Jeest
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DAILY TIMES
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Pakistanis may see Indian ‘Sohni Mahiwal’ on big screen
* Federal Film Censor Board passes film despite a recent govt statement ruling out screening of Indian films in Pakistan until settlement of all political issues with India
By Shoaib Ahmed
LAHORE: The Federal Film Censor Board has passed an Indian film for screening in Pakistan in a long awaited decision, federal Culture Ministry sources told Daily Times on Saturday.
Censor Board Chairman Ziauddin Khattak, however, said that ‘Legend of Love’, a joint production between India and USSR, was yet to be passed by the censor board. He said a decision about the screening of the film in Pakistan would be made in the next two days. “A major part of the film has been produced by India,” the chairman said, adding that there were 60 percent chances of the approval.
The film was presented to the Federal Film Censor Board three years ago and the case had since been pending.
‘Legend of Love’, also known as Sohni Mahiwal, featuring Indian artists Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon, was produced in 1984. It was written by Shanti Prakash Bakhshi and directed by Latif Faiziye and Umesh Mehra. Other prominent actors featured in the film are Pran, Tanuja, Gulshan Grover, Zeenat Aman and Shammi Kapoor.
The federal Culture Ministry had said last year that screening of Indian films would not be allowed until all unsettled issues with India are solved. Former federal additional culture secretary Zafar Ahmed said in 2004 that Pakistani cinemas were likely to be allowed to screen Indian films. He said a summary would be sent to the cabinet in this regard, with comments from four ministries, adding that the Culture Ministry had given a favourable comment. Censor Board Chairman Ziauddin had said last year that the Indian film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ might be screened in Pakistan.
In a recent statement, State Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said, “There is no question of screening Indian films in Pakistan until all political issues with India are settled, including the fundamental issue of Kashmir.” The Film Exhibitors Association of Pakistan has however been demanding permission to exhibit Indian films to save the industry, which was deteriorating because of various reasons including shortage of new actors and cable television.
Cinema Owners’ Association and Film Producers’ Association delegations met government officials in Islamabad last year with a proposal to exchange five Pakistan films with five Indian films. The delegations said they would pay 150 percent of the entertainment tax if the government banned Indian movies on cable television and allowed five Indian films to be screened in Pakistani cinemas. They said that the government could earn Rs 300 to 500 million annually from Punjab alone. The delegation submitted a summary of the proposal to Prime Minister’s secretariat.
sheeenaa
Age: 124
6868 days old here
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why old movie ...they should let new movies ....indian movies means more money for exhibitors which translates into better theatres and stuff...and a general culture of movies. its highly unlikely in pakistan though cause someone or other would stop it citing cultural onslaught. its high time pakistan stops watching all this pirated sh*t. i was reading somewhere that pakistan has just about 89 theatres left . compare that to about 13,000 in India and pretty much all of them are dolby and Dts . besides these there are about 300 multiplexes. movies is an evolving culture and i dont think pakistan would have it cause it means there has to be an economic, social , political, socieiteal and artistic ambience where families go out and have an enjoyable day at the multiplexes. pakistan being a restrictive society , it ll be dificult to establish a fun and frolic artistic enviornment. anyways ..sohni mahiwaal is an awesome movie , old though. sunny looks gorgeous and the movie is quite captivating. regarding the exchange of indian and pakistani movies the reality is that noone would see a pakistani movie when the colossus big budgeted bollywood blockbuster movies are playing so pakistani movies wont run in India or anywhere in the world unless you make movies true to your culture and society. Indian audiences are a very pampered and spoiled lot getting entertainment from all over the world . the society has a culture of arts and entertainment and we absorb about 1000 Indian movies and about 500 Hollywood movies a year besides a multitude of film festivals where cinema from all over the world is celebrated. millions go to movies everyday and the statistic is that an average indian goes to the cinemas about 25 times a year. pakistani movies dont stand a chance in the mainstream cinema . but you could make some artistic movies and play them for people who are interested in that kind of cinema.
