Pakistan Films Set For Historic Opening In India
Agence France Presse
May 17, 2006
Shail Kumar Singh
Pakistan movie-makers plan to release six films in India next month that will mark the latest breach in a four-decade cinema blockade between the nations, industry executives said.
The films will be launched simultaneously in New Delhi and Mumbai -- home of the "Bollywood" film industry -- in an unprecedented 10-day mini-film festival showcasing the struggling Pakistani industry.
Pakistan banned Indian films in 1965 during one of their three wars since independence in 1947.
India also has not shown films by Pakistani movie-makers although a handful of Pakistani actors have appeared in Bollywood productions.
Amid a political thaw Pakistani authorities allowed the release of two Indian films, "Mughal-e-Azam" (King of the Mughals) and "Taj Mahal", this year. Both bombed at the box office in Pakistan.
Now the Indian authorities have returned the offer.
"This is one further step towards bridging the gap of enmity between the two countries. It is an effort to strengthen the peaceful bond of brotherhood," Jamshed Zafar, chairman of the Pakistan Film Producers Association, told AFP from Lahore, the base of Pakistan's "Lollywood" film industry.
He said he doubted that audiences would flock to see the Pakistani films, which lag behind the prolific Indian movie industry in terms of production values.
"We don't have huge expectations because Indians already have lots of choices in their country as far as their films are concerned," he said. "However, I must add we can only hope for the best."
Pakistani director Syed Noor, director of the successful love-story "Majajan" in his home country, and a host of actors will come to India to mark the occasion.
Indian movies are hugely popular in Pakistan where pirated copies are available. The two Indian films failed partly because Pakistan movie fans had already seen them on disc players at home, said Zafar.
India's film industry is the world's largest by volume with more than 1,000 made every year. The Pakistani industry has shrunk since a boom period in the 1980s and early 1990s when nearly 200 films were made in the country.
With the success of cable television and Indian television serials in Pakistani homes, the industry declined to only 25 films being made every year.
Indian film analyst Indu Mirani said: "Pakistan films are very bad. They won't do well but the point is that once the channel opens, there is a whole new territory for their films to release in."
Pakistan and India have engaged in a peace process since January 2004 that has led to more cultural, sports and business contacts.
May 17, 2006
Shail Kumar Singh
Pakistan movie-makers plan to release six films in India next month that will mark the latest breach in a four-decade cinema blockade between the nations, industry executives said.
The films will be launched simultaneously in New Delhi and Mumbai -- home of the "Bollywood" film industry -- in an unprecedented 10-day mini-film festival showcasing the struggling Pakistani industry.
Pakistan banned Indian films in 1965 during one of their three wars since independence in 1947.
India also has not shown films by Pakistani movie-makers although a handful of Pakistani actors have appeared in Bollywood productions.
Amid a political thaw Pakistani authorities allowed the release of two Indian films, "Mughal-e-Azam" (King of the Mughals) and "Taj Mahal", this year. Both bombed at the box office in Pakistan.
Now the Indian authorities have returned the offer.
"This is one further step towards bridging the gap of enmity between the two countries. It is an effort to strengthen the peaceful bond of brotherhood," Jamshed Zafar, chairman of the Pakistan Film Producers Association, told AFP from Lahore, the base of Pakistan's "Lollywood" film industry.
He said he doubted that audiences would flock to see the Pakistani films, which lag behind the prolific Indian movie industry in terms of production values.
"We don't have huge expectations because Indians already have lots of choices in their country as far as their films are concerned," he said. "However, I must add we can only hope for the best."
Pakistani director Syed Noor, director of the successful love-story "Majajan" in his home country, and a host of actors will come to India to mark the occasion.
Indian movies are hugely popular in Pakistan where pirated copies are available. The two Indian films failed partly because Pakistan movie fans had already seen them on disc players at home, said Zafar.
India's film industry is the world's largest by volume with more than 1,000 made every year. The Pakistani industry has shrunk since a boom period in the 1980s and early 1990s when nearly 200 films were made in the country.
With the success of cable television and Indian television serials in Pakistani homes, the industry declined to only 25 films being made every year.
Indian film analyst Indu Mirani said: "Pakistan films are very bad. They won't do well but the point is that once the channel opens, there is a whole new territory for their films to release in."
Pakistan and India have engaged in a peace process since January 2004 that has led to more cultural, sports and business contacts.
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