New Delhi: In spite of an official ban on Kabul Express in Afghanistan, the video market of Hindi movies in Kabul is flooded with videos of the Bollywood film and it is witnessing huge demand among the Afghans.
Agency reports say rentals of Kabul Express videos have registered a sharp increase as compared to other Bollywood stuff thanks to high demand among the Afghans. The demand has shot up especially in the past few days in the wake of the government's decision to ban the movie in the country..
The Afghan Government has decided to ban the film as parts of it were "deemed offensive" to one of Afghanistan's ethnic minorities. Kabul Express is all about a journey by three journalists through the war-ravaged country. The government fears certain derogatory remarks in the Kabir Khan film about Shia Hazaras might offend the minority community.
Four days after the Afghan government banned the film's screening in the country, the rental for the movie has shot up to 30 Afghanis as against 10 Aghanis for other films in the local market, the reports said. The price of a DVD of the film has jumped from 50 Afghanis ($1) to 100 Afghanis, but people said getting hold of copies was no problem.
Afghan citizens say when it was easy to grow and buy opium in the country, it was 'ludicrous' to believe that the sale of a film can be stopped. Some also pointed out the official curb on public screenings is meaningless as Afghanistan does not have many cinemas and as the film is yet to be released in the country.
The Hazaras, who form only about 15 per cent of the population, are generally poor, and have traditionally suffered social discrimination. The ban helped to take the sting out of fiery speeches condemning the film and seeking its ban that were made at a meeting at Khatimulanbiah mosque in Dashtbarchi locality here, where many Hazaras live.
Popular Afghan filmstar Hanif Hum Ghum plays has a prominent role in the movie, which also casts Bollywood stars John Abraham and Arshad Warsi.
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