Pakistan bans 'Mulk', director Anubhav Sinha writes an open letter asking Pakistanis to 'watch it illegally'

Mulk starring Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu in pivotal roles was expected to fan a few sentiments considering its plot around Islamophobia but no one anticipated that a neighbouring country would ban its release in totality. 

As the film released in theatres today, Pakistan censor board banned it in the country. Director Anubhav Sinha reacted quite strongly to the news and wrote a letter to the people of Pakistan as he called it:  "A letter to Pakistan. Sorry a question really!!! #MULK in Theaters tomorrow." 

Excerpts from his letter read, "I have recently made a film called MULK. Unfortunately, you will not be able to see it legally as the censor board in your country has banned it from you watching it."

The letter goes on to say: "I remember the day the trailer came out many in India and also many in Pakistan wrote against it. Some in India thought it was pro Muslim and some in Pakistan thought it stereotyped Muslims. Contradictory but true. I kept insisting the film was about LOVE. Love amongst Hindus and Muslims. Now the word is out. The press has seen it and the audience in the UAE too has seen it. It is not pro Muslim or Anti Muslim. Pro Pakistan or Anit Pakistan. It is about love that all of us as individuals should have, amongst us. It is about You. It is about Me. You have Hindus as a minority in your country and we have Muslims as a minority in ours. We all must work towards coexisting in peace and harmony.”

“Here is my question to you. Why is it so that they do NOT want you to see the film that talks about co-existence. I know, sooner or later, you will have access to the film. Please do watch it and give me your opinion WHY DID THE PAKISTAN CENSOR BOARD ban the film," he adds. 

Read the full letter here:

In a statement to PTI, Anubhav stated: "The film has a good intent, it is not a political film in anyway. It is a very social film, about everyone. I knew I wasn't going to take a political side, I wanted to take a human side which can't be wrong or controversial."

Mulk is a hard-hitting courtroom drama. In the film, Taapsee plays a lawyer who fights for justice of Rishi Kapoor’s family that has been labelled anti-national after their son, played by Prateik Babbar goes rogue and is involved in terrorist activities. 

Pakistan recently also banned Veere Di Wedding citing the film has 'vulgar dialogues and obscene scenes'.