Pakistani director, Jami, won the ‘Best Film’ LSA for his movie ‘Moor’. The film was released back in 2015, and Jami received his award in 2016.
Jami’s LSA win is being talked about again, because of major controversy surrounding this year’s awards
Jami took his award, and he placed in on the streets of Karachi. The main reason that this year’s awards have been marred by controversy is that the LSAs have nominated someone who has been accused of sexual harassment.
Lux Award for Best film Moor is now on the road outside my gate. We believe and stand by our Women stories! @Unilever @LeenaNairHR pic.twitter.com/lUwJUmaXq0
— jami (@jamiazaad) April 24, 2019
People have been applauding Jami for his move.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA that's what Lux — & Unilever — deserve, being hypocrital capitalists jumping on #MeToo movement last year and nominating an alleged sexual harasser this year. https://t.co/e0ZyMfOhHy
— हसीम • Haseem • حسیم 🏳️🌈 (@haseemuzzaman) April 24, 2019
Holy mother of FUCKING fuck
Jami just SHOWED UNILEVER the biggest fattest finger imaginable
Wow https://t.co/S3sljXKEdl— Anas Saleem (@dakraziest) April 24, 2019
asddfgjkdl i love this https://t.co/6Tuwrqu2Zi
— Faizan. (@merabichrayaar) April 24, 2019
This award is huge for Jami, given how much ‘Moor’ means to him.
Boss ap ny 5 saal lgay Moor bnany main…your this step matters a lot!
— QAIS ALI (@QAISALI12) April 24, 2019
While a lot of appreciated the gesture, there were some who questioned his method of protesting.
As much as I appreciate your stan for right but this is disrespecting to your work. You could have politely return it. Moor was a good movie with utmost hard work of many behind. This is like disrespecting them. There are other ways to show your protest. https://t.co/9yt1M34G5E
— Saba (@ssabasays) April 24, 2019
Now, this is insulting. You had received it 4 ur work. I totally get the point why people are taking their nomination back but putting ur previously won awards on road is not only insulting to award but to ur work too. you could have sent it back to their office instead.
— Tehreem Azeem (@tehreemazeem) April 24, 2019
Some people took this as a tirade against the entertainment industry.
When it was fashionable to get the award you accepted it, when its fashionable to reject the award you threw it. Fact is your whole industry is shit and has always protected predators. Its not something suddenly dawning upon y'all. https://t.co/I9EMFjLiDP
— Waqas (@waqas_x) April 24, 2019
For some, the solution to this issue is simple!
Jami addressing the LSAs like this is not isolated. Ever since the news broke, many people online and within the industry have raised concerns.
It all began with model Eman Suleman asking for her nomination to be removed. For her, she wanted to distance herself from a platform that had nominated Ali Zafar.
For about a month, these discussions had died down until fashion brand, Generation and makeup artist Saima Bargfrede followed suit and asked to have their nominations removed.
This is a major development considering that both are major names within the industry.
Meesha Shafi has also asked for her nomination to be removed.
Meesah Shafi’s statement mixed in with Generation’s has started a snowball effect.
To all concerned. #LSA2019 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/nfoHUlTf4W
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) April 23, 2019
Since then, music group ‘The Sketches’ have also chosen to remove themselves from the awards.
The band was nominated under 4 categories!
The Sketches has unanimously decided to withdraw from all the nominated categories of Lux Style Awards 2019.We hold no personal grudges or biasness against LUX and it's attendees. With this, we thank all those who voted for us or intended to do #LSA2019 #TheSketches #iBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/j89bJ7el7E
— The Sketches (@sketchesart) April 23, 2019
Further news has also come in that another makeup artist, Fatima Nasir has also pulled out.
This particular pullout means that there are now NO more female nominees in the Hair and Makeup category.
The Hair & Makeup category now has NO female nominees.
— Faizan. (@merabichrayaar) April 24, 2019
Jami also posted an important update about the award he left on the street.
As it stands right now, 6 LSA nominees have removed themselves from the award. We have reached out to the organizers of the LSAs for comment, but are yet to receive word from them.
The awards are scheduled to happen on the 7th of July 2019. It remains to be seen if more nominees pull out of the awards. These developments have set a very serious tone to the upcoming awards and it is yet to be seen how Unilever and Lux will respond to them.
Fawad Khan Made A Fan’s Dream Come True And It Is The Sweetest Thing On The Internet Today
Alia Bhatt Talks Candidly About Her Recent Flop, ‘Kalank, And This Is The Honesty We Need To See More Of
Cover image via: Harris Javaid / tribune.com.pk