Following the events of Uri attacks planned by Pakistan, the Indian government banned all Pakistani artists in India. In a hasty tit-for-tat move, Pakistan banned Bollywood movies. Perhaps, they didn’t know that this may cost them a huge share of fortune. Four months since the ban was imposed on Hindi films, Pakistani theatres continue to bleed, suffering from momentous financial losses. Seeing that around 100 theatres in Pak are totally dependent on Hollywood, Bollywood fare, PM Nawaz Sharif has set up a committee to consider the demands of local theatre owners.
Pakistan Cinema Owners Continue to Suffer from Bollywood Ban
Each year, about 40-50 Bollywood movies and 50 Hollywood movies get released in Pakistan. A medium-budget Hindi film like Vicky Donor and Gangs of Wasseypur grossed about Rs. 5-6 crores in Pakistan whereas bigger productions like PK, Dhoom 3, Fan and Bajrangi Bhaijan etc. earn about 15 to 30 crore INR in Pakistan. After the Pakistan government banned Hindi movies, not many people turned up at the theatres to watch locally produced movies.
Atrium Cinema owner Nadeem Mandviwalla from Karachi claimed that Hollywood and Bollywood movies generate about 70% business for movie theatres in Pakistan. While the theatre owners can survive temporary suspensions, they can’t earn money if the ban on Bollywood continues in Pakistan. A few cinema owners may have to shut their theatres forever.
Why do Indian Films do Great Business in Pakistan?
According to Atul Mohan, Editor of ‘Complete Cinema’ trade magazine, “Local Pakistani productions are hardly up to the mark“. Besides, people don’t like seeing Hollywood movies all the time. They want something that reminds them of their homes. The local Urdu and Punjabi movies are popular in single screens only. The audience finds Hindi movies more interesting, vibrant and informative than conventional Pakistani movies.
Last year, the owners of several multiplexes approached Pakistan’s Commerce ministry with the request to issue NOC (No objection certificate) for a selected movies like Pink and Dangal. Considering the plight of local businesses, the government set up a panel led by Information Minister Maryum Aurangzeb in this regard.
The panel consists of an intelligence officer and PM’s personal adviser Irfan Siddiqui that will decide the terms and conditions of NOC. Pakistan government will now allow import of films from India. They intend to have a word with the Indian government in this context.
As of now, we aren’t sure if the exchange of movies can de-escalate long-established hostilities between both the countries, but the artists feel that cultural exchange should be kept aside from political conflicts.
