Despite ban, Bollywood thrives in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD. August 27. KAZINFORM. Despite a ban on Indian films imposed in 1965, ads for these popular productions are increasingly appearing in the pages of local newspapers. Even under the chilled relations between the two countries, Indian films have never lost their audience in Pakistan; Kazinform refers to Arab News.

For their part, officials say that the ban is still in effect with the exception of classic Indian films, films made under joint venture with Indian and Pakistani producers or films funded in part by financial backing in Pakistan.

Pakistan Central Board of Censors Chairman Malik Shahnawaz Noon told Arab News that no permission has been granted to allow any other types of Indian films to be shown legally. Shahnawaz said that his office has been "flooded" with inquiries into why these films are being advertised and shown in the country.

"We had about 880 cinema houses," he said. "But most of the cinema house owners have demolished their cinemas and have built shopping malls in their places. There are only 254 cinema houses left across Pakistan, which screen Pakistani or Hollywood movies."

Still, clandestine cinema houses flourish for Bollywood fans in Pakistan. Police regularly raid and shut down these viewings.

Meanwhile, Shahnawaz said the exemptions made under former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf - especially the one allowing Indian films made under joint ventures with Pakistani producers - would hopefully revive a once-thriving Pakistan film industry; Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.