Pakistani cinema owners lift ban on Indian films, Bollywood hails the move
Theatre owners in Pakistan had suspended screening of Indian films after the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) banned Pakistani artists and technicians from working in India. This happened in the wake of political tension between India and Pakistan, post the Uri attacks. However, a recent update suggests that the Pakistani cinema owners are all set to lift this self-imposed ban. The Times Of India got in touch with filmmakers and producers from the Indian film industry for their take on this development. Here's what they think:
Mahesh Bhatt: I think Pakistani cinema owners have shown that it is possible to make a move and then correct it. I think they are being very brave by lifting the ban because they have realised that the tit for tat policy was not a wise move on their part. The Pakistani film sector got a new lease of life thanks to Indian cinema. That's a fact! I saw no wisdom when the Pakistani film industry jumped to the arena and said that, 'if you do it then we will also do it'. I am happy that they have lifted the ban. I individually have always voiced my opinion clearly that no matter what happens, the civil society must not give up its cultural space and become a part of the war hysteria. It is the people to people contact, we need to invest in.
Mukesh Bhatt: We are entertainers and we want to continue being just that. As far as the politics of the country is concerned, that is not our domain. Talking about the release of Indian films in Pakistan, this is a welcome sign and I am very happy. We are the cultural ambassadors of India so it's a good thing that people in Pakistan and all across the world get to see what our culture is about.
Shyam Benegal: Pakistan was always been a good market for our films and if they had unilaterally closed the market, they have now opened it again, which is good for our filmmakers because our films do well in Pakistan. In fact our films do better than their homegrown films. So I think it's a good sign. I don't think one should bring politics into this as actors and technicians are not chosen on the basis of their nationality, rather they are chosen on the basis of their talent and their ability.
Can ban Pak artistes even when Im out of power: Raj
Hansal Mehta: I have always been against banning of any kind, especially the extra-constitutional bans that people impose. If it's a government policy then as citizens, I feel we need to follow it but these bans by specific organisations or individuals are not right. As for Pakistan lifting ban on Hindi films, I feel we should see it for what it is. It is indeed a step in the right direction. I feel artists are the only individuals who do not belong to any country, they are free of landscape and expression. We should respect the free exchange. I genuinely hope we do not suppress art in the name of religion or politics.
Abhinay Deo: I think the problem arises when we mix two things, art and politics. If the two countries can come together to a common line of agreement then I suppose they should act in the interest of both the countries. It is basically upto the politicians to sit down and iron the creases of the situation that they are facing. As an individual, I want peace between the two countries and our primary goal should be the bigger picture.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ywood-hails-the-move/articleshow/56065801.cms
Theatre owners in Pakistan had suspended screening of Indian films after the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) banned Pakistani artists and technicians from working in India. This happened in the wake of political tension between India and Pakistan, post the Uri attacks. However, a recent update suggests that the Pakistani cinema owners are all set to lift this self-imposed ban. The Times Of India got in touch with filmmakers and producers from the Indian film industry for their take on this development. Here's what they think:
Mahesh Bhatt: I think Pakistani cinema owners have shown that it is possible to make a move and then correct it. I think they are being very brave by lifting the ban because they have realised that the tit for tat policy was not a wise move on their part. The Pakistani film sector got a new lease of life thanks to Indian cinema. That's a fact! I saw no wisdom when the Pakistani film industry jumped to the arena and said that, 'if you do it then we will also do it'. I am happy that they have lifted the ban. I individually have always voiced my opinion clearly that no matter what happens, the civil society must not give up its cultural space and become a part of the war hysteria. It is the people to people contact, we need to invest in.
Mukesh Bhatt: We are entertainers and we want to continue being just that. As far as the politics of the country is concerned, that is not our domain. Talking about the release of Indian films in Pakistan, this is a welcome sign and I am very happy. We are the cultural ambassadors of India so it's a good thing that people in Pakistan and all across the world get to see what our culture is about.
Shyam Benegal: Pakistan was always been a good market for our films and if they had unilaterally closed the market, they have now opened it again, which is good for our filmmakers because our films do well in Pakistan. In fact our films do better than their homegrown films. So I think it's a good sign. I don't think one should bring politics into this as actors and technicians are not chosen on the basis of their nationality, rather they are chosen on the basis of their talent and their ability.
Can ban Pak artistes even when Im out of power: Raj
Hansal Mehta: I have always been against banning of any kind, especially the extra-constitutional bans that people impose. If it's a government policy then as citizens, I feel we need to follow it but these bans by specific organisations or individuals are not right. As for Pakistan lifting ban on Hindi films, I feel we should see it for what it is. It is indeed a step in the right direction. I feel artists are the only individuals who do not belong to any country, they are free of landscape and expression. We should respect the free exchange. I genuinely hope we do not suppress art in the name of religion or politics.
Abhinay Deo: I think the problem arises when we mix two things, art and politics. If the two countries can come together to a common line of agreement then I suppose they should act in the interest of both the countries. It is basically upto the politicians to sit down and iron the creases of the situation that they are facing. As an individual, I want peace between the two countries and our primary goal should be the bigger picture.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ywood-hails-the-move/articleshow/56065801.cms
