<i>Tajmahal</i> doesn't make the cut

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Lahore (UNI): Just as it failed to enthuse the Indian cine-goers, Akbar Khan's Taj Mahal -the first Indian film to be released in Pakistan-proved a dud in Pakistan too. Despite the much fanfare with which the film has been launched, the audiences rejected the film, based on the Mughal history, as a story ''told too many times'' and ''lacking the spice and the star cast,'' Daily Times reported. Many movie-buffs did not find the story too convincing and think if the film had stars as Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee instead, it would have been a huge draw.

The country, where Indian films and stars are quite popular, is also the alleged hub of pirated CDs and DVDs of hit Indian movies. The availability of the Taj Mahal DVD in the market has also affected the prospects of the film to a large extent. Various cine fans, responding to a series of series of queries regarding the film, said though the overall look given to the film by extravagant sets and special effects was good the story was slow and the songs were not as ''livelier'' as expected by them.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Aamir Zulfiqar, who was at the Sozo World with his family to watch the movie, said, ''The film was slow and the story of the Mughals had been told too many times.'' Ghulam Nabi Khan, a retired government official, said he enjoyed the film thoroughly and it would help educate the younger generation about their historical past.

Nadeem Aslam, a marketing professional, said the film did not do too well in Pakistan because of the lack of stars. ''Had Shahrukh Khan or Rani Mukherjee acted in it, Pakistanis would've definitely taken a liking to it,'' he said.