Karachi, December 19, 2016: Indo-Pak tension after the Uri attack thawed the entertainment industry in Pakistan. Screening of Indian films were suspended. However, situations have improved and so are the cinema halls. They start screening Indian films from today as film exhibitors and cinema owners lifted the a two-month self-imposed suspension on their screening.
Zoraish Lashari, Chairman of the Film Exhibitors Association, told reporters that after thorough discussions with parties concerned, it has been decided that screening of Indian films would resume from today, mentioned PTI.
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Keeping in mind the business factor he said, "The cinema owners and other stakeholders in the industry have been hit by the decision to impose a temporary suspension on screening of Indian films. A lot of investment has been made into upgrading or building new cineplexes and multiplexes and the business at this time is dependent on screening of latest Indian films,". Indian films were suspended and not completely banned, as told by the cinema houses' owners.
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Nadeem Mandviwala of Atrium cinemas said movies which were missed and could not be screened due to the suspension will be screened first. The first film to be screened will be actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Freaky Ali. "We lifted the suspension as a cinema guild. We took this decision because we would like to support them (Indian cinemas) and expect them to support us," Aadil Mandviwala, Director Mandviwala Entertainment, was quoted as saying by the
"We lifted the suspension as a cinema guild. We took this decision because we would like to support them (Indian cinemas) and expect them to support us," Aadil Mandviwala, Director Mandviwala Entertainment, was quoted as saying by the
"We lifted the suspension as a cinema guild. We took this decision because we would like to support them (Indian cinemas) and expect them to support us," Aadil Mandviwala, Director Mandviwala Entertainment, was quoted as saying by the Dawn.
A temporary halt in screening of Indian movies came after the tensions escalated following the Uri terror attack and cross border firing incidents in late September. It was announced by the Pakistan Film Exhibitors and Distributors Association, which includes most owners of cineplexes, multiplexes and single screen cinemas in the country. This suspension was a reaction to the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association's (IMPPA) decision to impose a ban on Pakistani artistes and technicians working in India.
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According to PTI, most of the cinema owners, exhibitors and importers of Indian films had got panicky after Pakistani films including old and fresh releases and even latest Hollywood movies failed to fill up the halls.
"Plus in recent weeks several Indian films have been released while everyone is eagerly anticipating the release of Aamir Khan's 'Dangal'," a source said.
However there is a fear of backlash from religious parties or groups among the owners once they resumed screening of Indian films, and they have demanded protection, if required. "A private media group is presently trying to import and release 'Dangal' in Pakistan," the source added.
The Media and Marketing Manager of a major chain of cineplexes, Sabina Islam, said 75 per cent of the revenues generated in the industry came from screening of Indian films. Pakistan is considered as the third largest market for Indian films. Indian movies returned to Pakistani cinema houses in 2008 after a 43-year-long hiatus imposed during the 1965 war.
– prepared by Saptaparni Goon of NewsGram. Twitter: @saptaparni_goon