Pakistan open to Bollywood films

NASIR JAFFRY

Islamabad, Jan. 23: If Mughal-e-Azam was the last Indian film screened in Pakistani cinemas, Jodhaa Akbar could well be the next.

Pakistan’s parliamentary committee on culture yesterday gave its go-ahead to lift the four-decade ban on Hindi films in the country.

“It should be done in a manner which may promote healthy competition at home and without harming our religious and cultural norms and values,” the standing committee headed by Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry said.

The final decision on lifting the ban imposed after the 1965 war rests with the cabinet. Although President Pervez Musharraf — a self-confessed Rani Mukerji fan — does not have a role, nothing stops him from prodding the government to act fast. The Senate committee asked the government to take all stakeholders into confidence before deciding.

Musharraf had made an exception to allow the release of the all-colour Mughal-e-Azam in 2006 in Pakistani cinemas. Another film, Taj Mahal, was also released but that had a Pakistani actress in the lead role.

Leading film producers and promoters in Pakistan have demanded exhibition of Indian movies to help revive the domestic film industry, which is going through one of its worst recessions. The number of cinemas has shrunk to less than 100 from over 300 in the early 1970s, with most converted into malls, godowns and hospitals.

“The ban has practically become ineffective as these movies are being viewed uncensored in almost every household,” the committee said.

The latest Hindi films are shown on cable television within a week of their release in India, and smuggled DVDs are also freely available. Jab We Met was a big hit with the audiences here, making Kareena Kapoor the hot favourite, and Taare Zameen Par has struck a chord with the kids.

A senior culture ministry official said a summary had been prepared for the Prime Minister, recommending import of Hindi films against export of an equal number of Pakistani films to India.

“Exhibitors, producers and directors may be allowed to enter this trade, which will be advertised widely through the media on first come first serve basis,” the official said. An individual who exports a Pakistani film will be allowed to import an Indian movie within three months on the production of two documents: a certificate from the Indian Censor Board and another from the Exhibitors’ Association saying the film was released in India.

If the government takes a decision within the next few weeks, Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar, due for release on February 15, could benefit.

Pakistani producers should try to sell their films in India, the committee said, adding that a market exists for good Punjabi and Urdu films across the border.

While it rejected the local film industry’s argument that lack of official patronage was the sole reason for its sorry state, the committee did call for incentives to help it revive.

“Good and entertaining movies are still doing flourishing business as proved recently by the Urdu film Khuda Kay Liye,” Chaudhry said.

The local film industry must come up with innovative story lines and good subjects and improve its technical expertise to compete with Hindi films if they are allowed, he added.

	Quote:
	Pervez Musharraf — a self-confessed Rani Mukerji fan

i didnt know it.....cool president....hamare PM and president kitne khusat hai...agar koi movie dekhte honge,tab bhi they wont tell...Unhe apni party se pyari koi movie nahi hai.........

Bt they see cricket matches...

Jodhaa Akbar is delayed to 15th feb...i thought it ll come on 25th jan.its expected to be a big hit..

Jab We Met:it was nice movie ,clean and entertaining,punjabi style and decent songs..

Taare Zameen Par :Every child is special....Good for painters and artists.....lOl......

Khuda Kay Liye:I heard movie is good ...but it was initially banned in india coz of some protests by islamic group..later it was released..Good story..and Nasuriddin shah was perfect in its few minutes role....

	Quote:
	Pakistan’s parliamentary committee on culture yesterday gave its go-ahead to lift the four-decade ban on Hindi films in the country.

A very peaceful and intelligent move by PEMRA and parliamentary committee to lift the ban.

it will also help lolywood to compete with bollwood and we can have many movies with collabration.........

In the end a positive move by govt of pakistan...

Amir Mir / PTI
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:19 IST

ISLAMABAD: Bollywood is set to make a comeback in Pakistan movie halls after a break of over four decades.

The upper house of the Pakistani parliament has recommended that the federal cabinet lift the ban on screening of Indian movies (Hindi cinema in this case) in cinema halls across the country. This, it believes, is the only way to revive the local film industry, which is largely comatose.

The ban on screening Indian films was imposed in September 1965 during the war between the two nations.

According to Enwer Beg, member of the senate’s standing committee on culture, the ban is likely to be lifted before the general elections. The rationale possibly stems from the fact that it is easier for a caretaker government to take such a sensitive step.

Beg said the move to lift the ban was a “unanimous decision” by the seven-member committee comprising parliamentarians from the PPP, PML-Q and PML-N. “The cabinet is duty-bound to consider our recommendation,” he added.

The senate believed said that screening of Bollywood films would help the government collecting millions of rupees in taxes besides ensuring the revival of its own dying industry.

“Pakistan had 1,300 cinema halls in the 1970s, feasting on nearly 300 movies annually. Today, there are barely 275 halls with most converted into gas stations, shopping malls or car showrooms,” the senate committee on culture said.

The film producers and cinema owners associations have been arguing that screening Bollywood films must be made legal and that they should be allowed to distribute and exhibit them.

Beg said the move to lift the ban was a “unanimous decision” by the seven-member committee comprising parliamentarians from the PPP, PML-Q and PML-N. “The cabinet is duty-bound to consider our recommendation,” he added.

no way

Nothinig wrong with allowing bollywood movies no body makes anyone to watch movies, if you want to watch them.., its ok,and if you dont want to watch them, its ok too......I Think most Pakistani people are worried about, way too much exposuer of body, but they can edit or blurr those scenes.....

Plus i think they should allow just limited movies, not all of them, By limited I mean just the movies which has good actors in them, Which are well known to Pakistanis, like SRK, Salman Khan, Amir Khan and Akshey, Anil Kapoor, John Ab, Etc..Including Good Actreses..