India to show first Pakistan-made film in 43 years

MUMBAI, (AFP) - A Pakistan box-office hit on Friday became the first film from that country to be released across theatres in India in more than four decades, its director told AFP. "Khuda Kay Liye" (In The Name Of God) stars Pakistani actors Shan, model Iman Ali and India's Naseeruddin Shah, who plays the role of a Muslim cleric.

Produced by Geo Films, the movie, which ends a ban imposed after the 1965 war between the two neighbours, describes a struggle by moderate Muslims to preserve their religious beliefs following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

An Indian couple take a look at the poster of the Pakistani film "Khuda Kay Liye" (For the sake of of God) at a cinema hall in New Delhi on Friday.

The storyline revolves around two pop musician brothers in Lahore. One falls under the influence of extremists while the other travels to the United States and is detained."I am happy to see this day. It is most satisfactory that 'Khuda Kay Liye' is the first Pakistani film to be released in India after 43 years," director Shoaib Mansoor told AFP.

Shortly after its release last year, "Khuda Kay Liye" won the special jury award at the 31st Cairo International Film Festival in December. It was reported to have collected more than 70 million Pakistani rupees (1.1 million dollars) at the box-office from a budget of 60 million rupees.

"The movie is a big hit in Pakistan. I hope that Indian audiences will like it," said Bollywood movie producer-director Mahesh Bhatt. Pakistan's government outlawed all Bollywood films after the 1965 war with India over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir. The Indian government countered by imposing a ban on Pakistani films.

New Delhi and Islamabad have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since independence from British rule in 1947. However, ties have improved since the launch of a slow-moving peace process in 2004. And in 2006 Pakistani theatres showed the first Indian film to be released in Pakistan since the ban.

In recent years Bollywood stars have attended film festivals in Pakistan, while Pakistani actors have featured in Indian productions. Recent Bollywood hits such as Aamir Khan's "Taare Zameen Par" (Stars On The Ground) and "Welcome" have been released in Pakistani cinemas.

Movies produced by India's Bollywood film industry -- the world's largest -- have a huge audience in Pakistan via illegal DVDs and private cable television channels. The Bollywood industry has flourished in recent decades, producing nearly 1,000 films annually, while Pakistan turns out about 40.

"There is a misconception about Pakistanis in India. I hope this film will make Indians understand our society in total," Mansoor said."(A release in India) opens up a new and huge market for our films. The same is the case for Indian films, which see good interest in Pakistan," he said.