Hindi
Pak lifts ban on Indian films on ‘barter’ condition
MUMBAI: After a gap of about four decades, Pakistan has lifted the ban on Indian films. But there is a condition attached: for every Hindi film screened in Pakistan, the doors have to open in India for an Urdu movie.
Khuda Ke Liye is the first Pakistani film to be released in India.
In 1968, the release of Indian films in Pakistani cinemas was banned and Pakistan lost one of its competitors. The net result was a loss of large business circuit and isolation of Pakistani cinema industry for years to come.
Produced and directed by Shoaib Mansoor, Khuda Ke Liye is a film about Muslims in a post-9/11 world. The film is slated to open in India on 4 April 2008, making it the first ever Pakistani film to be released in Indian theatres by Percept Picture Company and music by Sony BMG.
Pakistan and India might have their long-held differences, but Pakistani moviegoers prefer Bollywood productions to those of their own filmmakers. As a result, Pakistani producers say their industry is in critical condition, and unless the government steps in, it could disappear altogether.
The opening of dialogue and political doors to establish new ties and improve bilateral relations will promote cross border co-production possibilities that can hugely benefit Pakistani film industry by eyeing India as new potential market to launch its films.
Khuda Ke Liye, with India‘s Naseeruddin Shah also in a prominent role, is the latest export from Pakistan to Bollywood adding on to the ever-increasing list of entertainment goods imported from Pakistan such as singers, musicians, actors and now films.
As compared to India‘s film production of over 1,000 movies in a year, Pakistan‘s film industry produced just 40 movies in 2006, a fifth of what it turned out during its heyday in the 1970s. Back then, there were more than 1,000 movie theatres throughout the country. Today, there are only around 200, and not one in the capital Islamabad.
In the 1930s when Pakistan and India were still united under British rule, there were two competing centres of the film industry – Lahore, “Lollywood” in Pakistan, and Bombay (Mumbai), the home of India‘s fabulously successful ‘‘Bollywood‘‘ filmmakers.
These days, of course, there is little question as to who won the competition. Bollywood is not only big, but it is the world‘s biggest, producing more films per year than any of its competitors including the US. It is hard for Pakistan to compete.
The thawing relations look set to go both ways and both countries are working hard on a sweeping peace process.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
