Pakistanis wants more Bollywood movies released in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani moviegoers are finding it hard to celebrate the government’s decision to allow screening of Indian films in the country as there are not enough cinema halls to meet the demands of the audience.

In this port city of Pakistan, cinema halls and multiplexes have been screening the latest Bollywood movies like Race, Taare Zameen Par, Awarapan and Welcome since last month, all running into packed shows.

With Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Bhootnath also slated for a countrywide release on May 9, Nadeem Mandviwalla, owner of the plush Nishat cinema says exhibitors are now finding it difficult to accommodate the latest releases.

“We are already screening Race since last month and it is doing good business. We are also running a special noon show of Taare Zameen Par and we have advance bookings from schools and corporate houses for special screenings,” he said.

“In the last few years the cine business was so bad that many halls closed down and owners converted them into shopping malls or offices. But now I think the trend will have to change to accommodate all latest Indian and English films.”

Qaiser Rafiq, owner of the Prince cinema, which is also screening Race and Taare Zameen Par, said there were some 800 cinema halls nationwide in the early 1970s when the Pakistani film industry was booming.

“Now the number has come down to around 250. But the new releases are bringing back business,” he said.

Leading media groups ‘Aaj’ and others have also entered the business of being media partners in the release of latest Bollywood films.