Oscar-winning filmmaker denies charges of acid-attack victim

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the Pakistan’s only Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker denied all the charges leveled against her by one of victims whose narrative was recorded in her documentary, saying that she didn’t offer any compensation to acid-attack survivor.

Rukhsana while talking to the media claimed that the Oscar-winning lady didn’t fulfill her promises of providing financial compensation against her narrative in the movie.

The acid-survivor filed a case against Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, claiming that the latter offered her compensation and financial benefits which motivated her to appear in the documentary, but the filmmaker didn’t accomplish her promises once the movie was released and won the prizes.

Rukhsana stated in her plea, “Chinoy promised her a five-marla (126 square-metre) house, Rs3, 000,000 and plastic surgery in compensation for her role in the film. Rukhsana also claimed to have been thrown out of her house for working in the movie and is forced to live a nomadic life with her children”.

In her message on social website Twitter, Chinoy said made it clear that a donor, who saw the documentary, offered the acid victim, Rukhsana, a house and she event around choosing houses.

She stated that family of victim, however, did not let Rukhsana to accept the option. She further said that the donor was not ready to give her cash in place of a house fearing risks for the victim lady.

The filmmaker, however, said the family of Rukhsana insisted she take cash instead of a house. In her view, these were the reasons the donor did not fulfill his commitment.

Chinoy tweeted, “The plastic surgeon involved in the film Dr Mohammad Jawwad came to Pakistan to perform surgeries on Rukhsana and Zakia — the latter being the primary subject of the movie. While Zakia agreed to the surgery and was operated upon, Rukhsana turned down the offer”.

She further said that the other characters of documentary never appeared with any allegations similar to those of the other victim and has been approached by various donors.

Replying to a query, the Karachi-based filmmaker said that her company has reserved the airing rights of Saving Face in Pakistan as Rukhsana through ASF had signed a consent form.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=27506

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jun 29 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.