LAHORE: One of the most anticipated films of the year, “Barbie” hit theaters worldwide on Friday. However, its release in Punjab was delayed.
Punjab authorities have stopped the screening of the film in theaters across the province due to ‘objectionable content’.
“The film will be scrutinized thoroughly, and censored where deemed necessary,” Punjab Film Censor Board secretary Farrukh Mehmood told JEE News.
He said that the fantasy comedy film starring Margot Robbie as the famous Barbie doll and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Kane will be cleared for release after the review and censoring process is completed.
The board did not specify what content was “objectionable,” or why.
While audiences in the most populous province will have to wait to see “Barbie,” the film was released in the capital Islamabad and Sindh on Friday, where it was cleared by the respective censor boards.
“I have been waiting to see Barbie for months. Nosheen Saad, a resident of Lahore, told JEE News that it does not make sense that it is okay to be shown in Karachi or Islamabad but not in Lahore.
In November, “Joyland” — a Cannes prize-winning film and Pakistan’s entry for the 2023 Oscars — was banned by the government for being “clearly contrary to the decency and morality” of the country.
“Joyland” depicts a Pakistani married man’s relationship with a eunuch.
The film was later cleared by the National Censorship Board after the government ordered a review, but remained banned in Punjab.
