The latest Bollywood thriller Lamhaa (The Untold Story of Kashmir) has been banned in the Middle East raising concerns about free speech in the region. Here is a list of films banned in some Muslim countries over the last few years. Just like books, films are often banned in Muslim-majority countries, but you can get a bootlegged copy just about anywhere. I was in Morocco a few weeks ago and I could buy any film I wanted banned or not, already on DVD or still playing in U.S. theaters. Government censorship in these countries is so 20th century and the censors only hype up films by banning them. I'm sure many people will be asking for Lamhaa in the black market and over the Internet! I haven't watched Lamhaa yet (film was released earlier this week) and so can't offer any first impressions, but that's beside the point. People should be free to choose what they wish to watch and read, and banning only makes people want to see more. 


Bollywood Film, Lamhaa