Picture Perfect
FICCI, under the guidance of Yash Chopra, has played a key role in facilitating India-Pakistan relations – especially in the context of the film industries of the two countries. The valedictory session of FICCI Frames 2006 brought this back into focus. Yash Chopra and Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Chairman, Jung Group of Companies, Pakistan, highlighted some of the developments that might well mark the beginning of a new phase in the blossoming relationship between the two sides.
Allowing Indian movies to be released in Pakistan was cited as one of the positive steps in a symbiotic direction. While this remains a work-in-progress issue, both sides expressed optimism in taking the relationship forward.
The effervescent Preity Zinta proved to be a show-stopper literally when she walked in mid way of Hutchison Essar MD Sandip Das' presentation, who gamely waited for her to settle down before continuing with his presentation. Zinta voiced the view that the Indian Film Industry would do whatever it could to support the Indo-Pak endeavour. “The relationship has improved significantly in the recent past and I believe that both these industries have immense potential to work together,” she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Rahman thanked Frames for its role in nurturing such initiatives. On the event, he added, “The event has become an extremely important one for us and year-on-year, it has grown.”
Closing words of Frames 2006 from Yash Chopra was promising enough: “I promise you a bigger and better Frames 2007!”
