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Banning Indian films in Pakistan will only bolster piracy, say local cinema owners

Banning Indian films in Pakistan will only bolster piracy, say local cinema owners

Though local cinema owners stand in solidarity with Pakistan, they don't deny that bans are bad for both nations
Updated 05 Oct, 2016

Last week, Pakistani cinemas declared an indefinite ban on the screening of Indian films following the Indian film association's ban on Pakistani talent, but how will it affect local cinemas? We find out.

Speaking to Images, Khorem Gultasab General Manager of SuperCinema, Lahore, explains that the suspension was provoked due to the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association's (IMMP) ban on local talent. "Naturally, we were bound to take action on two accounts: 1) to show solidarity with our army; and 2) to show solidarity with our Pakistani actors," he says.

"The nation's dignity and pride supersedes any business or monetary value," Gultasab adds, citing that although 50-60% of the revenue generation came from Bollywood films alone, the decision to suspend Indian films was an "instant agreement" from local stakeholders.

He believes "it's time to show India that its trade bodies cannot ban our actors and not expect retaliation. They must not forget that Pakistan is the third largest market for Indian films."

Now that re-runs of old Pakistani films are hitting cinemas along with current films, the GM emphasises that Pakistani cinemas cannot survive on Pakistani films alone.

He gives us the breakdown: "There are 52 weeks in a year, the lifespan of any film is 1 week, a blockbuster, 2 weeks. There were a total of 15 Pakistani films released last year, this year so far there have been 6, of which only 3 worked, the others flopped. Even if you double the amount of each film's run-time with the few films released, you're still left with 40-42 weeks of empty screens. What will cinemas do for those weeks?"

"The nation's dignity and pride supersedes any business or monetary value," says a cinema manager in Lahore, citing that although 50-60% of the revenue generation came from Bollywood films alone, the decision to suspend Indian films was an "instant agreement" from local stakeholders.

Like many, Gultasab too hopes the ban is lifted soon. "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."

Sharing similar sentiments, Nadeem Mandviwalla, owner of Atrium cinema, Karachi and Centaurus cinema, calls the resolution passed by the IMMP "very immature and unethical".

"We did this because of IMPPA's resolution," he says of the suspension. "We (stake holders) had to respond quickly. There was no time to call a meeting to discuss." Hours after the ban was announced, the necessary stake holders reached the conclusion to suspend screening of Indian films effective immediately.

"The trade association is supposed to improve relations, not destroy them," Mandviwalla argued, stating that the current Pak-India relations are very delicate, and should not be inflamed at such a time, especially by trade associations.

Speaking of the suspension in the long-run, he says, "It will hurt them, it will hurt us. It will hurt legitimate business stake holders. The winner is the pirate."

Although he reveals there has been no decrease in footfall in cinemas yet, however, if the suspension is prolonged, it'll result in "hurting cinemas here", due to which he urges that "sanity should prevail".

Mohsin Yaseen of Cinepax (Karachi) management echoed the same sentiments with regards to footfall. Customers are still breezing in through the doors to watch local and Hollywood films.

Until the ban on Indian films is lifted, local cinemas are playing longer runs of recent releases as well as re-runs of last year's films for example, Ho Mann Jahaan and Bin Roye, so if you missed those the last time, you can watch them now!

Bollywood flicks PINK, Baar Baar Dekho and Mohenjo Daro were playing at Cinepax last, before they were removed. All other Hindi films like Mirzya (October 7) and Shivaay (October 28), which will be released subsequently, will not be screened at Cinepax, says Yaseen.

"It (the suspension) was a decision made by the management itself," he explains. "We haven't received any complaints regarding the removal of Indian films from our consumers, and we've started playing old films from last year with a mix of the new ones."

Although it's too early to judge footfall in less than a week of the suspension, however the long run might take a toll.

The temporary ban, which will go on for an indefinite period, is in accordance to IMPPA's resolution, state the managements of the aforementioned cinemas. Till their ban on Pakistani talent is lifted, the suspension will continue.

Until then, local cinemas are playing longer runs of recent releases as well as re-runs of last year's films for example, Ho Mann Jahaan and Bin Roye, so if you missed those the last time, you can watch them now!

Comments

indian Oct 05, 2016 01:05pm
as a indian i do not want any relation with pakistan. i support ban of indian films and serials in pakistan. and also want ban to be PERMANENT rather then temporary.
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smash Oct 05, 2016 01:07pm
Ohh this is nice.. Why don't you screen Chinese films instead !!
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Rajat Joshi Oct 05, 2016 01:13pm
Yes. Please ban our films..and for God's sake..don't screen them, ever!
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wellwisher Oct 05, 2016 01:14pm
by bringing in customers, Indian films were helping cinema industry, revival of local films was a drag effect of hindi films
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Mahendra Oct 05, 2016 01:15pm
Do not worry, after CPEC completion, all such problems will be resolved. Meanwhile enjoy hollywood and chollywood (I mean chinese) movies.
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Salman (Kashmir, INDIA) Oct 05, 2016 01:17pm
It's time Pakistan realized the price it has to pay for being in bad books of India. Time to learn somethings from East Pakistanis (now Bangladesh).
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Ismail Oct 05, 2016 01:20pm
Of course cinema owners will say this, The ban will hurt their profit margin and they will do whatever it takes to reverse the ban.
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Sarcastic Scoundrel Oct 05, 2016 01:24pm
I second your thoughts @ INDIAN ... because I know Pakistan needs Indian Media, more than Indians need them. Its a simple case of demand and supply. They have a great demand for Indian media, and even the supply is in abundance. However, if they put this "imposed ban" to show "solidairty", they are the ones who will suffer, not us..... I want IMMPA to make this ban permanent on any Pakistani wishing to work in Indian Cinemas.
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Qamar Valliani Oct 05, 2016 01:24pm
No more vulgar Indian movies and TV channels.
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Fandom Beyond the Border Oct 05, 2016 01:26pm
Relax Indian friends. Indo-Pak relations with roller-coaster twists are more or less like Bollywood movies. Things will turn to normal and all other business will run as usual. This is the story of two long lost emotional brothers.
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vijesh Oct 05, 2016 01:40pm
@Fandom Beyond the Border This time its different mate...
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Satt Oct 05, 2016 01:50pm
Pirates works irrespective of ban or not.
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Unkown Oct 05, 2016 01:50pm
50-60 % loss !!! that is significant as Pakistani film Industry was just begining to stand on its feet ...
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alvira Oct 05, 2016 02:02pm
shutting down would be a better option
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Hussain Oct 05, 2016 02:02pm
Cinema should introduce other country's movies like Korean and Chinese, Bollywood copy from them like we run Turkish Dramas in dubbing we can run same in movies
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trueminds Oct 05, 2016 02:02pm
Only impact is loss of people who are associated with cinema and increase in piracy.
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Sharad Oct 05, 2016 02:04pm
When the news for ban came, there were tall comments from some Pakistani people about how they don't need Indian films. I was looking for their comments, couldn't find much.
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Lafanga Oct 05, 2016 02:05pm
Every true Pakistani should watch each film, minimum of 3 times, so that our film industry can compete with Bollywood.
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Ashish Oct 05, 2016 02:20pm
@Lafanga And can you Please confirm who will pay for these Tickets .
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Ritesh Oct 05, 2016 02:21pm
I watch Danish Ali comedy videos on YouTube :)
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asad Oct 05, 2016 02:25pm
pakistan film / drama industry suffered the biggest blow when shifted to punjab.
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TMK Oct 05, 2016 02:27pm
Very silly excuse of piracy. online watching and streaming already available. if Indian banning the Pakistani films or movies then Pakistan too.
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Yousefzai Oct 05, 2016 02:41pm
Ban them, for the sake of our Kashmiri Brothers. These money they earn they use on pelting our brothers on other side of Border.
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suhas Oct 05, 2016 02:51pm
India will not lift ban on Pak artists anytime soon. So Pak to decide on how to save the dying industry.
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Adeel Oct 05, 2016 02:59pm
Awesome, ban these worthless movies on the big screen... Its time to cut off Bollywood revenue stream from Pakistan.
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Adil Oct 05, 2016 03:31pm
Why not invite Fawad to every theatre... watching him Live should draw more crowd and through Indian cinemas...naee
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Ali Oct 05, 2016 03:33pm
I wish putting ban were of any help for India or Pakistan. Everything is being done due to political influence. They both should fetch benefits from each other instead of destroying. Non of the them would go for war for sure. So if cant fight so better compromise and fetch benefits.
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Okhan Oct 05, 2016 03:37pm
We call ourselves patriotic but cant stop Watching indian movies, what a shame
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Whistle_Blower Oct 05, 2016 03:42pm
We only have a handful cinemas.. charging a lot of money.. but in return Pakistan gave crores of rs on the indian movies.. in the end whatever it is, indian industry looks to miss out on 50 to 75 crores from Pakistan. We will watch pakistani and hollywood flicks. a pretty pathetic argument by the cinema person in the article. a few weeks ago we had 2 pakistani one indian and two hollywood flicks in the cinemas.. we survived. get lost indian media..
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Truth Oct 05, 2016 03:49pm
Does anyone really buy an 'original' movie print, in India or Pakistan? If you can buy one for a mere $1 why would you shell out $10 -20 for the original? Quality not withstanding.
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Deepak Oct 05, 2016 03:49pm
Do you know that US and China benefit from India Pakistan tensions. The leadership of these countries don't even think.
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AXH Oct 05, 2016 04:03pm
@indian - "..as a indian i do not want any relation with pakistan. .." Funny, how you are still commenting in a "Pakistani" newspaper.
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haris Oct 05, 2016 04:05pm
@Hussain : Not only Bollywood, many Hollywood movies are either inspired or copy-cat of Chinese and Korean movies. 8 years ago, I have started watching Korean and Chinese movies and immediately fell in love with their cinemas. Frankly speaking I was shocked to witness almost all of the movies have already been copied by Hollywood. Bollywood chases Hollywood and you can imagine what is going to happen when you copy from a copied material. Good bye Bollywood and Thanks God , it is truly a blessing in disguise. But I feel sorry for the cinema owners and their staff.
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AXH Oct 05, 2016 04:05pm
@smash - "...Ohh this is nice.. Why don't you screen Chinese films instead !!.." Actually, Chinese films with sub-titles would be much better than the movies that are bad copies of Hollywood movies.
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SKMallick Oct 05, 2016 04:12pm
Has Fawad Khan secured any assignment in PAK film ? Any news of his signing up a film in Pakistan ?
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Sudhanshu Swami Oct 05, 2016 05:00pm
@Qamar Valliani I wonder when people say that internet is bad, its fraud, it serves porn etc. It depends that how those people are using internet. Similarly you are saying that Indian movies are vulgar. It depends on what one sees. People go for Bajarangi bhaijan with family and enjoy. You watch other types of movies. Cinema halls serve everyone.
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Raunak Oct 05, 2016 06:42pm
@AXH Lol. If that's the case, why hasn't Pakistan started showing those amazing Chinese movies then.
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Fatima Oct 05, 2016 06:47pm
I think it is a great need of the hour to ban Indian channels feom being aired.there is nothing but rubbish aired ,no education and nothing worth watching for our especially younger language.in addition to that they are misled into world of glamour and fantasies.it is also ruining the language of our youngsters.so banning it would not cause any harm rather it will be benifitting for our media and we would be better able to convey our generation our culture and lifestyle.
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Arpan Oct 05, 2016 06:56pm
@Fandom Beyond the Border Haha so true!
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Javed Oct 05, 2016 07:14pm
Bravo!! Please keep the ban long enough so that Bollywood starts suffering and few Cinema complexes have to shutdown.
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Akram Oct 05, 2016 07:19pm
For the first time i agree with the indian commentators here. They want the indian films banned in pakistan too.
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Malik Oct 05, 2016 08:09pm
National interest above all, kudos to Pakistani Cinema owners.
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iltifat Oct 05, 2016 08:18pm
These Indian actors have so much hate for Pakistan. We might as well not watch their crappy Hollywood copied movies. We should show solidarity with out country and stop watching Indian movies. This will also stop promoting their culture, values, and ill-mannered language in our Muslim county.
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R YEGYA NARAYANAN Oct 05, 2016 08:21pm
Pakistani talent has nothing to do with the success of Indian cinemas. They run because of their actors and story value. What Pakistani actors earn by acting in Indian cinemas is a fraction of what the theatre owners earn by showing them. We are happy that Pakistani theatres are not showing Indian films. Indian diaspora is present across the globe. Why should we reward Pakistani actors, musicians, sportspersons etc when Pakistan is hell bent on causing pain to India. The sheer duplicity is amazing!
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Thoroughthinker Oct 05, 2016 08:26pm
Piracy by its definition is a negative action. Those who are patriotic would refuse even to watch such versions even if free.
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Jonty Rhodes Oct 05, 2016 08:37pm
Indian films and serials or for that matter of fact, any Indian content should be banned permanently in Pakistan. It would be interesting to see how Pakistani industry survives without Indian cinema.
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Beleiver Oct 05, 2016 09:00pm
I do not think in long run it will effect Bollywood financially. Donestic and western market keep growing for Bollywood movies.
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Heera Oct 05, 2016 09:05pm
how can I miss Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Karan Johar has some different films that are entertaining!
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Prateik Oct 05, 2016 09:10pm
After all, the cinema owners and their employees have to feed their families.
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hello Oct 05, 2016 09:33pm
If you really want to ban stop downloading also..... What is the fun in criticizing India in public...... While watching pirated Indian movies in home. I think the aim for ban should be to stop cultural invasion by India...
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Salman Oct 05, 2016 09:41pm
Piracy is much better then giving money to india that is used in anti pakistan activities .period
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really? Oct 05, 2016 10:23pm
"They must not forget that Pakistan is the third largest market for Indian films" Not in terms of revenue. By far the largest market is India. US , UAE and UK are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th largest markets in revenue terms.
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really? Oct 05, 2016 10:30pm
@TMK "Very silly excuse of piracy. online watching and streaming already available. if Indian banning the Pakistani films or movies then Pakistan too." Indian government has not banned Pakistani media. Individual channel owner (Zindagi channel) or trade body (IMPAA) may have taken that decision. In Pakistan though a government body (PEMRA) has taken that decision. That is fine PEMRA has the right but there is a difference in the 2 situations and I wanted to point that out. @Whistle_Blower "We only have a handful cinemas.. charging a lot of money.. but in return Pakistan gave crores of rs on the indian movies.. in the end whatever it is, indian industry looks to miss out on 50 to 75 crores from Pakistan. " How did you conclude that India would lose out on 50-75 crores? The bulk of revenues go to Pakistani distributors less than 5 crores goes to Indian producers annually.
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really? Oct 05, 2016 10:32pm
@AXH "Funny, how you are still commenting in a "Pakistani" newspaper." He/she is commenting on an article about India
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Manjit bajwa Oct 05, 2016 11:13pm
Ask your Pakistani citizens not to watch Indian movies even not pirated ones if they truly respect their country.
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Dervaish Khan Oct 06, 2016 12:04am
Please ban Indian movies. Our style of movies was the best. I wish to see movies of Sultan Rahi once again on to the silver screen.
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Guest Oct 06, 2016 02:02am
Sorry but the local Cinema owner have used these excuses long enough. One should ask them why they dont give enough screen time to local production while giving more to Indian movies.Stop crying encourage people to support local content. had they spent more money on local production rather than getting indian movies they would not be in this scenario now
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Guest Oct 06, 2016 02:04am
@SKMallick yes two FYI
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Hemant Oct 06, 2016 02:29am
Whether you allow screening or not Pakistan is a hub for piracy of Bollywood.. Please stop it officially and ensure no print reach Pakistan. There many Turkish, Iranian and Arabian/ egiptian films to fill in period when Pakistani film is not available. Additionally there should a mandatory Chinese film viewing for all Pakistani population to ensure funds for CPEC!! You can also re run old Pakistani films! So think of opportunities rather challenges...
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Waseem Oct 06, 2016 03:37am
Who cares? Piracy that impacts India, not Pakistan. Good luck
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Relax Oct 06, 2016 04:35am
@Fandom Beyond the Border appreciate your cool headed matured response to the general bellicosity I see here very much brother.
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Relax Oct 06, 2016 04:38am
@Lafanga You are so smart. please tell us how many times you have done what you advise others and please give us a guesstimate of how much it will cost.
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Mamataz Oct 06, 2016 04:51am
@indian : Like a bickering marriebyd couple who live happily after separation, it is best that India and Pakistan should just go their separate ways and have no relationship whatsoever. Stop this hate-filled obsession with each other forever. Just let a generation or two pass by, hopefully we can forget each other's existence, and then all this military spending can be reduced especially in Pakistan's case. Pakistan can ill afford the high cost of defence. Thanks
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Sailani Oct 06, 2016 05:08am
The IMMP came up with the ban and then the Cinema Owners came up with their own ban. Instead of talking and not getting politically involved in this tit-for tat charade. I think both sides have to be blamed. The IMMP played right into the hands of the political party. The IMMP took upon itself to be the judge and the jury and gave a terrible verdict. The Government of India could have cancelled the visas of the visitors if they so desired. Art promotes peace, if you stifle Art then you are playing right into the hands of those few who do not want the two nations to be prosperous. The Cinema Owners on the other hand did not think this over, they did not have an A, B or C Plan. In running a business they should not think emotionally. Maybe this is their chance to get involved in making movies. The two countries have been at war many times and then things changed but never for the better. I say there is still hope.
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venkob Oct 06, 2016 06:26am
@Lafanga Yes, great idea. But how many times can you watch 15 movies released in a year. 45 in total and you also end up watching them again on TV. Those 15 movies are not even equal to the movies produced in a remote part of India.
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Waseem Oct 06, 2016 06:33am
@Rajat Joshi why do YOU read Pakistani papers... double standards... tisk tisk.,
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mohsin Oct 06, 2016 06:58am
Instead of depending on Indian cinema alone, the cinema owners should diversify. All over the world and especially in Europe movies from different cultures and countries are dubbed into German, Italian, French etc and exhibited in their respective countries. They do it even in Turkey and Iran. So why not here. Iran makes films of international standards, so do many other countries. These films can be dubbed into Urdu and screened here like the Turkish TV dramas. The screening of Indian films and TV will always be dependent on relations between the two countries and this love-hate thing is here to stay for a long time. So instead of moaning the film distributors and cinema owners should think out of the box. One never knows where the next blockbuster may come from.
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Manoj Oct 06, 2016 07:06am
@Hussain bravo ban indian movie permanently
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kumar Oct 06, 2016 07:13am
@haris Use this opportunity to boost up the quality of pakistani films. If your artistes can do well in India , I see no reason why they cannot thrive in a quality film making environment. Also the banning of Bollywood to be made effective you should also ban piracy of Hindi films. Good luck and enjoy your self imposed ban.
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Omar Oct 06, 2016 07:33am
Should have tougher piracy laws and make an example of those involved in it. We need to be firm in banning Indian media and propaganda in Pakistan. They have shown themselves to be a most untrustworthy Neighboor. Even looking at the comments here, one realizes that they are amber complexed bunch.
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NAVAL Oct 06, 2016 07:46am
There is lot of talent in pak film industry. This is the time when they can make good films with a substance and will be hit in box office becoz of demand. Govt. should also help. (as people will have no other option). In this way slowly but surely pak film industry will grow. I m Indian but I don`t like Indian films . 90% are bakwas.
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LAFANGA Oct 06, 2016 08:52am
@Ashish I will pay for tickets from my college fees
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Pune-India Oct 06, 2016 09:07am
If this Indian movie ban will continue..I am sure after one year Pakistan's Multiplex Culture will be wipe out slowly slowly..
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prajakta Oct 06, 2016 09:12am
Take it in good sense...you are getting chance to improve your local cinema.. Dont worry about Indian It can make money anyways....
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Shaz Oct 06, 2016 09:26am
Regardless Indian movies & misc media should be banned at all costs, just take a glance at last week's LoC escalation, Indian media is articulating from A to Z about surgical drama!
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Akil Akhtar Oct 06, 2016 09:29am
That is good as piracy is death of any film industry...I mean indian film industry
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Pune-India Oct 06, 2016 09:58am
@AXH : To tell u, Pakistan is depending on India but not India on Pakistan..
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Krishankant Oct 06, 2016 10:43am
People will find ways to see Indian contents including internet and piracy.
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Anwar Amjad Oct 06, 2016 10:59am
Shortage of Pakistani movies is a temporary phase because soon the production will catch up with the demand. However Indian film industry has lost a major market. Indian film producers were earning millions of US Dollars without incurring any additional costs. Piracy will again be a loss to the Indians.
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SIDD Oct 06, 2016 11:07am
As being a Hindustani, I wish to ban everything , tourism, medial assistance, film, business etc till the all disputes end. once LeT, HuM, JeM will not be completely destroyed by Indian-Pak Military , that day will not come in near hundred year
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gogo Oct 06, 2016 10:42pm
@AXH Just to let you know how he feels.
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thinker Oct 07, 2016 01:30am
banning in pakistan does not affect Bollywood in anyway. The reality is that the money from screening in Pakistan it is not even a drop in the bucket.
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Ap Oct 07, 2016 06:29am
Essentially, when people from pakistan argue that we are like lost brothers..share the same culture..etc..they demonstrate how flawed the two nation theory was
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Mallik Oct 07, 2016 07:08am
@Hussain Can Pakistanis tolerate korean vulgarity?
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Pune-India Oct 07, 2016 10:06am
Don't worry CPEC will resolve this problems when it will complete..
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Sharat Mathur Oct 07, 2016 10:56am
Well, the longer the ban is in place, the greater the certainty the cineplexes will become financially unviable and shut down. And in the absence of exhibitors where does locally made content get shown. A downward spiral in effect.
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Parmesh Marker Oct 07, 2016 04:02pm
I am watching bollywood films since my childhood while living in Pakistan Karachi from Dilip Kumar Raj Kapoor till to date Sid Malhotra Varun Dhawan. Bollywood nowadays giving excellent subjects which are very much useful to our daily lives, TAARE ZAMEEN PE, 3 IDIOTS, PINK, PK are an entertainment movies but also a public service message for the people living in society. Pakistani movies subject are either love story or comedy but people never happily enjoy movies like Manto or O21 and film like Maalik is banned due to which people get confused either we much watch it or not. No doubt Khuda Ke Liye and Bol were both an excellent subject but we need to make more and more subject oriented films where there is freedom of speech with entertainment and if we cannot make such kind of films I suggest watch bollywood films at least its an entertaining movies with public service message.
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chicago Oct 08, 2016 12:43pm
So what do you think Indians are not pirating Hollywood, almost every other Indian movie is copied from Hollywood. If they do it it is Waoo, and we do that oh it is piracy. Get a life people.
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Salman Oct 08, 2016 08:13pm
Piracy is much better then giving money to ur mortal enemy
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STHF Oct 09, 2016 12:14pm
"it's time to show India that its trade bodies cannot ban our actors and not expect retaliation. They must not forget that Pakistan is the third largest market for Indian films." No it's not. 1) Entire Pakistan has less movie screens (70-80) than Hyderabad or Bangalore. 2) Bollywood movie releases in more than 90 countries. Pakistan is just one of them. 3) PK earned more than $120 million against $3.3 million collected by Waar. Highest grossing Pakistani movie to date. 4) PK earned more than $16 million in China. This is far more than the entire Pakistani film industry, cinema screens included. Now that I have throughly debunked that Bollywood needs Pakistan as a market please go ahead and ban Bollywood PERMANENTLY.
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