PremiumJoyland on OTT - When, where to watch the award-winning Pakistani queer film
Joyland, the award-winning Pakistani film helmed by Saim Sadiq, will soon be available to stream in India
Last Updated: 06.01 PM, Nov 25, 2023
Joyland, the critically acclaimed Pakistani film, will soon be available to stream on OTT in India. Those who want to watch this film can do so on the OTT platform Mubi India, starting December 1. This feature film debut by director Saim Sadiq is the first Pakistani movie to receive the Jury Prize and the Queer Palm at Cannes. Joyland was released in India on March 10 and became the first Pakistani film to be released in India in over a decade, after Shoaib Mansoor's Bol.
Joyland will be available to stream on Mubi India
The queer film is set to release in Mubi India, from December 1. Apart from Ali and Alina, who played the lead characters, the film also stars Sania Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Rasti Farooq, Salman Peerzada, and Sohail Samir in pivotal roles. Actor-director Riz Ahmed, along with Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, served as the executive producers for the film.
Joyland’s plot
The film revolves around Haider, a young man from a conservative family who is employed as a replacement for a female dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque night club. Family life, sex and gender roles in an oppressive environment are among the key issues discussed in the movie. Critics and viewers praised the film for being among the most daring and well-rounded depictions of the LGBTQIA+ community in Pakistan. Joyland aims to defy stereotypes and tear down barriers while being a lovely romance drama.
Critical acclaim for Joyland
The film was initially banned in theatres in Pakistan for its content but was approved to be released after minor cuts. It premiered in Pakistan in November 2022 to a positive reception from critics. Joyland was selected as Pakistan's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, becoming the first Pakistani film to be shortlisted in that category.
Speaking about his film, Sadiq told Variety, “My amazing cast has given the characters of Joyland a kind of empathy and humanity that a filmmaker can only hope for. I am thrilled for the world to experience their magic.”