of Khoosat Films. The Sindh government also banned the film.

Accolades

It has been awarded the Kim Ji-Seok Award at Busan International Film Festival.