Zindagi Channel To Off Air Pakistani Shows
Zindagi is the first channel in India to air Pakistani content on television. After the much highlighted MNS controversy for the Pakistani actors to leave India within 48 hours, it has decided to pull out all the shows of Pakistan.
Subhash Chandra Announcements
Hours after the announcement of Zee to off air all the Pakistani shows from Zindagi channel, Subhash Chandra, the chairman of Essel Group and Zee Group has announced revamp of the programming of Zee Zindagi. He also recommended the Pakistani artists to leave India.
https://twitter.com/subhashchandra/status/779521129568346112He also stated about his promise with Nawaz Sharif to step forward for creating peace and trying to bridge the gap between the two nations by running Pakistani shows on Indian television but if this is only one sided then Subhash Chandra no longer wants to entertain this.
https://twitter.com/subhashchandra/status/779627500720697344Subhash Chandra further tweeted that Zindagi channel would not shut down. Instead they would stop airing Pakistani shows and make Indian subjects on Muslim community.
https://twitter.com/subhashchandra/status/779686949346877440Subhash Chandra made these announcements on Twitter considering the rumours of Zindagi channel to shut down. These changes have taken effect due to the latest Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) controversy.
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MNS Statements
The recent Uri attack by Pakistan led to huge furore in the public and MNS gave the ultimatum to Pakistani actors to leave the country within 48 hours.
Amey Khopkar from the MNS Sena stated that-
We gave a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or MNS will push them out
He further threatened to beat the Pakistani artists and filmmakers who cast them for their productions, majorly referring to Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan.
“Pakistani kalakaar toh maar khaayenge hi, saath mein jo yahan producer/director hain unko bhi peetenge”
Bollywood's Take On this
While some people are boycotting against Pakistan and artists, there is also a portion that believes this would not solve the problems of terrorism. Twitter went divided into two sections. Trends like #SayNoToPakArtists, #BoycottPakOrNot and #KickOutPakis are on rise.
Pakistani actors including Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Mahira Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Zafar are mainly targeted by MNS. Fawad would be next seen in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. His next venture is with Dharma Productions opposite Katrina Kaif. Mahira Khan would also make her Bollywood debut in Shahrukh Khan’s Raees.
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Karan Johar pleaded that the artists shall not be involved in these controversies.
“I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathize, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pak artistes). If this was truly a solution, one would take it. But this is not a solution. I don’t believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art”
Launched in 2014, Zindagi channel’s content included over 70% of its international content from Pakistan. The popular shows include Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Sasural Ki Galli, Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam, Noor Bano, Jab We Wed and Main Bushra.
The channel received quite good viewership from these shows. The audience would feel cheated with the immediate off airing of the shows. Zee Zindagi would find troubles in stabilizing its viewership. Let’s see how they fill up this vacuum created by sudden absence of these shows.