Red signal for Bollywood in Pakistan

A group of Pakistani film producers and distributors has filed a motion in Lahore High Court seeking a ban on Bollywood films being shown in the country.

Entertainment content churned out of India, especially from the Hindi film industry, has always had takers in Pakistan. This, in spite of the fact that finding a release on Pakistani soil is a job easier said than done for Indian filmmakers. Time and again Pakistani artists — be it actors or singers — have tried their luck in the Indian entertainment industry and some recent endeavours have been hugely successful. Case in point, Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan who just scored his second Bollywood hit with Kapoor & Sons and is currently the go-to guy for Dharma Productions, one of Bollywood’s largest and most powerful banners. Another top Pakistani actress Mahira Khan will be making her debut here later this year, with none other than Shah Rukh Khan in Raees. And while these success stories are being written on Indian soil, recently, a group of Pakistani distributors and filmmakers filed a motion in Lahore High Court seeking a ban on Bollywood films being shown in the country. The distributors feel that Hindi films are a threat to local productions.

The number of Bollywood films banned in Pakistan are dime a dozen. The last film banned there was Neerja, and before that it was Phantom and Baby. However, a blanket ban on Bollywood would make things way graver than they already are. And at a time when their artists are finding success in India, it just makes this love-hate relationship between the neighbours all the more complicated.

Shakun Batra who recently directed Fawad Khan in Kapoor & Sons says, “I think it’s their jurisdiction and they have to decide what’s good and bad for their country. But if something of this sort happens it’ll be very sad. They appreciate Bollywood films and I know for a fact that people there enjoy Bollywood films. The industry is getting global, and we need people to collaborate creatively not just across the boundaries but also all over the world.”

Pakistani filmmaker Sabiha Sumar says that in her country there exists a fear that Bollywood might eat into the local Pakistani film business. “Every country looks to protect its growing economy and a small group here might be seeking protective measures. We need to strike a balance as banning things would only pique the interest of the people and they will turn to piracy,” she says.

But she also points out that not all Pakistani artists are welcomed with open arms in India. However, she stresses on the importance of countering the negative forces in both countries. “That is key. If Pakistan bans certain Indian films, the Indian media too shows our country as one that shelters terrorists. But there are normal people here too, just like they are there in India. The media is only creating more divide. While some Pakistani actors have been loved and accepted in India, there have been forces that got Ghulam Ali’s concert cancelled. Fawad was asked to go back to his own country. Pakistani films too have been banned in India. Negative voices exist in both countries and we need to stop them if we want the art economy to flourish between the two countries. There needs to be more collaborative efforts to make films together. Just like Pakistani actors have been coming to India, we need Indian actors to work in Pakistan as well,” she says.

Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, whose D-Day was banned in Pakistan, says that he was not surprised by the ban at all. “I never expected D-Day to be shown in Pakistan because of the content, but films like Neerja, which showed Pakistan officials in a good light, why would they ban that They should watch the films completely before deciding,” he says. The director who was part of the recent Zeal for Unity initiative that brought together filmmakers from India and Pakistan, adds, “The group that has asked for a ban of Bollywood films must talk to their counterparts in Pakistan, who distribute Indian films and sort their grievances, and see how best things can be worked out. When films from different regions release across the borders there is so much to learn. We get to see the VFX, stories, and there is a spirit of good competitiveness.”

Pakistani Filmmaker Khaled Ahmed was also a part of Zeal for Unity. He says that most people are tired of the bickering and that there is a dire need to move on, as there is so much to share between the two countries. About his own film industry, he says, “Pakistani films are being made and released along with Indian films and they are being watched. Yes, they are made on a smaller budget as the resources are far less, but despite that, Pakistani films are holding their own and there has always been an audience for them.” Khaled continues, “We all know that there are elements who don’t want to normalise things. But it is important that we realise that cultural exchange can only help ease the cross-border tension. Pakistani films should also be released in India. Pakistani artistes have great acceptance and marketability in India and they should also try to market Pakistani films in India. Now we even have Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri acting in Pakistani films.”