Karachi, (Dawn): The management of Lahore’s Super Cinema has announced in a Facebook post that they will cease the screening of all Indian films in their cinema.

Karachi’s Nueplex Cinemas followed suit; the management conveyed this to its patrons in a post on the social networking site late last night:

“To express solidarity with the Armed Forces of Pakistan, the Management of Nueplex Cinemas has decided to stop the screening of Indian films with immediate effect. We will keep our patrons informed of further developments in this matter.”

The two cinemas are currently running Pakistani films Janaan, Actor In Law, Maalik and Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay and Hollywood releases, Sully, Storks and The Magnificent Seven. Super Cinema is also running Hollywood films, Howl and Deepwater Horizon.

The screening of Bollywood film, the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Pink, has been stopped.

While Atrium cinemas has yet to make a public announcement, its website reveals that the cinema’s management has also decided against the screening of Indian films.

This is the latest development on the cultural front of Pak-India tensions, as the two countries exchange fire across the LOC, resulting in the capture of one Indian soldier and the killing of several others. Pakistan also lost two soldiers yesterday to the exchange of fire.

Earlier, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) “banned” Pakistani actors, singers and technicians from working in India till “normalcy” returns. This move followed earlier pressure on Pakistani artistes to ‘leave’ India in 48 hours. While no prominent Pakistani artiste was present in India, upcoming concerts of Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam have been cancelled.

There has been mixed reaction amongst Bollywood stars.

n an interview with Indian Express, Phantom actor Saif Ali Khan extended his support to them, before adding that the decision is ultimately up to the government.

“The world is open to our film industry and our film industry is open to talents from around the world especially cross border. We are artists who talk about love and peace.”

“The government has to decide these things. The government must make decisions about law and order and who is allowed and who isn’t,” he shared.

Student of the Year leading man Varun Dhawan said something similar: “If by banning actors, terrorism can be stopped then they should do it. That is something the government needs to decide first.”

Whereas director Karan Johar who has Fawad Khan playing a small but integral role in his upcoming movie, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, said banning Pakistani actors was not the solution.

“If this was truly a solution, one would take it but it’s not. I don’t believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art.”

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is also of the same opinion as KJo, and questioned those in favour of the ban.

“Karan Johar said a very good thing. If you want to send Fawad Khan back, send him, but what are the next five steps you’ll take? You tell me, what are the next five steps you will take after that?”

The problem, he asserted, did not lie in sending Pakistani artistes back home. “What problems will be solved after sending him? What will be your next step after sending him. At least tell us what are your next five steps.”

However, not everyone adopted such an approach. Veteran actor Anupam Kher revealed that he felt Pakistani actors must condemn the September 18 Uri attack.

When asked about it at an event for channel Zindagi, he said, “It is really important to say that ‘I condemn the unfortunate massacre of Indian soldiers’. They (Pakistani actors) need to do that. We have always shown our goodness and friendship.”

“The responsibility of the actors who work across the border with us should be to condemn the terrorists who killed our soldiers. I’m not saying you condemn your country. Politically, it may not be the correct move.”

[Photo: Bollywood. Photo by Micheal Theas/Creative Commons]

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