Indo-Pak first: ppp

Indo-Pak first

ASHA SINGH

Maverick Pakistani filmmaker Mubasher Lucman has scored a historical first by pulling off the first Indo-Pakistan joint venture, Pehla Pehla Pyar. With top Pakistani stars Resham and Zara in the leads, the film has been shot entirely on location in India with an all-Indian crew.

“It is a romantic social in the tradition of typical triangular love stories popular in the subcontinent,” says the former producer of several popular Pakistani sitcoms. “My only objective was to prove that films can be the most powerful medium to cement ties between our two countries.”

Predictably, there had been a great deal of opposition from Islamabad and Delhi when Lucman launched the film two years ago. Hostility between both governments had reached its peak with the suspension of air, road and railway links, withdrawal of diplomatic staff and the fear of impending war.

To add to his woes, Lucman became the target of a hate campaign launched by the Pakistan media. “One of the main reasons why I encountered so much opposition was that people felt that after I, every producer and director would run to India and as a result, hundreds of technicians would be out of jobs.”

But the only thing that kept him going was the belief at heart that common Indian and Pakistani folk were anxious to reach out to their brethren across the border. “Even an anti-Pakistan film like Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, sold very well in Pakistan, though in the underground market,” he informs.

In India too, Lucman faced much opposition as his crew became suspicious of his motives and wondered if they would be paid. The customs held back his camera and he arranged to pay a Thai company to stand guarantee for him. Then music tunes had to be relayed over telephone and couriers had to be sent to Dubai and then Pakistan to take delivery of exposed stock.

But the effort has been worth the while. “This is just the beginning,” says the successful filmmaker. “In Mumbai, Mahesh Bhatt and Anil Sharma are in touch with me, wanting to make films in Pakistan. We should get together to make films on a regular basis because there’s a whole new market waiting there.”

(Maharaja Features)