Slackistan
Encyclopedia
Slackistan is an independent film
directed by London-based filmmaker, Hammad Khan. The film stars Shahbaz Hamid Shigri, Aisha Linnea Akthar, Ali Rehman Khan, Shahana Khan Khalil, Osman Khalid Butt, Khalid Saeed and Rafey Alam. The film is distributed by Big Upstairs Films. Slackistan was released in the UK in 2010, and has also played at a number of festivals, in such locations as London, Abu Dhabi
, New York
, San Francisco and Goa
. It has been banned in Pakistan.
(CBFC) on January 25, 2011. According to The Guardian
, the CBFC objects to the movie because it has swear words in English and Urdu
, and "contains the words 'Taliban' and 'lesbian'. Scenes showing characters drinking. These are not the CBFC's only objections, but the main ones it's highlighted." The CBFC have also stated that, even if all cuts are made as demanded, the film would still receive a restrictive adults-only ‘18+’ rating."
In a press release, director Hammad Khan stated “The censor board’s verdict is oppressive, arbitrary and steeped in denial about life outside their government offices. Maybe the establishment’s view is that young Pakistanis saying words like 'Taliban' and 'Lesbian' represent a more potent threat than the bullets and bombs that are, day by day, finding increasing legitimacy in the country.”
Members of the Slackistan cast have publicly expressed their disagreement with the CBFC's decision. “This objection honestly reinforces the feeling of being voiceless that seems to be lingering in the country these days. We really are stripped of our basic right to express ourselves,” actress Shahana Khan Khalil said. “I also find it highly hypocritical for our cinemas to be allowed to show both Hollywood and Bollywood films that depict everything and a lot more are never banned by the censor board.” Actor Shahbaz Shigri said, “We [in Pakistan] haven’t developed the ability to scrutinize ourselves. We point fingers at others rather than correcting ourselves. We don’t laugh at ourselves. This limits our film industry and young film makers that will never get through to the right channels.”
The CBFC's own website states that it prevents the public exhibition of films that break certain vague rules, which include "giving offense to any section of the public or injured the feelings of any class of persons" or "ridiculing, disparaging or attacking any religious sect caste and creed."
, Mole, Zerobridge
and others. An official tracklist is yet to be announced.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
directed by London-based filmmaker, Hammad Khan. The film stars Shahbaz Hamid Shigri, Aisha Linnea Akthar, Ali Rehman Khan, Shahana Khan Khalil, Osman Khalid Butt, Khalid Saeed and Rafey Alam. The film is distributed by Big Upstairs Films. Slackistan was released in the UK in 2010, and has also played at a number of festivals, in such locations as London, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, San Francisco and Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. It has been banned in Pakistan.
Plot
A young man in his early twenties juggles his dreams to be a filmmaker with his family life, his best friend's troubles, the girl he's interested in and living in Pakistan during political turmoil.Cast
- Shahbaz Hamid Shigri as Hasan
- Aisha Linnea Akhtar as Aisha
- Ali Rehman Khan as Sherry
- Shahana Khan Khalil as Zara
- Osman Khalid Butt as Saad
- Khalid Saeed as Mani
- Rafey Alam as Zeeshan
- Adil OmarAdil OmarAdil Omar is a rapper and singer-songwriter from Islamabad, Pakistan. He is one of the few hip-hop artists from Pakistan and musicians from the region to write and perform in English. He has also collaborated with mainstream artists such as Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Everlast, Kool G Rap, DJ Lethal of...
as himself
Controversy
Slackistan has not been released in Pakistan because the director refused to make cuts to the film as requested by the country's Central Board of Film CensorsCentral Board of Film Censors
The Central Board of Film Censors is the regulatory body and censorship board of Pakistan. The CBFC is governed by the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979 and rules made there under. The prime statuary function of the CBFC is censorship of films. With its Head office at Islamabad headed by the...
(CBFC) on January 25, 2011. According to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the CBFC objects to the movie because it has swear words in English and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, and "contains the words 'Taliban' and 'lesbian'. Scenes showing characters drinking. These are not the CBFC's only objections, but the main ones it's highlighted." The CBFC have also stated that, even if all cuts are made as demanded, the film would still receive a restrictive adults-only ‘18+’ rating."
In a press release, director Hammad Khan stated “The censor board’s verdict is oppressive, arbitrary and steeped in denial about life outside their government offices. Maybe the establishment’s view is that young Pakistanis saying words like 'Taliban' and 'Lesbian' represent a more potent threat than the bullets and bombs that are, day by day, finding increasing legitimacy in the country.”
Members of the Slackistan cast have publicly expressed their disagreement with the CBFC's decision. “This objection honestly reinforces the feeling of being voiceless that seems to be lingering in the country these days. We really are stripped of our basic right to express ourselves,” actress Shahana Khan Khalil said. “I also find it highly hypocritical for our cinemas to be allowed to show both Hollywood and Bollywood films that depict everything and a lot more are never banned by the censor board.” Actor Shahbaz Shigri said, “We [in Pakistan] haven’t developed the ability to scrutinize ourselves. We point fingers at others rather than correcting ourselves. We don’t laugh at ourselves. This limits our film industry and young film makers that will never get through to the right channels.”
The CBFC's own website states that it prevents the public exhibition of films that break certain vague rules, which include "giving offense to any section of the public or injured the feelings of any class of persons" or "ridiculing, disparaging or attacking any religious sect caste and creed."
Music
The original soundtrack consists of music by The KominasThe Kominas
The Kominas are a Pakistani-American Desi punk rock band from New York City. The band currently includes Basim Usmani , Imran Ali Malik , Hassan Ali Malik and Abdullah Saeed .- History :...
, Mole, Zerobridge
Zerobridge
Zerobridge is a New York-based indie alternative/rock band formed in 2001. The band’s name draws on the Kashmiri roots of lead singer Mubashir Mohi-ud-Din , and his brother, Mohsin . The band is named after an actual bridge in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. Greg Eckelman joined in on bass in 2003...
and others. An official tracklist is yet to be announced.