Joyland, an Urdu film, made a significant impact as the first Pakistani movie to be nominated for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. However, despite the nomination, the film didn’t advance to the finals. Additionally, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting of Pakistan imposed a ban on its theatrical release. Eventually, after undergoing minor edits and modifications, the movie was finally released in Pakistan on November 18, 2022.
The film also had a theatrical release in India on March 10 of the same year, thanks to the distribution efforts by PVR Cinemas. Now, the much-anticipated digital release of the film is scheduled for tomorrow, exclusively on BookMyShow’s Stream platform. To watch this controversial and banned movie, viewers will need to pay a rental fee of Rs. 179. The film will be available with Urdu audio and English subtitles.
Joyland holds the prestigious distinction of being Pakistan’s first movie to premiere at the renowned Cannes Film Festival. With an exceptional cast including Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, and Salmaan Peerzada in prominent roles, the film marks the directorial debut of Saim Sadiq.
It has garnered critical acclaim during premieres at various film festivals, further solidifying its significance in the Pakistani film industry. We have to wait and see how the OTT viewers will react to this critically acclaimed film.
