Sarmad Khoosat's Zindagi Tamasha is Pakistan 's Oscars submission

Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha is Pakistan ‘s Oscars submission

Sarmad Khoosat’s film Zindagi Tamasha has been selected as Pakistan’s official submission for entry to the 93rd Academy Awards aka Oscars.

The selection was finalized by the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee in the International Film Category for the final list of nominees to be decided by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences next year.

The complete list of the final Oscar Nominees will be announced on 15th March 2021 with he presentation for the 93rd Academy Awards scheduled to take place on the April 25th, 2021.

Kanwal Khoosat, the film’s producer spoke about the selection saying, “Zindagi Tamasha‘s story reflects on regular people and is a poignant snapshot of life, family, the city of Lahore and the different values that people have.

“On set, we felt passionate about working on a story that was representative of a real situation that regular people could face. Real emotions. Real issues.

“The announcement surely proves that we in Pakistan are ready to tell stories close to the heart. We are ready to represent our people. I cannot stop feeling proud of my team. We have worked countless hours to tell a truly Pakistani story. Many thanks to the committee for recognizing our efforts and acknowledging our film.”

The film’s director, Sarmad Khoosat said, “All the heartache that Zindagi Tamasha gave me has somehow restored my faith in the power of art too: the sheer, almost physical power of art to make life imitate it.

“This announcement, for me, is a very bright light shining at the end of this dark tunnel of a year. I made this film in Pakistan and foremost, for Pakistan, for my people and the misfortune that my people have remained deprived of it weighs quite heavy on my artistic conscience.

“Some pride is slowly kicking in though and no matter how far we go with this official selection, Zindagi Tamasha will be representing all of us – our ‘Pakistan’.

I feel honoured on behalf of my entire team and I am extremely grateful to the committee for finding it worthy enough.” said director Sarmad Khoosat.”

About Zindagi Tamasha

Written by Nirmal Bano, Zindagi Tamasha is directed by Sarmad Khoosat and co-produced by his sister Kanwal. The film stars Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz and Ali Kureshi is key roles.

The film is about a devout Muslim who works in Real Estate and takes care of his bedridden wife. The couple has a quiet life until he attends the wedding of his friend’s son where he lets loose and show’s off his dance moves.

Plot

His dance gets recorded and uploaded on social media where it goes viral and ends up being broadcasted on television. The outcome – he is rejected by his friends and his own daughter. The film provides a look into issues of a strict Muslim society and the struggle of an elderly man trying to find his identity.

Zindagi Tamasha Controversy

The film stirred up a lot of controversy in the country and its release was halted after hurting sentiments of a number of people. In short, the film has been a victim of intolerance and misuse of religion card in our society.

The film premiered at the Busan Film Festival, where it was awarded the top fiction prize but never made it to Pakistan which was meant to be its original audience after being labelled as ‘blasphemous’.

Sarmad Khoosat also wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff and the Minister of Information regarding the chaos that ensued in the country regarding the release of the film.