The ban on Indian films by owners of Pakistani cinemas in response to the Indian ban on Pakistani actors can only boost piracy, industry insiders say.
Last week, Pakistani cinemas declared an indefinite ban on the screening of Indian movies following the Indian Film Association’s ban on Pakistani talent in Bollywood, the Dawn reported on Wednesday.
Khorem Gultasab, General Manager of SuperCinema, Lahore, said 50-60 percent of the revenue generation in Pakistani cinemas came from Bollywood movies.
But the ban decision was taken to “show solidarity with our army and our Pakistani actors”, he was quoted as saying.
Pakistan is the third largest market for Indian films, he added.
Now re-runs of old Pakistani films are hitting cinemas along with current films. But Gultasab admitted that Pakistani cinemas can’t survive on Pakistani films alone.
According to him, the lifespan of any Pakistani film was one week while a blockbuster would last two weeks.
Fifteen Pakistani films were released last year. This year, six films have been released, of which three flopped.
Like many, Gultasab hopes the ban on Indian movies is lifted soon, the Dawn reported.
“Pakistan and India are neighbours, and they will be, they are not going away anywhere. If they cannot be friends, they need to learn to co-exist,” the Dawn quoted him as saying.
Nadeem Mandviwalla, owner of Atrium Cinema in Karachi and Centaurus cinema, said the ban on Indian films will in the long run hurt legitimate business. “The winner is the pirate.”
Bollywood films like Pink, Baar Baar Dekho and Mohenjo Daro were playing at Cinepax before they were removed. Upcoming films like ‘Mirzya’, Shivaay, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and the recently released ’MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’, won’t be released in the neighbouring country.
With inputs from IANS
@Navin,so ur Bhai’s best friend Dawood is going to help SRK to distribute Raees cd in Pak.How nice of ur Bhai.
No problem however the collection from pakistan isn’t huge at all…Few khan films made some money there…
Hats off to you @Indicine !!!!
You dont even think when people abuse certain superstars and call it with all unwanted names and you approve their comments and the first comment on the page which state
“If we can’t be friends then we need to learn to coexist. Well said.”
Kindly let me know what is wrong with this line which made you not publishing it ? What is going on with your moderation team ? Have they turn andh bhakts ? This is a last request from my side if you continue to show such foolishness I will stop visiting your site (It is not even double standard but something idiotic).
If even a single member of Indicine team has read this comment (without publishing) I will think I have clearly passed on the complaint to you. It is up to you to allow sensibility prevail or continue to do the biased stuff !!!!! Thanks.
Kashmir India ka h aur rahega chahe jo bhi karlo Pakistan.
Indicine team !!! Is this a political forum or Billy wood Web site ?? Looks like barkha datt talk show. Keep this site away from politics .
@indicine
Why u allow this illiterate navin uncle’s comment??
Was it sensible??..No
Was it related to the topic..??..hell no
Whats the moderation team doing?
Most of the times his comment doesnt even make sense.
May be its his time to retire.
@navin chacha.. Tumse na hopaega.