In Standoff With India, Pakistan Gives 35 Millimeters
The New York Times
May 8, 2006
Lahore Journal
By SALMAN MASOOD
LAHORE, Pakistan — The hoopla at the premiere of the Indian movie "Taj Mahal" was a little more frenzied than is usual here, but there was a reason: the event not only celebrated the opening of a new film, it also heralded what might be a gradual thaw in a four-decade cinematic cold war between India and Pakistan.
In late April, movies made in India, Pakistan's neighbor and longtime rival, were shown in Pakistani theaters, which had not happened since 1965. The two films, both approved by the government here, were "Taj Mahal," featuring some of India's newest stars, and "Mughal-e-Azam" (The Great Mughal), released in India 46 years ago and regarded there as a classic that critics refer to as India's "Gone With the Wind."
Both are set in the Mughal era, a period of Muslim rule in the subcontinent that stretched from 1526 to 1707, and are love stories set in the courts of the Mughal rulers.
Although the official ban on showing Indian movies has not been lifted, a nod from the Pakistani president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, opened the way for the screenings, Pakistani officials said.
The officials did not comment on why "Taj Mahal" and "Mughal-e-Azam" were selected. But some people here have suggested that the films were approved for screening because they focus on Muslim history and do not touch on current events.
The decision to show the films "comes as a special gesture by President Musharraf," Syed Jalil Abbas, the culture secretary, said in April.
Fans like Ali Khan, 21, and his friend Sara Khan, 18, giddily welcomed that gesture. On April 26 they stood near the red carpet outside the Plaza Cinema here, where they had come in the hopes of seeing their favorite stars arrive for the premiere of "Taj Mahal."
"It is wonderful," they said, nearly in unison. Ms. Khan, smiling broadly, held up her cellphone to show off photographs she had taken of Sonia Jehan, the film's leading lady, and Fardeen Khan, a heartthrob of the Indian cinema who had accompanied his uncle, Akbar Khan, the director and producer of "Taj Mahal," to its Pakistani premiere.
Pirated DVD's and CD's of Indian movies and music are easily available here, and their stars are household names. The movies, with their catchy songs and glittering dance numbers, are beloved in Pakistan, as they are across much of Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Posters of Indian actresses are plastered across stores here that sell the pirated DVD's, and over the back windows of commuter vans. The movies are in Hindi, easily understood in Pakistan.
Pakistan and India have shared a history of mistrust and antagonism since they were carved out of the British Empire in 1947. The ban on showing Indian movies was put in place when the countries were in the midst of one of three major wars, two of them fought over the still disputed northern region of Kashmir.
But in recent years, signs of warmer relations have emerged. Train and bus links between the nations have resumed, and both Pakistanis and Indians enthusiastically followed a recent cricket series.
"I think cricket and films are two aspects that have kept the two countries together," Mr. Khan, the Indian movie star, said at the premiere as fans pressed near, hoping to shake his hand or get an autograph. He said he was "completely overwhelmed" by the hospitality Pakistanis had shown him.
Wearing a shimmering sari, Richa Shanoy, the assistant art director of the movie, joined dignitaries and celebrities at the premiere. She said she was from Mumbai, the former Bombay and the heart of India's film industry, but did not feel like a stranger on this side of the border. "Lahore is a beautiful city," she said. "I feel we have the same culture, the same people, the same language."
Lahore, in eastern Punjab Province, is regarded as the cultural capital of Pakistan. It is a city long famous for its poets, gardens and Mughal-era monuments. It is also the center of Pakistan's struggling movie industry, known as Lollywood, as India's is known as Bollywood.
Local movies were popular here until the 1960's. But in the last 40 years, while Indian cinema has thrived, sending Bollywood productions to cinemas around much of the globe, filmmaking in Pakistan has withered because of a lack of money as well as few skilled directors, actors and technicians.
The ailing movie business here has forced many theater owners to raze the buildings and use the lots for gas stations or shopping malls.
Cinema owners have long lobbied the government to lift the ban against showing Indian movies. Jamshed Zafar, the president of the Pakistan Film Producers Association, said that allowing Indian movies to be shown here would help the Pakistani industry by drawing viewers into the cinemas. "We want to revive the cinema here," he said at the premiere. "It is only possible if Indian movies are given permission. Right now, the cinema window is empty."
Pakistani officials say there is a gradual move toward allowing Indian films to be routinely shown here again, but they have not specified just when the ban might be lifted.
Zara Haider, a homemaker from Lahore who stood with the crowd outside the theater for the premiere of "Taj Mahal," joined the cinema owners and filmmakers in welcoming Indian films to Pakistan. Perhaps Indians, she suggested, would now become interested in Pakistani films, too.
But she acknowledged, somewhat sheepishly, that Pakistani movies fell far short of the lavish production standards set by Bollywood. Indian movies, typically three hours long, usually feature boy-meets-girl plots, in addition to the elaborate sets and song-and-dance numbers.
For the time being, showing at least two Indian movies in Pakistan's theaters seems like a way to wield a bit of cultural diplomacy as the countries move toward discussing larger issues, like trade, security and the fate of Kashmir — the major thorn in the side of both nations.
The producer of "Taj Mahal" and the distributor of "Mughal-e-Azam" said proceeds from ticket sales would be used to aid victims of the devastating earthquake last October.
Indeed, cultural contacts between the nations may encourage improved relations in other areas, said Sughra Imam, a former member of the cabinet of Punjab Province. "Cultural exchange is important," she said at the premiere, "because it creates an atmosphere of ease and friendliness."
May 8, 2006
Lahore Journal
By SALMAN MASOOD
LAHORE, Pakistan — The hoopla at the premiere of the Indian movie "Taj Mahal" was a little more frenzied than is usual here, but there was a reason: the event not only celebrated the opening of a new film, it also heralded what might be a gradual thaw in a four-decade cinematic cold war between India and Pakistan.
In late April, movies made in India, Pakistan's neighbor and longtime rival, were shown in Pakistani theaters, which had not happened since 1965. The two films, both approved by the government here, were "Taj Mahal," featuring some of India's newest stars, and "Mughal-e-Azam" (The Great Mughal), released in India 46 years ago and regarded there as a classic that critics refer to as India's "Gone With the Wind."
Both are set in the Mughal era, a period of Muslim rule in the subcontinent that stretched from 1526 to 1707, and are love stories set in the courts of the Mughal rulers.
Although the official ban on showing Indian movies has not been lifted, a nod from the Pakistani president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, opened the way for the screenings, Pakistani officials said.
The officials did not comment on why "Taj Mahal" and "Mughal-e-Azam" were selected. But some people here have suggested that the films were approved for screening because they focus on Muslim history and do not touch on current events.
The decision to show the films "comes as a special gesture by President Musharraf," Syed Jalil Abbas, the culture secretary, said in April.
Fans like Ali Khan, 21, and his friend Sara Khan, 18, giddily welcomed that gesture. On April 26 they stood near the red carpet outside the Plaza Cinema here, where they had come in the hopes of seeing their favorite stars arrive for the premiere of "Taj Mahal."
"It is wonderful," they said, nearly in unison. Ms. Khan, smiling broadly, held up her cellphone to show off photographs she had taken of Sonia Jehan, the film's leading lady, and Fardeen Khan, a heartthrob of the Indian cinema who had accompanied his uncle, Akbar Khan, the director and producer of "Taj Mahal," to its Pakistani premiere.
Pirated DVD's and CD's of Indian movies and music are easily available here, and their stars are household names. The movies, with their catchy songs and glittering dance numbers, are beloved in Pakistan, as they are across much of Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Posters of Indian actresses are plastered across stores here that sell the pirated DVD's, and over the back windows of commuter vans. The movies are in Hindi, easily understood in Pakistan.
Pakistan and India have shared a history of mistrust and antagonism since they were carved out of the British Empire in 1947. The ban on showing Indian movies was put in place when the countries were in the midst of one of three major wars, two of them fought over the still disputed northern region of Kashmir.
But in recent years, signs of warmer relations have emerged. Train and bus links between the nations have resumed, and both Pakistanis and Indians enthusiastically followed a recent cricket series.
"I think cricket and films are two aspects that have kept the two countries together," Mr. Khan, the Indian movie star, said at the premiere as fans pressed near, hoping to shake his hand or get an autograph. He said he was "completely overwhelmed" by the hospitality Pakistanis had shown him.
Wearing a shimmering sari, Richa Shanoy, the assistant art director of the movie, joined dignitaries and celebrities at the premiere. She said she was from Mumbai, the former Bombay and the heart of India's film industry, but did not feel like a stranger on this side of the border. "Lahore is a beautiful city," she said. "I feel we have the same culture, the same people, the same language."
Lahore, in eastern Punjab Province, is regarded as the cultural capital of Pakistan. It is a city long famous for its poets, gardens and Mughal-era monuments. It is also the center of Pakistan's struggling movie industry, known as Lollywood, as India's is known as Bollywood.
Local movies were popular here until the 1960's. But in the last 40 years, while Indian cinema has thrived, sending Bollywood productions to cinemas around much of the globe, filmmaking in Pakistan has withered because of a lack of money as well as few skilled directors, actors and technicians.
The ailing movie business here has forced many theater owners to raze the buildings and use the lots for gas stations or shopping malls.
Cinema owners have long lobbied the government to lift the ban against showing Indian movies. Jamshed Zafar, the president of the Pakistan Film Producers Association, said that allowing Indian movies to be shown here would help the Pakistani industry by drawing viewers into the cinemas. "We want to revive the cinema here," he said at the premiere. "It is only possible if Indian movies are given permission. Right now, the cinema window is empty."
Pakistani officials say there is a gradual move toward allowing Indian films to be routinely shown here again, but they have not specified just when the ban might be lifted.
Zara Haider, a homemaker from Lahore who stood with the crowd outside the theater for the premiere of "Taj Mahal," joined the cinema owners and filmmakers in welcoming Indian films to Pakistan. Perhaps Indians, she suggested, would now become interested in Pakistani films, too.
But she acknowledged, somewhat sheepishly, that Pakistani movies fell far short of the lavish production standards set by Bollywood. Indian movies, typically three hours long, usually feature boy-meets-girl plots, in addition to the elaborate sets and song-and-dance numbers.
For the time being, showing at least two Indian movies in Pakistan's theaters seems like a way to wield a bit of cultural diplomacy as the countries move toward discussing larger issues, like trade, security and the fate of Kashmir — the major thorn in the side of both nations.
The producer of "Taj Mahal" and the distributor of "Mughal-e-Azam" said proceeds from ticket sales would be used to aid victims of the devastating earthquake last October.
Indeed, cultural contacts between the nations may encourage improved relations in other areas, said Sughra Imam, a former member of the cabinet of Punjab Province. "Cultural exchange is important," she said at the premiere, "because it creates an atmosphere of ease and friendliness."
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