T-shirts autographed by 5 Pak players starring in Victory will not be used for promotion.
T-shirts autographed by 5 Pak players starring in Victory will not be used for promotion.
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Shoaib Malik in Victory. Pakistani cricketers will not be involved in the marketing of the film in the wake of the 26/11 attacks |
Pakistani cricketers may well play an important role in the Harman Baweja-Amrita Rao starrer, Victory, but as the film nears release, they have been left out from the promotional events. Pakistani cricketers Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir and Rao Iftikar, who are among the 60 international cricketers in the movie, will not be involved in the marketing and merchandising activities of the film in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks.
The movie is slated for release on January 30. When contacted by MiD DAY, director Ajitpal Mangat did not wish to elaborate, but said, "I don't want to sensationalise this issue. However, for me, my country will always come first."
According to sources, the makers of the movie plan to use T-shirts autographed by all international cricketers who feature in Victory as part of the film's merchandising contest. However, considering the anti-Pakistan sentiments following the terror attacks, the makers have decided to withhold T-shirts autographed by Pakistani cricketers, but sent those signed by cricketers from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, England and India to various media outlets.
A source explained the reasons behind the director's decision. "Mangat is a true patriotic and did not want to use T-shirts autographed by Pakistani cricketers after Pakistan's role in the terror attacks was established. He felt it wouldn't be fair to promote his film with the help of Pakistani cricketers after such a dastardly attack," he said.
On December 28, Mangat had cancelled a gathering of more than 60 international cricketers, including those from Pakistan, at the D Y Patil Stadium in Nerul to launch the music of the film. "We planned a big event at the stadium, as the movie was shot there. But after the attacks, I cannot think of a celebration," Mangat had told MiD DAY then.
Victory is the story of a young boy from a small village in Rajasthan, who dreams of representing his country in cricket. The plot revolves around the boy's phenomenal rise in the cricketing world and the politics he encounters and oversomes during his journey
Cricketers in Victory India: Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, R P Singh, Praveen Kumar, Yusuf Pathan, Ashish Nehra, Ramesh Powar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Maninder Singh and Atul Wassan
Australia: Brett Lee, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Stuart Clarke, Brad Hogg, Brad Haddin, Allan Border, Michael Slater and Dean Jones
Pakistan: Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir and Rao Iftikar
Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasurya, Chaminda Vaas, Kumara Sangakkara, Muralitharan, Parvez Mahroof, Dilhara Fernando and Ajantha Mendis
South Africa: Graeme Smith, Andre Nel, A Morkel and u00a0M Morkel
New Zealand: Martin Crowe
Cricket on celluloid Lagaan, Iqbal, Meerabai Not Out, Hattrick, Stumped, Awaal Number, All Rounder
