Sunday 18 December 2016

Pakistani cinema owners to lift self-imposed ban on Indian films today

Likely to pave the way for potential money-spinner Dangal, Pakistani theatre owners are likely to lift their self-imposed ban on Indian films today, reports Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune.
"A big media group and film exhibitors/distributors in India are trying to release Dangal in Pakistan. They are testing public sentiments and also the government's reaction by releasing Freaky Ali at CineStar cinema," said an owner of a film distributing company to Express Tribune.

Freaky Ali was released in India two months ago. Aamir-Khan starrer Dangal is scheduled to release this Friday.

Pakistani theatre owners had suspended screening Indian films after the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), in October, banned Pakistani artists and technicians from working in India. IMPPA's decision followed September's Uri terror attack that killed 19 soldiers.

"Cinema business has been hit immensely and all stakeholders felt it was the right time to begin screening Indian films. It was always a self imposed suspension, not a ban. So I'll be releasing Freaky Ali in our cinemas and other cinema owners will follow suit," said Zoraiz Lashari, chairman Film Exhibitors Association, to the newspaper.

Freak Ali is meant to pave the way for the release of more Bollywood films.
"We will first test waters with these unreleased films and then begin negotiations with Indian distributors to continue the import of movies into Pakistan," said the owner of the distribution company.

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