When the announcement of releasing ‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ in parts of India came to the spotlight, it gave many Pakistanis hope that they might be able to watch the upcoming movie ‘Pathaan’ in Pakistan as well.
However, the movie which was slated to be released in India in December was cancelled in the country due to increasing tension across the borders. Still, it did give many people hope to resume the screening of notable movies in Pakistan and India as well. Still is it possible? What’s the probability?
First ban
Pakistan first banned Indian movies in 1965 when the two countries went to war. The ban lasted over four decades before the country’s former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf allowed Bollywood flicks in local cinemas once again.
Permanent ban
The ban started in 2019 after the then-Pakistani government placed a ban on Bollywood movies across the country as the tension between the neighbours continued to rise following.
Since then, there has been no Bollywood release in Pakistan. The cinemas have been running Hollywood and local movies.
Release of Laal Singh Chaddha
In August 2022, after the release of Bollywood’s ‘Forrest Gump’ adoption titled as Laal Singh Chaddha in India, a petition was filed in Pakistan to release the movie in Pakistani theatres as well.
The movie was globally distributed by Paramount Pictures and would have been imported into Pakistan by the Cinepax Media group. However, the NOC to screen the movie was later denied by the Information Ministry.
Pathaan
Pathaan is an action crime thriller featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham in the leading roles.
The movie chronicles the story of Pathaan, a RAW field agent who went missing for three years and had no trace of him until terrorists captured him in his last mission. They torture him in an attempt to acquire the information, but he ultimately cuts himself loose and flees the enemies’ clutches.
On the other end of the story, Deepika Padukone, as a secret agent, is hunting a drug kingpin named Shabir Ansari, portrayed by John Abraham, but is unable to find any leads.
While Pathaan appears to be a typical spy thriller, it is truthfully setting up the story for future films in the YRF Spy Universe, and it may introduce new foes along the way who will play a key role in the future.
Can Pathaan be released in Pakistan?
After the release of ‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ was permanently stalled in parts of India, the chances of ‘Pathaan’ or other Bollywood movie being released in Pakistan are quite low.
Should movies be banned?
Bringing back Indian movies in Pakistani theatre can help the local cinema grow side by side. There is a need for policymakers to import Indian content in a manner that the local film industry is not ‘completely hammered and destroyed’.
Moreover, if Bollywood movies can lead Pakistan’s Netflix’s weekly chart and trend on Pakistani Twitter on and off then why should not screen in Pakistani theatres?
