Posted:
21 Mar, 2012, 09.05AM IST, Bharti Dubey,TNN
Agent Vinod: Pakistan bans Saif Ali Khan's movie for showing general in 'bad light'
MUMBAI: Saif Ali Khan starrer Agent Vinod, which is scheduled to be released on Friday, has been banned in Pakistan. While agency reports attributed the ban to a reference to the ISI, Pakistani distributor Amjad Rashid said the film indicated an anti-Pakistan stance.
"All the 10 members of the Pakistan Film Censor Board decided to ban the film because our country has been portrayed in bad light," Rashid told TOI over phone from Karachi on Tuesday. "I was to release the film but have decided against it after watching the film. Any film that shows my country or religion in bad light will be thrown out," Rashid said.
Director Sriram Raghavan , however, said, "We were cautious about not hurting any sentiments. Kareena Kapoor plays a Pakistani in the film. There are good people shown in the film except for one. I can guarantee that Pakistan has not been shown in bad light and it will be known to people on Friday.''
Another Pakistani distributor H Rehmati said, "A Pakistani army general has been shown in poor light. He is shown watching a mujra which was objected by Pakistani intelligence officials who came to see the film.
It is unfortunate this is the second Saif-Kareena film that has been banned in Pakistan .''
On an average about 50 Indian films are released every year in Pakistan. Earlier, films like Kurbaan, Gadar and Tere Bin Laden were banned for the same reason and Delhi Belly and The Dirty Picture were banned because of "lewd" content.
Rashid said, "I had spoken to Eros International, the co-producer of the film, as the promos did indicate anti-Pakistan feeling but they denied it. But the film scared us as they have used names of Pakistani officers apart from that filmmaker has used shots of Karachi city and airport without taking permission.'' He added entertainment should facilitate the peace process between both countries.
"All the 10 members of the Pakistan Film Censor Board decided to ban the film because our country has been portrayed in bad light," Rashid told TOI over phone from Karachi on Tuesday. "I was to release the film but have decided against it after watching the film. Any film that shows my country or religion in bad light will be thrown out," Rashid said.
Director Sriram Raghavan , however, said, "We were cautious about not hurting any sentiments. Kareena Kapoor plays a Pakistani in the film. There are good people shown in the film except for one. I can guarantee that Pakistan has not been shown in bad light and it will be known to people on Friday.''
Another Pakistani distributor H Rehmati said, "A Pakistani army general has been shown in poor light. He is shown watching a mujra which was objected by Pakistani intelligence officials who came to see the film.
It is unfortunate this is the second Saif-Kareena film that has been banned in Pakistan .''
On an average about 50 Indian films are released every year in Pakistan. Earlier, films like Kurbaan, Gadar and Tere Bin Laden were banned for the same reason and Delhi Belly and The Dirty Picture were banned because of "lewd" content.
Rashid said, "I had spoken to Eros International, the co-producer of the film, as the promos did indicate anti-Pakistan feeling but they denied it. But the film scared us as they have used names of Pakistani officers apart from that filmmaker has used shots of Karachi city and airport without taking permission.'' He added entertainment should facilitate the peace process between both countries.
I demand that Agent Vinod be shown to my people! 😡
Let them decide if they're offended or not!
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