Mumbai, Dec 06: Close on the move to re-establish air, road and train links with Pakistan as part of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's peace initiative, an Indian film delegation would soon visit the neighbouring country to plead for lifting a ban on the release of Hindi movies there. The delegation, comprising eminent film producers, will also endeavour to promote goodwill and harmony through the powerful medium of cinema, leading film maker Saawan Kumar, who is the president of Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), told newspersons here today.

"We are planning to meet President Pervez Musharraf and request him to lift ban on Indian movies," Kumar said.

The date and modalities for the visit would be finalised by IMPPA executive committee after getting clearance from the government, he said.
The film maker said once the relations are normalised, the Indo-Pak film co-production could also get underway.

He said his latest film "Dil pardesi ho gayaa", based on a love story of an Indian boy with a Pakistani girl, gives a clarion call for removing all barriers of hatred between the two countries through love and harmony.
"I have endeavoured to create love in the minds of people and convey it to the world that India is in the forefront in efforts to foster goodwill among the people of all nations," he added.

Bureau Report