Government sources on Saturday (September 28, 2024) signalled that they would seek to block the release of the Pakistani Punjabi-language film The Legend of Maula Jatt in India , after, among other things, political backlash from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s leader Raj Thackeray. Mr. Thackeray vowed last week to prevent the film’s screening at any cinema in Maharashtra.
Perhaps as a result of this backlash, the release plans of the film were modified: it would only come out in Punjab, a producer for the film said last week. The film, directed by Bilal Lashari and starring Fawad Khan, was originally released in 2022. It was also cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification that year, after being submitted by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, the Indian distributor for the film.
While the movie was due to come out that year, Zee apparently canceled the release. A Zee spokesperson did not have an immediate comment on the government’s moves to stop the film’s release. Since the movie has already been banned by the CBFC, and the Cinematograph Act does not give the Union government revisional powers to stall a movie’s release after this key step, there are few formal ways for the government to seek a ban on the movie.
Spokespeople for PVR INOX, which operates 90 screens in Punjab, did not immediately respond to queries on whether the government had asked them to not distribute the film. While the movie is scheduled for an October 2 release, on a Wednesday, tick.