Pakistani film industry can survive without Indian films: Ashir Azeem
Not him but the entire fraternity of producers faced being sidelined by huge Indian starrers: Azeem
(Web Desk) – While conversing with script writer of 2015 hit film, ‘Jawani Phir Nahi Ani’ and host of ‘Mazaaq Raat’, Vasay Chaudhry in the programme, ‘Maalik’ director, Ashir Azeem said that Pakistani film industry could survive on its own without Indian films lending any support.
While talking about the latest ban imposed on Indian films after tensions at the border, Azeem complained that Pakistani films were margilanized with imported content.
Narrating his experience in the recent past, he said a week after ‘Maalik’ was released and was doing well at the box office, Shahrukh Khan’s ‘Fan’ came that was given over 300 screens across Pakistan and a local film which in the case was ‘Maalik’ was trivialized.
Not him but the entire fraternity of producers faced being sidelined by huge Indian starrers, he added.
Adding to the debate, Azeem said that an Indian film, supposedly made with Rs 600 million budget, when was invited to be exhibited in Pakistan, a paltry Rs 7,000 custom duty was paid.
He demanded off the government and films body concerned that Pakistani producers and filmmakers should at least be given "equal footing" to contest with Hindi films so that it is left with the audience to decide what they wanted to watch.
It should be added here that ‘Maalik’ was banned by the federal government under Motions Pictures Ordinance 1979 a week after it was released for potential of allegedly fanning anti-democratic sentiments.
The film incurred losses and the director, Ashir Azeem is involved in a legal battle against the ban on film’s exhibition.
Pakistan had partially lifted ban on Indian films in 2008.
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