MAR 6 - The Federal Government has allowed the screening of Indian movie Mughal-e-Azam in Pakistan. It is to be shown to audiences either at the end of April or the start of May.

Cinema owners are hoping that Mughal-e-Azam along with Taj  Mahal and Sohni  Mahiwaal, the other two Bollywood movies approved by the federal government for screening, will give a boost to the country's collapsing film industry.

Nadeem Mandviwalla, the owner of the Nishat cinema in Karachi said that all the three films have the ability to bring the film industry back to its feet.

"I cannot say whether the movies will be a hit, but demand is high. I have been getting phone calls asking when we will be putting on Mughal-e-Azam," he said.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the income generated through screening of the film would be utilized for charitable causes.

The ministry’s letter issued for media said that distributor had been given an undertaking that he would be charged subsidized rates for media publicity.

"It's a start. These Indian movies have been opened after a gap of 40 years, so there is no doubt that they will bring in business. Obviously, they will not attract as many people as a Shahrukh Khan or an Amir Khan movie, but they will attract audiences back to cinema houses," Mandiwallah added.