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Indian TV stars are not happy about Pakistan's ban on Indian shows

Indian TV stars are not happy about Pakistan's ban on Indian shows

How this decision will affect the cross cultural exchange of TV shows between the countries, that is yet to be seen
03 Sep, 2016

The cross cultural exchange of shows between India and Pakistan might see a decline after PEMRA's recent crackdown on Indian TV shows airing in the country and Indian TV stars are gutted.

Indian TV shows have been deemed “sensitive in nature” by Pemra and Chairman Pemra Absar Alam has enforced an air time on the shows. He said, "Pakistani TV channels can air Indian content with less than 6% of total air time, starting October 15, 2016.” Any additional airtime for Indian or foreign content on local TV channels will result in legal action from Pemra, he added.

Hindustan Times reported that TV stars across the border are the least happy with this decision, citing various reasons that will impact the industry and its exchanges between the two countries.

“This decision will definitely affect the cultural exchange between the two countries. I have grown fond of Pakistan due to the love I have got from my fans there. We connected over my show. Does the [Pakistani] government want to cut off the mutual ties that exist now?” questioned one popular Indian TV star Divyanka Tripathi.

Hiten Tejwani of popular show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi found it 'unfathomable' that such a decision has been taken. “The Pakistani government should allow more Indian shows to be aired. Why should all channels, actors and fans suffer because of this blanket order? People should understand that entertainment shouldn’t be targeted,” he said.

Actor Iqbal Khan is adamant that people will find a way to continue watching their TV shows, regardless of the ban. He said, “Nothing can stop entertainment. People who love Indian shows will find a way to watch them, be it online or through pirated means."

While the ban in Pakistan may not affect the Indian industry by a large margin, the impact of the decision is yet to be seen.

“The Middle East and regions in Africa have Indian channels, which are hugely popular there. Moreover, audiences in South-East Asian countries love Indian shows. These countries have bigger, newer markets for Indian channels. The Pakistani government’s decision might affect the channels, but only in a miniscule way. What will be interesting to see is how this decision affects the channels that air Pakistani shows in India.”

Comments

Lucas Garcia Sep 03, 2016 12:05pm
Why should the Indian actor be not happy for airing it. Are Pakistani Dramas and Pakistani Movies being showed in Indian Cable and cinema. NO! Then they should be keeping their emotions on thier sleaves
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Junaid Sep 03, 2016 12:07pm
What real merit is there in lifting the ban? I have nothing against India or the Indian people, but their TV shows are very low quality crap, they aren't real TV programs, they're just fashion shows, and our viewers would be better served by being shown content from other countries around the world instead of being kept fixated on India. Let us have cross-cultural exchanges with other countries, because that will actually be productive for our nation.
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reality Sep 03, 2016 12:25pm
Answer is simple; get mature and bring something new instead of SAAS BAHU
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Sonny Afridi Sep 03, 2016 12:31pm
I really enjoy Turkish dramas dubbed in Urdu. Indian stuff is garbage sorry to say. I support the limitation. My views.
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IndianGuy Sep 03, 2016 02:09pm
By this logic, now the Zee Zindagi channel should limit its air time for Pakistani shows to only 6 % of the total air time from its current share of almost 80 % airtime.
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Pakistani Sep 03, 2016 02:26pm
I don't think if many people watch them now.
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Yousefzai Sep 03, 2016 03:29pm
No, Pakistani channel allowed in India, either news or entertainment. Except the zindagi tv and that too for last two years only. Indian TV channels are being broadcast everywhere in Pakistan from so many years, Even Indian movies being showed in cinema regularly but are Pakistani movies allowed to show in India. Take the example of Bin Roye, they have ban it in Maharashtra just for being a Pakistani movie? BTW the Indian saops and shows are crap, It should've been banned long ago.
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prafulla Sep 03, 2016 03:44pm
@Yousefzai I have seen " Bol" & " Khuda Ke Liye" in India, both the movies are wonderful & liked by everywhere in India. Direction of the the movies are class.
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Zi Sep 03, 2016 04:01pm
Tit for tat. Why complain?
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SMALL TWEET Sep 03, 2016 04:21pm
@Yousefzai . Bin Roye is Flop movie which relased in all over india except Maharashtra
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Dr.Sadaf Sep 03, 2016 07:48pm
We are also not happy about many things, those many things should be sorted out before any cross cultural exchange interventions.
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chand nawab Sep 03, 2016 11:45pm
What about releasing Pakistani films in India? Why no one complains about that?
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chand nawab Sep 03, 2016 11:46pm
@prafulla What about WAAR?
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PRADEEP KUMAR Sep 04, 2016 08:29am
@Lucas Garcia: I think you are not aware that there is a TV channel (Zindagi) totally dedicated to Pakistani dramas.
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Karan Oberoi Sep 04, 2016 04:29pm
@Lucas Garcia yes...pakistani shows are being aired in india. There's a channel named Zindagi which specifically shows programmes from across the border- pakistani and Bangladeshi. Almost 80 percent of them are pakistani. And we indians love those programmes. That's how Fawad Khan became famous here n started getting bollywood movies..
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Syed Ahmed Sep 05, 2016 02:17pm
@Junaid agreed with u
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Rik Sep 05, 2016 09:21pm
Being an 'industry guy' myself i can safely state that blame goes not to the public, they watch what you give, not to the channels, who treat stuffs in bulk rating points and not in qualities, but to the production houses...most of the people, be it actors, directors, come from outskirts or other cities and to stay around and remain within the job requires money, which is easily available through these shows. Quality doesnt, but money flows around these sets, they bring trackers and cranes even on days when they arent required. What disturbs me is that these people continue to work in these platforms even after they have attained financial stability, getting used to the lavishness and not willing to go further. The result is this messy whirlpool. The few quality series like Siyaasat, Dariba Diaries and 24 do not have enough clout to turn things around, and growing grasp of webisodes suggest tv quality will not turnaround anytime soon.
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Jawad pakistani Sep 06, 2016 06:32am
No one will miss SAAS B BAHU THIi in pakistan
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