Lagaan in Kabul

Entertainment Showbiz Pakistan , Bollywood & World Entertainment
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India wields Lagaan in new Great Game

Besides the normal medicine and doctors, the second Indian government relief flight that arrived here in Kabul on Wednesday morning included several cartons of Hindi film videos and music cassettes. Among them, pride of place was reserved for Lagaan.
The Il-76 transport aircraft carried a delegation headed by India’s special Afghan envoy, Satinder Lambah, and the Afghan interior minister, Yunus Qanooni.

The plane went back to New Delhi the same day. But in Qanooni’s place it carried the suave Afghan Foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah.

Lambah spent his few hours in Kabul meeting some Afghan Sikhs and the Afghan Defence Minister, Muhammad Fahim.

Hindi films are proving to be India’s most popular ambassadors-at-large. The embassy-to-be here rang up New Delhi and begged for Lagaan tapes to be sent. Officials say some videos and cassettes are being passed on to local television.

Video parlours and music shops opened their doors within days of the Taliban fleeing Kabul. The only rival to the posters of Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan that festoon the city are portraits of the slain mujahid, Ahmad Shah Masood.

No one knows how Bollywood products make it here. “They are mostly smuggled,” admits an Afghan official. That’s definitely the case with Lagaan — official videotapes or DVDs are yet to be released.

Not that anyone cares. “Who is going to come all the way to Afghanistan to catch us showing and selling Lagaan videos?” asks a Kabul shopowner. Not New Delhi, which bent Indian copyright rules to get a cultural edge in the new Great Game.

And not Aamir Khan. When contacted, he said: “I’m really happy to know Lagaan is so much in demand in Afghanistan… if Lagaan is one of the first films Afghans are keen on seeing, well, I’m thrilled.” He added, “The interest the film has generated is in keeping with its universal theme — the triumph of the human spirit.”

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See here we go...In another thread I've been trying to make a point of the importance of improving the paki film industry. Here's a perfect illustration why. The northern alliance is already anti-paki. The influence of entertainment upon society and politics is immense. And film is probably the easiest way of brainwashing an audience.

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well instead of grumbling and envying the popularity of indian movies pakistanis must mkae thier own dramas and movies popular in afghanistan. Infact pakistan have a advantage because of the same culture and religion which should work in pakistans favour they need to make movies which appeal all .
and there is another factor which pakistan can use to thier advantage i heard that crickey is gaining a lot of popularity among the afghans .well pakistanis can start a cricket diplomacy and surely pakistani cricketers will be as popular as any indian film star among afghans

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Bollywood crazy Afghans go gaga over Hindi movies

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Kabul, Dec 13 After nearly two decades of fighting, people on the busy streets of this city, who cowered under the strict edicts of Taliban, are now baring their love for movies from the Bollywood.

As you meet anybody on the streets, the first question they put to is: "are you from Hindustan (India) or Pakistan?"

And on hearing your reply, his most likely remark would be, "I knew you could not have been from Pakistan. Apart from being good people, you produce good movies, lovely ones".

Ask him what is so wrong with Pakistani movies and you are sure to be deluged with heaps of praise for the Bollywood movies which have a huge fan following here.

"Hindi movies are really fantastic. The songs are nice, the stories are good. The heroes are manly and the heroines are beautiful," said Jamshed, who is trying to restart his business of exporting carpets to Western countries.

The storylines in the Hindi movies are far superior to those from Pakistan, says Naqvi, a doctor working with an NGO, who is trying to go abroad for a specialisation in surgery.

"Many a storyline of the Hindi movies have been lifted by Pakistani film makers," he added.

"Before the Taliban came, we used to have premiers of Hindi movies here at Kabul. You understand? Premier - the movies used to be released simultaneously in India as well as Kabul," says Latifi, a local businessman.

It comes as no wonder then that the Indian Government "gifted" several cassettes of Hindi movies along with the aid material which was brought here yesterday by special envoy S K Lambah.

The bulk of the cassettes that were brought with the aid were of the movies 'Lagaan', 'Gadar', 'Dil Chahta Hai' and 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai'.

One gets a queer feeling walking on the pavements of the busy marketplaces. Almost all the shops, except those for groceries and food, sport posters of a Hindi movie actor or an actress. And for a moment, one is confused as to whether one is in Mumbai or in Kabul.

So how on earth did they suppress their love for the movies for such a long time under Taliban?

"One had to. For the Taliban were so cruel and strict that if one was found watching a movie, he was sure to spend the next few months in prison", says Usman Abdullah, a cassette shop owner.

But now that the Taliban are dead, the fear is gone

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Well, The whole point of Pakistan is that it is not India

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So it is rather too late in the day to make ‘Indian Like’ films. That means admitting their Indian heritage!!
Watch Indian Films yes. Just like they watch Hollywood films.
I think Pakistan should make Pakistani films.
If the Afghans don’t watch them, too bad

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Anyway there are some great Bollywood movies from Yesteryears any body should watch and I wish Afghans will catch up with them.
Since they are our friends let’s give them our best!!

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Andrah, every sec. word of your post is Pak. if you are so worried about Pak then just simply join us

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Get converted you know what is waiting for you…

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*“na maiN momin vich masiitaaN, na maiN muusaa, na fir’aun!”
*

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just a small querry, ali, is it necessary to convert to join pakistan. that is unlike even arab countries. secondly, biharis in bagladesh converted long ago and are waiting to get in pakistan.

take care, folks.

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Andhra/ZZ
..u two guys if ur not the same person amzes me.. ur love-hate elationship with Pakistan has no parallel.. u always remind us of our faults.. u devote so much time in finding wuz happening in Pak.. is un-matched..

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Don't flatter yourself Degas.
Somebody wassaying Pakistan cpould make similar movies to India because of 'same language and culture'.
And I was pointing out the contradictions insuch a thought.
After all the movies are very reflective of society.
Like Russians make Russian movies, French make French movies, Indians make Infdian movies etc.,
As for conversion don't worry. I will never convert to a religion where it is compulsory to grow beards and pray five times a day, apart from other restrictions.
I will be a hypocrite if I convert and do not follow the rules of the religion.

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The conversion ideology can only ANDRAH understand. Tume nahi samaj aye gi, na sarr kapaou ZZs Andrah

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*“na maiN momin vich masiitaaN, na maiN muusaa, na fir’aun!”
*

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[quote]
Originally posted by Andhra:
Don't flatter yourself Degas.
Somebody wassaying Pakistan cpould make similar movies to India because of 'same language and culture'.
And I was pointing out the contradictions insuch a thought.
After all the movies are very reflective of society.
Like Russians make Russian movies, French make French movies, Indians make Infdian movies etc.,
As for conversion don't worry. I will never convert to a religion where it is compulsory to grow beards and pray five times a day, apart from other restrictions.
I will be a hypocrite if I convert and do not follow the rules of the religion.

[/quote]

Which religion are you talking about Sikhism?

“na maiN* momin vich masiitaa*N, na maiN* muusaa, na fir'aun!”
*

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Nope. If you want to know which religion I am talking about, ask the nearest Talib

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The nearest choor with darri was in India recently shaking hands with Vegee, you remember his name? Start with A like yours

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*“na maiN momin vich masiitaaN, na maiN muusaa, na fir’aun!”
*

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Let’s stick to Movies in this forum.
If you want to vent your frustration on the improving Afghan-Indian relations, I suggest World Affairs Forum

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Gadar is also being shown in Afghanistan and is believed to have become very popular.

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Glad to know other Indian movies are making a hit too.
A dose of Bollywood movies is good. Afghans no doubt want to realx and forget the miseries they have gone through because of all these foreigners.
India should give Afghanistan a kinda Bollywood aid. Give them all the old goldies.
Rak Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh, Dhrmendra etc.,
It should send some of the stars over

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