<i>Mughal-E-Azam</i> gets overwhelming reponse in Pak: Akbar Asif

Thursday, April 27, 2006
Mumbai, (UNI): K Asif's classic Mughal-E-Azam, the first Indian film released in Pakistan after a gap of 41 years, is running to packed houses there, legendary filmmaker's son Akbar Asif, who owns a copyright of the movie, has claimed.

The film's screening in the neighbouring nation, was possible due to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf giving the nod for the film's release, after Akbar Asif presented him with a print of the movie in 2004, Akbar said in a statement issued here.

He expressed his happiness over the full-colour version of Prithviraj Kapoor-Dilip Kumar- Madhubala starrer Mughal-E-Azam being screened in Pakistan from April 22, after the audience in many other countries earlier had a chance to watch it.

''General Musharraf reached out a hand of friendship and helped us to take this momentous step...my joy increased when I got reports of how well the film was being received in Pakistan,'' Akbar said.

Elaborate plans were initially made to release the film in the presence of actors from around the globe and fireworks.

''We initially wanted the film to get a grand premiere, but the thought struck me a few days back that a film of the epic nature of Mughal-E-Azam needs no grandiose in terms of release. The film is itself the biggest and the grandest epic made in India,'' he said.

Asif said the move, to be the cultural bridge between the two nations, was to fulfil his father's dream of screening Mughal-E-Azam in Pakistan.

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