Indian Punjabi film 'Ambarsariya' banned in Pakistan

Karachi: The release of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Punjabi film "Ambarsariya" has been blocked in Pakistan by its censor board allegedly for its focus on India's intelligence agency RAW.

The film was initially viewed by a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) panel that had voted against the movie.

Following the panel's decision, the distributors appealed for another review by the full board but it still failed to get a clearance, reported Express Tribune quoting CBFC chairman Mobasher Hasan.

"The movie makes strong references to India's spy agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), which is why the panel decided against it. "Even the full board did not clear the movie due to which its release in Pakistan has been blocked," said Hasan.

When asked whether "Ambarsariya" would have been fit for release in the country if the references to RAW had been edited out, Hasan said, "That would not be possible since the movie is primarily about RAW and the editing would have affected its story."

Hasan denied that the ban had anything to do with the movie's anti-Pakistan references and said the release was stopped "because it focuses on RAW." The movie has also got similar verdicts from the Punjab Board of Film Certification (PBFC) and Sindh Board of Film Certification (SBFC).