Are Indian singers really banned in Pakistan?

New Delhi, March 11: As if the new low in Indo-Pak relations was not bad enough, a group of Indian singers and filmmakers have begun striking discordant notes, questioning why the Government is rolling out the red carpet for Pakistani singers when Indians are not welcome across the border.

Artistes Abhijeet, Rajeswari (daughter of Lakhsmikant of the Pyarelal duo), Anup Jalota, filmmaker Shakti Samant and Azad Kamal shot off letters to the Prime Minister's Office, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Defence and Home Ministries late last month, seeking a patient hearing, under the banner of National and Public Interest Society.


Although the artistes asserted they had not ganged up against their Pakistani counterparts, they demanded equal treatment. Pakistanis love popular Indian music and the singers who render them. But the problem is I am not welcome in Pakistan,'' says singer Abhijeet.

He points out how ghazal singer Jagjit Singh was asked to leave before a performance in Pakistan and how Lata Mangeshkar has never been issued an invite.Why are we falling flat in welcoming them,'' questions Abhijeet.

This group says they are trying to impress upon the Government to persuade Pakistan to open its doors to them, to perform and cut records. In short, make available to them the opportunities India extends to Pakistani artistes.

The subtle message here is: if we are not welcome in Pakistan, how are their singers performing in India? Abhijeet sums it when he says, We offer them the best hospitality here. This, when Indians are banned in Pakistan. As a singer, I want to higlight the dual policies being followed by the two countries.''

There is, of course, another related problem. The success in India of Pakistani singers like Abida Parveen, Farida Khanum, Ghulam Ali and more recently Adnan Sami (though his agents deny he is Pakistani) is an opportunity that has been denied to the Indian side.

While the Indian Music Industry says the sale of recordings of Pakistani singers is miniscule when compared to Indian figures, the fact remains that singers from Pakistan have made a huge impact here, if the invitations issued to them are any indication. Adnan Sami's media advisor says the singer's ex-wife is from Pakistan and his parents are settled in UK and too much is being made of his Pakistan connections.

But Jalota says he would like Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to ask President Musharraf to reverse his anti-India policy. Ghulam Ali and Mehdi Hassan should inform their President about the treatment meted out to Indian artistes,'' says Jalota.

If front-ranking Pakistani singers can strike more than a chord in India, why should Indian singers be left behind? They come here and go back dripping in diamonds. I think it's unfair,'' says a singer.

Samant is more blunt: Their singers are collecting money from performances and record sales while we are denied that. If our artistes want to shoot there, they should be allowed to do so. Lata was never invited while Noor Jehan came and was followed by others.''

No restrictions are placed. We are stopped from performing anywhere there. It's time to address the issue,'' he says.

@bold -- how old is this article? 😕