Images

Indian distributors have not struck a deal in Pakistan for Dangal

Indian distributors have not struck a deal in Pakistan for Dangal

Despite the 'ban' on screening Indian films being lifted, Dangal will not release in Pakistan.
24 Dec, 2016

KARACHI: On Dec 17 local cinema owners announced that from Dec 19 they were putting an end to the self-imposed ban they placed on the screening of Indian films at Pakistani multiplexes and single screens.

The decision was taken following a considerable drop in footfall in cinema houses in the wake of the ban. There were even reports that some screens at multiplexes had gone show-less for a few days.

On Dec 19, however, only one film was shown at a multiplex. Some harboured the notion that cinema owners were gearing up for the big Bollywood release of the season, Dangal, starring Aamir Khan. It turns out that was not the case. Dangal opened in India and internationally on Friday, Dec 23, but not in Pakistan.

This led people to surmise that there was more to the scenario than met the eye. Perhaps some official hiccup was stopping Indian films from being released. But even that does not appear to be the reason.

Talking to Dawn head of marketing Atrium Cinema, Anita Kenneth, said, "We have not received anything from them [India]. There’s no news from their side [regarding Dangal]."

This, perhaps, hints at something deeper. Aamir Khan is an extremely popular star and has a strong fan-base in Pakistan. The release of his latest project in this country would have earned him and his producers a decent amount, especially bearing in mind the kind of roaring business that Salman Khan’s Sultan did in Pakistan on Eidul Fitr.

Mohsin Yaseen, GM Marketing Cinepax said, "Cinepax is showing Indian films, you can check on its website. But as far as I know, Indian distributors have not struck a deal in Pakistan for Dangal."

Though it is difficult to gauge the intention of Indian distributors, it has to be said that Pakistani cinema owners must have expected a big number of film lovers buying tickets in case Dangal had been released.

It remains to be seen whether their decision to end the suspension proves costly for them in the near future, because voices have been raised, such as the one by senior film-maker Syed Noor, against attaching importance to Bollywood. Noor argued:

"When there was pressure from India to ban our artists from working in their films, the month of Muharram had started. We know that films are not usually screened in Muharram in Pakistan. So these 10 days, along with the fact that there was no major film in the pipeline, gave cinema exhibitors the excuse to stop showing Indian films here. Later on they started cribbing that people were not coming to cinemas because they wanted to see Indian movies. Who are they to decide what Pakistanis want to see or not? It was the Indian producers who first imposed a ban on our artists."


Originally published in Dawn December 24th, 2016

Comments

Dipak singham Dec 24, 2016 10:25am
Yesterday I watched the movie, Its an awesome awesome awesome, super se v upper movie. watching amir in this film i forgot that he is amir, he just make himself as a father (Former wrestler) of Geeta & babita. must watch movie.
Recommend
Nurul huda Dec 24, 2016 10:27am
Indian film screening in Pakistan is problem & do not sale the film is also problem.
Recommend
KARACHIwala Dec 24, 2016 10:56am
I've no clue why some sections of the media is bent upon coverage of Hindi movies news. We are simply not interested. Nobody I know watches that stuff, most of which is Hollywood rip off anyway. Even if it were better, the hateful behavior of Hindutva extremists against our artists in India is far too much to tolerate. Indians would have to distance themselves from such mentality.
Recommend
Meddy Dec 24, 2016 11:13am
It will release bit late after good earning in India.
Recommend
Aniket Rastogi Dec 24, 2016 11:53am
Stop the madness, stop acting like two estranged brothers and act like human beings. Don't raise more issues and think of settling old ones.
Recommend
Khan Dec 24, 2016 12:03pm
Yes!! Business interest come first. Patriotism means nothing despite whatever India does
Recommend
LOHPURUSH Dec 24, 2016 12:03pm
It is a good movie empowering girl child . Society must see the movie.
Recommend
Optistic pakistani Dec 24, 2016 12:08pm
I know the pakistani peoples are not that much narrow minded but they should learn to live without anything. This is also a lesson for cinema owners who some time preferred screening indian movies over pakistani movies. Promote yourself.
Recommend
Pune India Dec 24, 2016 12:14pm
Then play pirated VCD of Dangal on the Multiplexes
Recommend
Dipak singham Dec 24, 2016 12:21pm
awesome!!! Must watch movie.
Recommend
sohail Kabir Dec 24, 2016 12:40pm
Government should not lift ban on Indian movies. We don't support lifting ban. Sohail
Recommend
DK PAMNANI Dec 24, 2016 12:50pm
Till today I have not seen the Pakistani Movie in India. Indians do not show their interests in Pakistani Movies. I atleast wish to see one Movie of Pakistan
Recommend
Rv. Dec 24, 2016 01:12pm
The best movie of Amir khan till date......most Realstic. no bollywood dram,no masala.
Recommend
Jaydeep Dec 24, 2016 03:02pm
@DK PAMNANI I have seen a few Pakistani movies, And I really enjoyed them . The movie Maalik was a very well made movie .
Recommend
Dipak singham Dec 24, 2016 03:13pm
@sohail Kabir Its Pakistan Gov. choice bro & its public.
Recommend
Bilal Asghar Dec 24, 2016 03:31pm
@DK PAMNANI go to youtube and watch "jawani phir nahi aani"..which is Pakistan's biggest blockbuster...available in HD. link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW4RpuE-OOQ full entertainment, comedy. If yo want to watch serious,meaningful cinema then watch Pakistani movie "Bol".
Recommend
wellwisher Dec 24, 2016 03:49pm
finally money wins.
Recommend
wellwisher Dec 24, 2016 03:53pm
a certain percentage of money should be deducted from everybody,s salary and tickets of Pakistani movies be given en lieu.Now if they don't watch, it is their loss
Recommend
Sunny Dec 24, 2016 05:29pm
Who Cares!! I don't wtch substandard trash bolly movies.
Recommend
Sunny Dec 24, 2016 05:29pm
@Dipak singham Stop advertising your Indian products here.
Recommend
S. A. M. Dec 24, 2016 06:43pm
@wellwisher and this is how it should be. what has patriotism to do with screening of Indian movies. if India bans Pakistani artists from working in India it's because they can afford to take tgat dire measure. but can our cinema survive without Indian movies the answer is a clear no. let those people that invested in cinema get some return.
Recommend
True Indian Dec 24, 2016 11:43pm
Alas, I am not getting a ticket even though it is running in at least 50 multiplexes and PVR in my City. Tickets are costly and in my city, it is Rs. 450.00 per Ticket and yet, I am not getting Ticket.
Recommend
Jabbar Dec 25, 2016 12:49am
Now syed noor will decide the future of Pakistani audience ? Make a decent film that is worth screening and stop aping Bollywood .Know a lot about your character and you are one of the main reasons Pakistani actresses prefer working in India .
Recommend
Khan Dec 25, 2016 06:22am
@sohail Kabir Ban comes into play later if distributors are selling their film. If India stops it films like water?
Recommend
Indian aurat Dec 25, 2016 09:31am
@Bilal Asghar every time there is a mention of Pak movies, it is always these standard 3or 4 movies mentioned. Is that all you have?
Recommend
thoughts Dec 25, 2016 11:23pm
@KARACHIwala Blame the people for the love of Hindi films. Pakistani citizens needs to take fair share of the blame as well, If there were no high demands for Hindi films then these would not have been shown in theatres in Pakistan.
Recommend
Aik Pakistani Dec 26, 2016 02:21am
They have already watched this movie in Pakistan
Recommend
Pakistan Dec 26, 2016 06:38am
Must watch movie
Recommend
Aan Dec 26, 2016 06:41am
@Jaydeep Malik how many usd business it did. Will it be in 500 cr inr Club. Eager to know.
Recommend
shahid Dec 26, 2016 08:41am
Hope its gets released in Pakistan next week.
Recommend
shahid Dec 26, 2016 08:43am
@Khan You are so naïve. We are doing Millions of dollars of trade with India. Nothing has stopped. Banning harmless thing like movies is sheer stupidity.
Recommend
shahid Dec 26, 2016 08:48am
@Indian aurat The truth is our industry ended when it was moved from Karachi to Lahore. The red light area got in the film business which finally led to its demise. Now thanks to Indiann movies we have many new multiplexes which has given a chance to young people from Karachi to experiment and make films. Its all in a very nascent stage and will end if multiplexes stop growing.
Recommend
shahid Dec 26, 2016 08:51am
@thoughts If there were no Indian movies there would be no new multiplexes and no revival of Pakistani films. Think what you are saying.
Recommend
Milan Bhise Dec 26, 2016 01:39pm
Hope people in Pakistan get to see this movie. Its another brilliant movie from Aamir Khan. Watch it to believe it. One of the finest movie from India. A must watch movie. It easily show the depth of Indian cinema.
Recommend
APK Dec 26, 2016 04:06pm
I’ve watched this movie from Dubai. This is one of the best Bollywood movies I’ve seen ever in my life. It is really a MUST WATCH kind of sports movie. As per this news I understood that it is not pakistan’s ban on Indian movies which stopped this movie from releasing in Pakistan screens but it is Indian movie distributes decision not to release in Pak. It is really sad. This movie should watch from theatre and not through pirated downloaded…; hopefully things will get streamlined soon and will release in Pakistan too in near future.
Recommend
Marvel Dec 26, 2016 08:20pm
@APK Read latest news. There is no restriction from indian side. Local distributors of pakistan are waiting for pm's permission.
Recommend