Indian filmmaker Nandita Das has been actively campaigning for her film Manto’s release in Pakistan, but the Central Board of Film Censors seems unmoved. Though Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain took notice of the situation and promised to pursue importers to bring the movie to Pakistan, no concrete outcome has come into sight, yet.
It seems like Nandita’s Manto will not see the light of the day in Pakistan. On the other hand, Twitter is embroiled in a debate on whether Nandita Das’ Manto or Sarmad’s version is better, which prompted Nandita to respond.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sarmad Khoosat playing Manto in their respective films
“The last thing we want to do to #Manto and his legacy is to make it India vs Pakistan or Indian Manto vs Pakistani Manto or Sarmad Khoosat vs Nawazuddin Siddiqui. In fact I feel there should be many Mantos. More the merrier!†she wrote on Facebook.
The filmmaker also posted a throwback photo with Sarmad and Sania Saeed recalling the time when she and Sarmad discussed their perspectives of making Manto.
https://www.facebook.com/Nanditadas.com/posts/2679726795401006
“I am very happy that two films, featuring different times in his life have come to us. I am sure, so is Sarmad. We both have had the pleasure of sharing our respective perspectives and experiences of making Manto, both in Delhi and Lahore, in 2015 and 2016, before I even shot my film. So let’s not trivialise the conversation. Manto can be by all and for all,†she wrote.
Sarmad too later took to Twitter and said he is equally excited and nervous to watch Nandita’s film on Netflix.
https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1075333266465583105
