Karachi Matters Editor
The release of a highly anticipated Pakistani film has been indefinitely postponed in India after officials in Delhi denied permission for its screening.
A remake of the 1979 Punjabi classic, The Legend of Maula Jatt, this film has become the highest-grossing film in Pakistan’s history. It was scheduled to premiere in the northern Indian state of Punjab, marking the first Pakistani film to be shown in Indian cinemas in over a decade.
The relationship between the South Asian neighbors is often strained, with tensions frequently impacting cultural exchanges. A source close to Zee Studios, the film’s distributor in India, confirmed that the release had been stalled after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting declined to grant permission.
The reasons for the postponement remain unclear, and inquiries to the ministry for further clarification have gone unanswered.
Featuring Pakistan’s prominent stars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, the 2022 film narrates the tale of a local folk hero who confronts the leader of a rival clan. Initially slated for release in 2022, the film’s screening was postponed indefinitely, until last month when director Bilal Lashari announced it would be coming to Indian theaters soon. He expressed his enthusiasm on social media, stating, “Two years in, and still house full on weekends in Pakistan! Now, I can’t wait for our Punjabi audience in India to experience the magic of this labor of love!”
However, the announcement triggered protests in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, where the regional Maharashtra Navnirman Sena political party declared it would not allow the film’s release “under any circumstances.” Mumbai, located within this state, is the heart of Bollywood, India’s largest film industry.
In response to rising tensions, Zee Studios opted to restrict the film’s release to Punjab state, which shares a border and linguistic ties with Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Despite ongoing political tensions, India and Pakistan have historically shared a mutual appreciation for each other’s art and culture. Movies and web series produced in both countries have a broad audience across the border. Bollywood and Punjabi films are particularly well-received in Pakistan, while Pakistani dramas enjoy significant viewership in India.
Nonetheless, collaborations between the two nations have largely ceased since Bollywood’s exclusion of Pakistani actors in 2016 and Pakistan’s ban on Indian films in 2019, amid military tensions. In recent months, a few Punjabi films from India have been screened in Pakistan.
In 2023, India’s Supreme Court dismissed a petition aimed at banning performers from Pakistan, urging petitioners to adopt a broader perspective.
With hopes for a thaw in relations and Maula Jatt‘s global success, the filmmakers anticipated a positive reception in India. The lead actors are well-known in India for their roles in popular Pakistani dramas and have previously starred in major Bollywood productions.
