Javed Akhtar Has These Strong Words For Pakistani Artistes In India After Pahalgam Attack
Following a terror attack in Pahalgam, FWICE has called for ban on Pakistani artists in India. Javed Akhtar supports the ban, citing one-way traffic in cross-border collaborations.
Following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 that resulted in the loss of 26 civilian lives, Ashoke Dubey, General Secretary of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has called for a complete ban on Pakistani artists working in India. Hence, a movie titled Abir Gulal, featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to release in India.
When asked for his opinion on the matter, lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar stated that while there are two important sides to the issue, Pakistani artists should not be allowed to work in India, at least for the time being. Akhtar, the co-writer of iconic films like Deewaar and Sholay, pointed out that there has been 'one-way traffic" when it comes to cross-border collaborations, with no invitation extended to Indian legends to perform in Pakistan. He even gave the example of Lata Mangeshkar never been invited to perform there.
'There are two answers, and both of them are equally logical. You can toss a coin to find the right one. It has been one-way traffic – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali and Noor Jahan came to India, we gave them a great reception. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, who was a poet of subcontinent – he was living in Pakistan because he was born there, but I wouldn't say he is a Pakistani poet, he was a poet of peace and love – when he came to India during the AB Vajpayee regime, he was treated like a state head," Javed Akhtar said.
However, the lyricist pointed out that this gesture has never been reciprocated by Pakistan.
'I have no complaint against the people of Pakistan. Big poets of Pakistan have written poems on Lata Mangeshkar. She was, hands down, the most popular Indian artiste in Pakistan in the 60s and 70s, but why was there not a single performance by Lata Mangeshkar in the country? There was some blockage, which was the system, the Pakistani establishment, which I don't understand. This is one-way traffic, which is not right," he asserted.
Mr. Akhtar also pointed out, however, that by blocking Pakistani artistes from working in India, India would be playing into the hands of the neighbouring country's army and fundamentalists.
'The second, equally valid, point of view is that if we block Pakistani artistes in India, who are we pleasing in Pakistan? The army and the fundamentalists. This is what they want – a tall wall between India and Pakistan so Pakistanis cannot see the kind of freedom and privileges every citizen of India enjoys. They want distance, it suits them. Bonhomie doesn't," he said.
'Both these questions are equally valid. But, at this moment, I would say no (to Pakistanis working in India)," he added.
Sources from the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry revealed last week that the Bollywood film Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to release in India. This decision comes after strong opposition from various groups, including Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, who had protested the film's release, initially scheduled for May 9. Many cinema halls also announced they would not screen the movie. Additionally, two songs from the film that had been released earlier have since been taken down from YouTube.
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