Ban Indian films, demands Pakistan daily

A leading Pakistani newspaper Friday sought a ban on Indian films, warning this was the only way to help the local cinema “develop and thrive”.

The Nation said the government should meet a demand made in Lahore Wednesday by a group of artists, singers and directors that cinema houses should stop screening Indian films.

“This would help the national film industry develop and thrive,” the daily said in an editorial.

“There are lots of cinema houses which screen only Indian movies and do not show any interest in playing Pakistani movies. The result is a gradual decline of our own film industry,” it said.

It warned that “by not banning Bollywood films being shown in every nook and cranny of the country, we would only be letting the Indians succeed in their ploy of invading us culturally”.

A 1965 ban on Indian films in Pakistan was lifted only in 2008. But despite the ban, Bollywood productions were a craze all over the country.

Bollywood stars are a household name in Pakistan. Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are the most popular actors while Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee are among the most sought after actresses.

In the mid 2,000s, when the ban was still on, two Pakistani FM channels broadcast Hindi film songs daily. And a film critic told IANS in 2004 that there was no town or village where Indian movies were not seen.

The lifting of the ban in 2008 has legalized Indian films, which until then would mostly be smuggled.

While theatre owners favour Indian films, saying this alone brings them profits to remain alive, Pakistani producers are opposed to Indian movies, arguing that Bollywood is killing them.

The Pakistani cinema industry, based in Lahore (Lollywood), is miniscule compared to Bollywood.

The Nation claimed that according to a group of Pakistan movie directors, “certain self-seeking individuals associated with Lollywood are reaping huge benefits by making huge investments in India”.

The editorial said the government should ban Indian films from Pakistani cinema houses as well as private TV channels “that keep broadcasting them”.

Aamir Khan fined for traffic offence

Bollywood megastar Aamir Khan was fined Rs.100 for driving into a no-entry zone here Sunday evening, police said.

Khan, accompanied by his family, was driving his silver-coloured BMW car when he took a wrong turn and entered the no-entry zone, Satara city’s traffic in-charge K.N. Patil said.

“Our traffic policemen immediately stopped him and pointed out that he was driving on the wrong side,” Patil told IANS.

However, Khan’s security guard attempted to argue with the traffic personnel, and asked them to spare him since he was a big star.

However, Khan intervened and agreed to pay the fine, Patil said.

Justifying the action, Patil said that “the law is equal for all” and Khan was no exception.

The incident occurred at Powhai Naka, near the Shivaji Statue in the heart of Satara town, which normally witnesses heavy traffic.

Khan and his family members had gone to view the famous Kaas Valley, and were going to Panchgani hill-station, where he owns a bungalow.

Ghazal loses its soulful king in Jagjit Singh

he soulful voice behind many a popular ghazal was stilled forever with the death of Jagjit Singh here Monday following brain haemorrhage. He was 70. Some of his songs like “Hontho se chhoo lo tum”, “Jhuki jhuki si nazar” and “Tumko dekha toh yeh khayal aaya”, continue to remain all-time favourites.

His death left not just his friends, family and colleagues teary-eyed, but also a huge void in the music industry, which was enriched with his soul-stirring and lilting melodies.

Singh was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here Sep 23 following a brain haemorrhage. A surgery was conducted on him the same day, following which he showed slight improvement.

However, he breathed his last Monday morning. He is survived by wife Chitra Singh, who was by his side when he breathed his last.

The film industry remembered the singer and many paid condolences through Twitter.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan posted on the microblogging site: “The sonorous silk voice of Jagjit Singh silent now!! A great loss to the world of music and Ghazal …Prayers and condolences.”

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman tweeted: “Rest in Peace Jagjitji…No one can replace your voice and the perfection you had towards your art.”

Singh will be cremated at Chandanwadi Crematorium at 4.30 p.m. in south Mumbai Tuesday. The cremation is expected to draw several celebrities. His relatives from Rajasthan have already arrived.

Born to a Sikh couple in Rajasthan Feb 8, 1941, Singh went on to pursue a post-graduate degree in history from the Kurukshetra University in Haryana. He came to the country’s entertainment capital, Mumbai, in 1965, in search of work as a singer.

A Padma Bhushan award recipient, Singh has sung for many popular Hindi films. He had also sung in several languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Nepali. His career boasted a repertoire comprising 50 albums, and he readily contributed to the ghazal, devotional and Bollywood market.

Music icons like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle feel his music will live on.

“I can’t imagine the days when I will no longer be able to hear his silken voice, no longer be able to talk to him or listen to his new songs. Now his old ghazals is all we have. His soothing voice, his warm hearted nature are all gone now. He was the pride of India. I also feel bad for his wife Chitra, she is all alone now,” said Asha Bhosle.