Karachi: The Pakistani government has officially apprised K Asifs son, Akbar Asif, about permission to screen the colour version of Mughal-e-Azam in Pakistani theatres, according to a top government official.
Our government has written a letter to Akbar Asif, who retains the rights of the film. The latter asked for permission to show the film in Pakistan, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistani minister for information and broadcasting, told Sunday Mid Day.
The letter also says the screening of this film has been approved both by the President and the government, says Ahmed. All the income generated by the film will be donated to tsunami victims, says the letter.
Akbar Asif presented a 35 mm reel of the colour version of the film to President Musharraf when he met him in UK last year. He also requested permission to screen it in Pakistan President Musharraf thanked him for the CD and assured him that he would seriously consider the request, says a source.
Shaikh Rashid says the government has not yet set a date for the films launch.
Sources in the government said the date of August 14, Pakistans independence day, was considered earlier. But this has not been made official yet, due to the strong opposition to Indian films by certain powerful quarters in the local film industry.
The Pakistani film industry is divided over screening this film in local theatres. Many believe the local industry needs oxygen from Bollywood to survive. They reckon Mughal-e-Azams coming to Pakistan fulfils this need.
Sheikh Zubair Ahmed, chairman of the Pakistan Film Distribution Association on the other hand staunchly opposes reopening cultural borders. He is not alone.
A majority of Pakistani producers and directors are against Indian films showing in Pakistan. They fear it will hurt the local industry further if the government lifts the 40-year-long ban on the Bollywood productions.
But, veteran film stars like Nadeem and Ghulam Mohiyuddin say the local industry, for all practical purposes, has become a bygone thing without the involvement of Indian cinema.
And, as matter of fact, Indian films will work as oxygen for the Pakistani industry. I am in favour of Indian movies and their display in Pakistan cinemas. The opening of cultural borders will help both the local actors and the technical staff, says Nadeem.
Mohiyuddin says he doesnt mind Indian films being screened in Pakistan theatres.
He says its a pity that the Pakistani film industry produced only 17 films last year, while only in the distant past the annual aggregate of Pakistani films released was a little more than 200 films. In the 1970s, more than 1,300 theatres did sizzling business, now the number is a miserable 270.
Shaikh Rashid says permission to screen Mughal-e-Azam is a special case and it cannot be generalised to extend to all Indian cinema.
The government has not yet decided to open full cultural borders with India and such decisions will take time, says Shaikh Rashid, who has been notorious for his hate-India utterances until the recent past.
Last year in fact, he went on record on private television to say that he would have Bollywood movies brought over my dead body!
Id like to celebrate in Wagah when I hand over the film cans
Akbar Asif on releasing his fathers labour of love in Pakistan
By Shradha Sukumaran
shradhas@mid-day.com
Akbar AsifAkbar Asif is relieved that his father and Mughal-e-Azams maker K Asifs khwaish will finally be realised the project he poured his heart and soul into will have a theatrical release in Pakistan. A letter to Akbar, faxed to Sunday Mid Day, confirms the same.
The President of Pakistan deeply appreciates your noble gesture and has been pleased to accept your generous offer with profound thanks, says the letter dated May 5, from President Musharrafs Secretariat in Islamabad, A decision, in principle, has been taken to allow the release of your legendary fathers magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam throughout the country.
Modalities are, presently, being finalised for screening of the film at an appropriate time.
Akbar would like to see the classic released on August 14, Pakistans Independence Day or August 15.
Id like to have a big celebration on the Wagah border when I hand over the film cans to them. I plan to have Anarkali come on an elephant from their side and an Indian celebrity dressed as Salim from our side in this special celebration, says the London-based Akbar, over telephone from Monte Carlo, en route from screening Mughal-e-Azam at the Festival of Indian Films in Budapest.
He insisted that the proceeds be donated for tsunami relief and poor Pakistani children.
Before my fathers dream, paise jaise koi cheez nahin hai, Akbar says, I didnt do it with business in mind. If I had thought like that, I would never have been able to release Mughal-e-Azam in colour. Someone has to take the first step. I did this with love, not for money.
Mughal-e-Azam will now break the Pakistani ban of Indian films or as its Information and Broadcasting Minister Shaikh Rashid allegedly declared, the release of Indian films over his dead body.
I dont think that I can release a film over anyones dead body, no one will watch it! laughs Akbar, But Ive never even talked to Rashid. I met President Musharraf through a common friend when he came to meet Tony Blair. I dont know the people in between. My communication has solely been with the Presidents office.
And even if Mughal-e-Azams release cant take place on August 14/15, Akbar intends to ring in Id with it.
