Bollywood films cross the LoC
Hindol Sengupta
http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=4168§ion_id=8
CNN-IBN
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Mumbai: It is now official. Indian films can be screened in Pakistani cinema halls.
Banned for four decades, Bollywood films will finally be allowed to cross the border to Pakistan thanks to a move by the Pakistan Film Producers’ Association to remove the ban on Indian films.
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In 1965, the year Pakistan fought with India, Pakistan banned Indian films in the country.
The lifting of the ban means no longer will Pakistani theatres be closed to Indian films. The move is going to open the floodgates for showing Bollywood films in Pakistan.
After the news came that his 1985 film Soni Mahiwal could be the first Indian film to be officially screened in Pakistan, a delighted producer-director Umesh Mehra sits down to watch the film.
The Pakistan Censor Board has reportedly removed the words ‘Indian’ and ‘Indian artiste’ from its guidelines and Mehra echoes many in the Hindi cinema industry that their almost eternal dream has now been fulfilled.
“I am very thrilled about it. It is very important, like for my father and us, because basically the family comes from Peshawar and so, it is like a big thing. I’ve never seen Pakistan or Peshawar. But it’s a really good thing that you are going to be taking back something that you have done and going to the place where your forefathers are from,” says Umesh Mehra, film producer and director.
The screening of Soni Mahiwal could completely change the cultural ties between India and Pakistan. For 40 years, millions have watched pirated Hindi films in their homes while the the Pakistani government steadfastly refused to allow theatrical screenings. The move could also boost the teetering Pakistani film industry.
Film maker Mahesh Bhatt feels this is a desperate appeal for help. It will certainly save Pakistani film industry, which is on the verge of extinction. They are unhesitatingly reaching out to us and saying we need a life support system," he said.
Mahesh Bhatt tried an Indo-Pak co-production with Nazar and for filmmakers keen on such tie-ups, the news will definitely be a huge boost. In fact, Bhatt has three more co-productions lined up worth around Rs 15 crores.