The Punjab censor board has imposed a ban on “Barbie”, the much-anticipated American fantasy comedy film. Directed by Greta Gerwig, due to objectionable content, it emerged on Friday.
There are reports that the live-action fantasy-comedy movie ‘Barbie’ has been banned in parts of Pakistan over LGBT content. The live-action fantasy-comedy movie that has been released today across the world. It has apparently being banned and postponed in UAE and EGYPT over LGBT content.
However, until now there are many cinemas in Pakistan that are showing Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling starrer in the theatre except for a few in Punjab. A simple Google search can also show that major Lahore cinemas such as Cue Cinemas, Cine Star, and Universal Cinemas are not screening the film, further fueling such speculations. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is being screened at all the theatres mentioned. Leading to questions and confusion among moviegoers about the ‘Barbie’.
Vasay Chaudhary, the vice-chairman of the Punjab Film Censor Board respond till the filing of this report. Sources told that Barbie is not “banned” in Punjab and the Punjab Film Censor Board even issued an NOC for it yesterday.
According to sources, the board demanded that four words be beeped or excised somehow before the film opens for public screening. And this didn’t sit well with HKC Entertainment, the local distributors of Barbie in Pakistan. The company CEO Hammad Chaudhry was also unreachable till the filing of this report.
The film is running successfully in Sindh and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Movie Fever
The film’s allure has captivated audiences worldwide since its release on July 21. Pakistani actresses have also caught the Barbie fever, embracing the nostalgia and sharing their Barbie-inspired looks.
Notably, Barbie, portrayed by Margot Robbie, enjoys various professions, while Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, remains “just Ken.” Other versions of Ken will be portrayed by Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, and Scott Evans. Posters featuring these handsome hunks in their Ken avatars have already generated significant hype.
In Pakistan, fans of the movie eagerly await any changes that might lead to the ban being lifted, allowing them to witness the much-anticipated film on the big screen.