Akshay Kumar too controversial for Pakistan
RAWALPINDI: In a move, likely to upset cinema goers, the censor board (CB) — for now — has stopped cinema houses from advertising Akshay Kumar’s latest Bollywood movie, Khiladi 786. CB considers the name of the movie controversial.
However, the jury is out and a final decision is still pending. But CB managed to force the advertisers and cinema houses to remove the billboards and not to release the trailers in the media or in intervals of other movies.
Khiladi 786, Akshay Kumar, makes a comeback, after the success of the last episode, Khiladi 420. The film was directed by Ashish R Mohan. The story of the film was written by Himesh Reshammiya and produced by Twinkle Khanna.
Finding the name Khiladi 786 objectionable, as 786, a number revered by Muslims, CB feared that it might hurt the sentiments of the majority.
However, CB Chairman, Dr Raja Mustafa Haider, did not disclose the final decision on the fate of the movie.
“We will decide it when the movie comes to us, before screening in the cinema houses,” he told Dawn and added that the board had imposed a ban on the advertisement of the film.
He said that the board had managed to convince the distributors to present the film without the number 786. The film was originally scheduled to be released for December 7.
“The appearance of banners for the film in Rawalpindi and other areas was brought in my notice and I asked City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) to remove all of them,” said chairman CB.
After receiving instructions from CB, District Coordination Officer (DCO), Saqib Zafar, assigned the task to the local police to remove all advertisement, with immediate effect.
“I have talked to the owners of cinema houses and they have assured me that they will not advertise,” the DCO told Dawn.
Local distributor, Suhail Mukhtar, said that CB had the legal right to alter the name, if it found it objectionable. However, he said that the screening of the film would not stop, unless it had objectionable dialogues and scenes.
I hate the polls. The questions are set in a way to promote certain answers over others. This fake journalism has killed our country.
Uff Allah! ’786′ has nothing to do with Islam.
I believe Muslims of my country need to learn the Islam first.
Get me any holy ascription that associate such numeral with any entity in Islam.
The number could revered to People of Pakistan in general, but revering it with Islam is totally baseless and in fact against the principles of the religion itself.
More Muslims in India than in Pakistan – they are indifferent to the controversy being manufactured across the border. Many are fans of Akashay Kumar and are probably looking forward to enjoy it. Is Pakistani society so fragile as to feel threatened by a Bollywood entertainer?
It is not Pakistanis society, it is Pakistani politicians trying to earn points. Do you remember Mr. Thackeray from Bombay?
the reason why pakistani cinema has failed.
So much hatred expressed by Indians and Pakistanies for each other !! I beleive peaple like me are aliens or a very tiny minority in both these Hate Filled Patriotic Nations (HFPN). Sometimes, I wonder if this has to do with Genetic Code of peaple living in Subcontinent or maybe scars of partition were tooo deeeep. Try to learn lessens from Europe. Frustrated Human surrounded by HFPNs
People may say its the kashmir issue etc.but I believe scars of partition are too deep.
“Finding the name Khiladi 786 objectionable, as 786, a number revered by Muslims, CB feared that it might hurt the sentiments of the majority”…
Have they forgotten that there are as many muslims in India and there is simply no way any movie can be released that offends the Muslims..
you are funny!!!!!!!!!
Grow up guys it is 21st century and you guys stil strugiling with 786 number…..world has gone far and you guys still sitting in same place and waiting to someone to feed….Now time has change, make good decisions and make good friendship with INDIA, And i think we indian understand each other and cares about you country…god bless pakisthan
Yes I agree with you, I wish and I hope one day we can become good friends. But please understand you can not clap with 1 hand. I would like you to take a map of India right after 1947 and 1 at this time. Do a comparison by yourself. This big India of today has become big at expense of Pakistan. You can not go on occupy our lands, build dams on our waters and deny people the right full rights. My good wishes are with all of you. It does not matter if you are a Pakistani or Indian. Work for peace and prosperity. Defeat extremism. Respect each other’s religion is first thing to start with. I don’t make fun of your gods. They may be gods to you but are just symbols to me. You will not like one of your god’s image put in some dirty place. I hope you know what I mean.
Where do we make fun of Allah? And what has 786 got to do with God? There are so many Muslims here itself who also say the same thing.
Barsaaat se bachne ki haisiyat nahin, picture ki baat karte hain aap log! Nonsense! Hamaare picture mat dekho! koi farak nahin padega!
Thanx god millions times, we have a separate country Pakistan. Thanks to the leadership of Jinnah………. No matter whatever the problems and hardships we face in Pakistan, its still million times better than living under Indian environment. Cant imagine of having an Indian passport if the partition had not taken place. I am not racist and don’t hate Indians as long as they live in their country and dont try to mix with us.
I think Indian movies should be allowed in Pakistan. Watching them make us feel lucky being non-Indian and being thankful to God for a separate land. Indians are born followers and can never be leaders by their instinct. Its historically proven. I wish Indian movies depict the true Indian culture and history rather than coping Hollywood and western culture. This makes them laughable.
I live in UAE and have a very good experience working and living among Indians. All my comments are based on my practical experience of 10 years living here. Racism and inferiority complex among Indians has made them behave harsh and rude to other nations. This type of behavior is noticed specially when you find Indians in groups or behind the computers. Sorry guys I am honest and have no intention to offend Indians if they read my comments.
I think we need to learn how to be patient and soft natured from Pakistan. People who are harsh and rude to others are not followers by the way.
You contradict yourself so much that we can make out that you are just plain and simply jealous. And, of course, I do not have any intention of offending Pakistanis if they read my comment. Just being honest you see.
That is one of the most ridiculously hillariously confusing comment I have ever read (probably).
Great. And what would your opinion about Pakistanis be? Unbiased opinion, please, if that’s possible for you to give…?
ha,ha,ha….ha..You fooling yourself buddy.
Tell the world what a great nation you are.,you will get your answer from all corners of the world
You may be honest, but silly. Your comment indicates your prejudice. You are contradicting yourself on every point in your brief comment.
You love pakistan so much that you live in UAE. Great patriot!
This number has no meaning in Islam – go ahead and use it for anything you want. I am Muslim/Pakistani and don’t watch Indian movies/dramas – they are crap to me no matter what name they have – please don’t take me wrong I do like many things Indians …
You mean, pirated CDs wont do rounds in Pak? How the producer of 786 will run his family if the pirated CDs are not sold in Pak?
Who cares man. Islam and modernity are two ends of the spectrum. Watch your Arab movies or other ones made by Taliban for you in your mainstream cities every week.
LOL..Arab movies…
Love it.
Pls save Pakistan by banning the movie.
You are right, all of ours problems will be solved by banning this movie
Counting in Pakistani schools -782,783,784,785,787…….(Uttering 786 is blasphemy)
Too Good !!
If the contents of the film were objectionable then I can see the logic to ban the film, but to ban the poster because it has the number 786 in it, is strange. I am sure the authorities have a lot more on their plate than to be so sensitive about the number.
With regards to the Hindu contributors to the comments, it appears you guys have nothing else to do either apart from critisizing every news item in this paper that you can use to crticize Pakistan. Why don’t you spend your energies on improving the lot in your own country. The example quoted by Zavia about the police arresting two girls re the demise of Bal Thackray is one. The exteremist views protrayed in the Indian press about Pakistan is another.
This is just an excuse to start a new controvorsy – I have seen 786 associated with several business names be it a restaurent, saloon, grocery shops as well as vehicle license plates
As the CB guys said, the movie will be screened IF the dialogues has nothing objectionable. 786 can be used on car plates, grocery shops etc, but using it in a film in a derogatory way is not the correct way.
How is it derogatory?? It’s just a name. And who the hell is CB to object to anything? I should be allowed to make my own decisions.
Is there ANYTHING that does not offend my muslim brothers??
So true…was about to ask is there anything that doesn’t offend muslims…maybe if a Muslim actor was there,it would have been acceptable to these hate filled community…
Ever why all non muslims are keen on doing “ALL” the stuff that offends muslims? Ever asked yourself why?
how did u judge it is offensive, just bcz Hindus making the movie, If SRK was producing it and working in it then u all would be fine with it, what should be most offensive is muslims killing each other in Pakistan but i guess u all have different priorities. destruction of society and civilization in your country is more offensive. And please we have more Muslims in India so dont lecture us. if there was anything offensive it would not have been cleared by Censor Board of India
in Veer Zaara , no 786 prisonor was SRK.
Its wrong to say “all” non muslims are doing it…..btw how come there is no sign of protest among Indian Muslims?
indian muslims are not narrow minded like pakistanis
bada majaa aata hain….
Respect
i have stopped watching indian movies since i saw some cabaret like dances on sufi music …
Have you stopped flying since the three air crashes, and have you stopped eating since salt and sugar kill?
And Bollywood is in a loss eveR since..
Ive actually done the same….stopped watching biased indian movies.
Doesn’t matter if u watch or not
Makes no different buddy. U r a drop in a ocean.
good. thank you.
Agh..now you have explained clearly why Bollywood is doing so well. It has cabaret dances based on Sufi music.
Bollywood just cares about the public (meaning their money). They don’t care to research or investigate the subject they present. The focus is always on glamour and rarely on content. One shouldn’t expect intelligentsia from a monkey show. The success of Bollywood is the reason for regression of art and culture in society.
With the money Indian movies are making in Pakistan and the number of jobs Pakistanis are creating in India, you and a few others not watching doesn’t matter. Don’t you think so?
@Ahmed Sultan: I think you guyz also need to grow on freedom of speech. “Mumbai Police arrested two girls on posting to Facebook on Balthakrey’s obituary” …. unbelievable.
good one.
REally how ? becasue u dont want to read the full thing. The girls got released the police who arrested the girls are suspended, the magistrate who bailed them transfered and the law is being reviewed if the law is mistake or the police did a mistake. See thats why u guys need to grow up. !!
Hehhhhh, did you ever care to read the firestorm that ensued afterward. The strong criticism right from the top to the bottom on this? The girls themselves accepting that the policemen kept them in custody to protect them from political goons. Followed by the arrest of the Shiv Sena activists, the arrests and suspension of policemen. This is a functioning system where there is recourse to some justice.
Now, think about the lawyers who were celebrating Qadri as a hero for the murder of Governer Taseer. Then about the state-sponsored elimination of so many courageous journalists – will their killers ever be brought to justice.
there’s no point justifying anything to these mindless ignorants.. they can and never will be equal to what we follow in our country… is there a law and order in pakistan even…
U need to grow up u dont even know how to reply to a comment then and there.
and for your info both girls are released. policemen who arrested them are suspended and my favourite part nobody issued a fatwa.
This comes from a nation where youtube is banned. LOL
Are you kidding me? In pakistan, you plant burnt quran pages in bags belonging to kids of minority religions, then you apply sharia, then you condemn them, them you stone them to death. You do all this and talk about India? You kidding me?
Wow, a Pakistani finds this unbelievable? Isn’t this the country where an 11 year old girl with Down’s Syndrome was accused of blasphemy, arrested and kept in solitary confinement, like a murderer/dangerous criminal for several weeks just because her neighbors verbally accused her of blasphemy and were actually beating her, a little child, viciously before her arrest?
I am suprised on this ridiculous decision!
Grow up People
The main reason is Khiladi bismallah can not be a name like Khiladi 420. This is too insulting.
Seems posters too should have a certificate from Censor Board.
I don’t see public registering any protest on this poster issue.
the number 786 is not a mystic number…it is a fact of history, a date on which a very important event occurred. To state that the number itself is revered and hence Muslims may be led astray by advertising a date from history is like saying no one must talk 1947 publicly as it might incite a riot due to feelings of hurt over mass butchery etc……
The religious dogma in social life is a fact as we can see and it is killing our sense and sensibilities….but the ACTUAL people who should be talking against this madness are actually too busy probably watching TV evangelists…….