Wednesday, April 19, 2006javascript:; London-based millionaire looking for ââ¬ËAnarkaliââ¬â¢ in Pakistan
Staff Report
LAHORE: A London-based millionaire plans to find ââ¬ËAnarkaliââ¬â¢ in Pakistan in a television hunt spreading over six months. The Tv show that aims to rock the South Asian television world would be a joint production between Akbar Asif, the son of the legendary Indian filmmaker K Asif and a prominent Pakistani satellite Tv channel.
Asif, whose fatherââ¬â¢s historical epic Mughal-e-Azam is due for general release in Pakistan on June 2, 2006, plans to follow the release with a television extravaganza ââ¬ËAkbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talashââ¬â¢. The programme will involve well-known international and Bollywood celebrities as judges and will be aired globally.
The winner of the programme is set to bank a cash prize of Rs 11,100,000 and a film contract. Another cash prize of Rs 2.5 million is set for guessing the name of the person who would crown the winner. Asif has successfully managed to open the cinematic gates of Pakistan for Bollywood films by winning permission to release Mughal-e-Azam in the country. He generously gave a print of Mughal-e-Azam as a gift to President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to London. About the proposed programme, Asif said, ââ¬ÅThrough the Anarkali Ki Talash programme, I want to bring the people of Pakistan and India together by creating a sense of friendship that would last beyond our lifetimeââ¬Â.
He said that there was no collaboration at the moment in the Anarkali Ki Talash adventure but he was negotiating with a major Pakistani Tv channel while other major channels also showed interest. Once the deal goes ahead, an international Tv cooperation would be created to make the programme a worldwide attraction. Asif believes his creation would be the ââ¬Ënext big thingââ¬â¢ to hit television in the subcontinent. ââ¬ÅI hope it earns as much money as possible, as all the proceeds are promised to charityââ¬Â, he said.
In the original release in 1960, K Asifââ¬â¢s magnificent epic was based on the legendary love story of Prince Salim and Anarkali. It is the biggest film that has ever been made in Bollywood. Mughal-e-Azam took an astonishing 15 years to complete and boasted a magnificent cast that included Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Nigar Sultana. It had the kind of grandeur that had never been seen in India and broke all records when it was released. Decades later, it captivated an entire generation, the black and white epic was converted to colour and re-released in 2004. The lavish colour version became a runaway hit. Then it became the first Bollywood film to be certified in Pakistan in many decades.
Asif commented, ââ¬ÅI cannot express how much Iââ¬â¢m looking forward to the release of my fatherââ¬â¢s film in Pakistan. The rest of the world has had a chance to see the restored colour version of the brilliant movie in all its glory and now audiences in this great country will have the chance to do the same. I want to thank everyone that has made the momentous release of the movie happen and want to reserve special praise for President Musharraf.ââ¬Â
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\04\19\story_19-4-2006_pg13_8
Staff Report
LAHORE: A London-based millionaire plans to find ââ¬ËAnarkaliââ¬â¢ in Pakistan in a television hunt spreading over six months. The Tv show that aims to rock the South Asian television world would be a joint production between Akbar Asif, the son of the legendary Indian filmmaker K Asif and a prominent Pakistani satellite Tv channel.
Asif, whose fatherââ¬â¢s historical epic Mughal-e-Azam is due for general release in Pakistan on June 2, 2006, plans to follow the release with a television extravaganza ââ¬ËAkbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talashââ¬â¢. The programme will involve well-known international and Bollywood celebrities as judges and will be aired globally.
The winner of the programme is set to bank a cash prize of Rs 11,100,000 and a film contract. Another cash prize of Rs 2.5 million is set for guessing the name of the person who would crown the winner. Asif has successfully managed to open the cinematic gates of Pakistan for Bollywood films by winning permission to release Mughal-e-Azam in the country. He generously gave a print of Mughal-e-Azam as a gift to President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to London. About the proposed programme, Asif said, ââ¬ÅThrough the Anarkali Ki Talash programme, I want to bring the people of Pakistan and India together by creating a sense of friendship that would last beyond our lifetimeââ¬Â.
He said that there was no collaboration at the moment in the Anarkali Ki Talash adventure but he was negotiating with a major Pakistani Tv channel while other major channels also showed interest. Once the deal goes ahead, an international Tv cooperation would be created to make the programme a worldwide attraction. Asif believes his creation would be the ââ¬Ënext big thingââ¬â¢ to hit television in the subcontinent. ââ¬ÅI hope it earns as much money as possible, as all the proceeds are promised to charityââ¬Â, he said.
In the original release in 1960, K Asifââ¬â¢s magnificent epic was based on the legendary love story of Prince Salim and Anarkali. It is the biggest film that has ever been made in Bollywood. Mughal-e-Azam took an astonishing 15 years to complete and boasted a magnificent cast that included Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Nigar Sultana. It had the kind of grandeur that had never been seen in India and broke all records when it was released. Decades later, it captivated an entire generation, the black and white epic was converted to colour and re-released in 2004. The lavish colour version became a runaway hit. Then it became the first Bollywood film to be certified in Pakistan in many decades.
Asif commented, ââ¬ÅI cannot express how much Iââ¬â¢m looking forward to the release of my fatherââ¬â¢s film in Pakistan. The rest of the world has had a chance to see the restored colour version of the brilliant movie in all its glory and now audiences in this great country will have the chance to do the same. I want to thank everyone that has made the momentous release of the movie happen and want to reserve special praise for President Musharraf.ââ¬Â
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\04\19\story_19-4-2006_pg13_8
