This Eid was an unconventional one for the cinema goers and film buffs as two big Pakistani films Wrong Number and Bin Roye were being released with a Salman Khan starer Bollywood film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The competition to grab more shows and receive bigger public response was inevitable and it happened as per speculations and expectations (read fears).
Initially, the fate of Bajrangi Bhaijaan to get released on Eid in Pakistan was undecided but later the film was not only censored unanimously by central and regional boards but also got number of shows more than Wrong Number and Bin Roye. All of these films are doing good, according to initial unofficial box office reports, with Bajrangi Bhaijaan leading the race and earning more than combined earning of both Pakistani films. This outcome, which will get clearer as official box office reports arrive in coming days, is also as per speculations and expectations (read fears again).
The competition, in a positive sense, got more interesting when Yasir Nawaz, the director of Wrong Number, invited Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who was not even celebrating the Eid in Pakistan, to come and watch his film “instead of” accepting the similar invitation by Bollywood’s superstar Salman Khan, which he made few days ago on twitter suggesting premieres of both countries to watch his film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Read the tweet by Salman Khan below.
Wld lv n respect if the leaders of Indo-Pak see Bajrangi Bhaijaan bcoz lv for children is above all boundaries @narendramodi #nawazsharif
— Chulbul Pandey (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 16, 2015
Now watch the video message by Yasir Nawaz, which he shared on his facebook page and we uploaded on Galaxy Lollywood’s page (in case it ever gets deleted by the director), below.
In the video message Yasir Nawaz not only invited the PM Nawaz to watch and support his film, Wrong Number, but he also forbid him to support Indian film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He further reminded (or informed) the Prime Minister about the lack of government’s support for Pakistani filmmakers and people associated with the film industry.
The nature of invitations by both celebrities is different but the trepidation of Pakistani director, of having a cut-throat competition with a much bigger Bollywood film, is obvious in his message. Bajrangi Bhaijaan has a strong Pakistani element in it and it can be considered, only cynically, a publicity stunt made by Salman Khan to promote his film, because in terms of numbers the revenue it will generate from Pakistan will just be a fraction of worldwide collections. A goodwill message was only going to make a good impression about the film and it did it successfully.
More: Read Galaxy Lollywood exclusive review of Wrong Number here.
It should also be noted that Bajrangi Bhaijaan is not the first Bollywood film which is being released along with other Pakistani films. Last year, the similar situation happened with two big Pakistani films, Operation O21 and Na Maloom Afraad, vying with Bollywood blockbuster Bang Bang.
The panic-stricken message of Yasir Nawaz is not giving a good impression majorly for the reason that, and as I said above, this is not the unprecedented situation and people have been watching and supporting Indian films since 2006, when the ban on Indian films was lifted by then government, so, the choice of watching and supporting a film should be left with the public and also the PM Nawaz, if he likes to watch a film in cinema. After all, the film is a product which you are selling and you cannot sale it by earning sympathies. Public is the best judge of your product’s quality.
The second part of Yasir’s message for the PM Nawaz is more important one. Pakistani filmmakers are making films without any kind of government support and this is an incredible achievement. The government’s support to construct film studios and state of the art infrastructure for film making is much needed and it is the high time government thought about their priorities. Films can bring positive change in the society.
Both Pakistani films are doing well despite having less number of shows and tough competition. All shows are going almost houseful and people are making advance bookings to watch any of these films after Eid holidays. This is a positive sign and it shows people need more cinemas and more good Pakistani films.
It would be really interesting to know which film Prime Minister decides to watch finally, if he makes any such decision. Its probable that he might go for Minions.
