India Shows its First Pakistani Film in 40 Years
09th April 2008
Not content with being one of the most successful Pakistani films of all time, Khuda Kay Liye has just become the first Pakistani film to be given a wide release in India for over 40 years. The film was very well received at its Indian premiere in Mumbai last week.
The critically acclaimed movie is bold and striking, dealing with the lives of Muslims following the September 11 terrorist attacks and President Bush’s so-called ‘war on terror’. The film, which is the first to be directed by television and music producer Shoaib Mansoor, has an Urdu title that is translated as In The Name of God.
Mansoor, who is also known as ShoMan, said that he made the film to cater to Western audiences. He said: “It's been (a) long (time) that terrorism has been linked with Muslims and it has become synonymous with the community. It was high time that an answer to this was given to the West ... That is the only reason that this film has mostly been made in English, to cater to the Western audiences.”
The film is the first to be given a full release in India since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, which saw India and Pakistan officially ban each other’s films. However, relations between India and Pakistan have improved significantly in recent years, so authorities have permitted a couple of exceptions to the ban. The first of these was in 2003 when India allowed the Pakistani film Khamosh Pani, translated as Silent Waters, to receive a limited release in the country. In 2006, Pakistan authorities permitted three Indian films to be shown in the country.
It is thought that the decision to release Khuda Kay Liye in India could allow many other Pakistani films to be shown in the country.
Source:
The Independent