Mughal-e-Azam to show in pak cinemas

Mughal-e-Azam could come to Pakistani cinemas

* Producer of film’s colour version requests Musharraf to grant permission
* Film was produced in 1960 by K Asif

By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE: The government of Pakistan could allow the screening of the colour version of Mughal-e-Azam, a historical flick from Bollywood, in Pakistan, official sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.

Sources said that President General Pervez Musharraf was taking personal interest into the matter. A Muslim producer of Bollywood, the late K Asif, had produced and directed the black and White movie with a huge budget in 1960. After 44 years, his son Akbar Asif adopted the idea to colour the movie with the help of commuter technology and hired over 100 technicians for the task.

Sources said that Akbar Asif had met President Musharraf in the United Kingdom last week and presented him a CD of the coloured version of Mughal-e-Azam with a request to allow it to be exhibited in Pakistan. “President Musharraf thanked him for presenting him the CD. The president assured him that he would seriously consider his request,” sources added.

Sources said that President Musharraf had directed the authorities concerned to look into the matter and forward him a report. “It appears that the government will grant permission to Asif Akbar for the exhibition of Mughal-e-Azam in Pakistan,” they said.

Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad expressed ignorance of the matter.