So, we all know about the ‘Veere Ki Wedding’ ban in Pakistan by now. If you didn’t already, well you do now. The movie was deemed ‘vulgar’ and therefore threatening the morality of Pakistani society. People were obviously furious, especially since the film was highly anticipated.
After the movie released yesterday, a video of one of the actresses in the movie, Swara Bhasker, emerged on social media. The cast of the movie sat down with Rajeev Masand for an interview, and Masand asked Bhaskar how she felt about the movie’s ban in Pakistan.
Swara tou phat pari.
Now, it’s understandable for an actor to be upset that their movie got banned, however, what Swara went on to say was pretty disturbing. In as many few words as possible, she said that:
A. Pakistan is run by Sharia law
B. Pakistan is a ‘failed state’.
C. The Indian Film Industry needs to stop giving a damn about what we do with regards to Bollywood movies and talent from India.
D. Pakistan is non-secular
WOW
A failed state? REALLY? Yes, we aren’t perfect, and nobody is. I would be okay (not really, lekin phir bhi, let’s go with the flow) if a white man who never traveled outside his city would call us a failed state because well, he doesn’t know any better. BUT Swara, we’re next door neighbors! You’ve actually even been here once.
You would really have to have no signs of governance, or institutions to be a failed state. I agree that things aren’t that great, but heck, we haven’t gone that far yet, and hopefully, never will.
Pakistanis took to Twitter to express their shock, disgust and general confusion about all this:
the pakistan bit during the interview was really weird, swara got really heated…
— ✨ (@masakaali) June 2, 2018
People were generally put off by her comments
Swara’s comments about Pakistan really irritate me. Her interviews always annoy me because she doesn’t really seem like she’s well educated about the topics she seems to preach about.
— Sofia (@SofiaSaghir) June 2, 2018
Pakistani are really NOT happy at all
" I can rest assure you that Pakistani's have way worse vocabulary than we do" – "@ReallySwara. Seems like Swara Bhasker has done a PhD on Pakistan and Pakistani's. I'm Pakistani and my language is not even near as bad as yours. SO PLEASEEEEEEEEE.
— Anita Malik (@anita9218) June 2, 2018
Support for the movie seems to be dwindling
Just saw Swara the-almost-failed-actress Bhaskar’s take on Pakistan and boy am I glad Veere Di Wedding was banned here
— Areebah (@areebah21) June 2, 2018
There were sarcastic voices from across the border!
Can’t believe it. Pakistan bans its daughter’s first big banner flick, Veere Di Wedding. It’s so ironic that Swara is ashamed of Hindustan and Pakistan is ashamed of her. I guess, Sangh called the Pakistan censor board up. Sab mile hue hain ji. https://t.co/MdGWj0wvpk
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) May 30, 2018
However, the best tweet came from this person who really took her ‘argument’ by the horns
Dear @ReallySwara.
Pakistan is not run by Shariah law.
I’m amazed that a vocal woman such as yourself doesn’t understand what Pakistan is.
We were the SAME country 7 decades ago & we’ve been neighbors since. And you still don’t know the first thing about it.
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) June 2, 2018
It’s just terrible & sad and & disappointing that educated, intelligent people in India have such a ridiculous Homeland-y view of Pakistan. Our women are ministers, rockstars, politicians, writers, athletes, scientists, Oscar-winners & Nobel Laureates.
Please read up.
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) June 2, 2018
The rhetoric with regards to the arts has always been the same, let ideas and creative processes flow freely between the two countries. This is how we get to know each other and grow up people. Yes, it’s terribly unfortunate that the film was banned, HOWEVER, that does not give anyone the right to insult a country in this manner. Personally, I watched the video so many times to understand what she’s saying and why, but each time I just felt like she was going off on a rant and that just makes it worse.
Film, music, and art need to be their own thing, outside the ambit of politics. This statement by Swara has only increased the rhetoric of hatred against India and Indian films. We need art to get closer. We cannot and should not use art as a shield to attack one another- EVER.
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Cover Photo Courtesy: Clipper 28