Adil Najam
This picture was taken in Karachi earlier today (7 August, 2006) by atrophying and posted on Flickr.com.
Even if its was done inadvertently, I find it a very timely and appropriate billboard. Especially at this precarious time in India-Pakistan relations – note the silliness of recalled diplomats – when extremists on both sides seem to be succeeding in scuttling what had been a reasonably good process of rebuilding confidence.
Anyhow, my dear subcontinentals, please hold your sun-baked passions and enjoy the picture. Whether it was intended as such or not, I will take this as a neighborly greeting from one neighbor to another.
On behalf of all us Pakistanis, I thank you dear Amitabh. And I wish you, and all Indians everywhere, a wonderful Independence Day of your own on August 15.
is it a photoshoped Image or Amitabh actually worked for the Ad?I am asking this because i found some funny billboard in town in which hollywood actoress promoting our local products
telefun is 900 number service that aggressively markets to teens. You can apparently hear indian songs among other stuff for RS. 50+ / min. & that is likely why Amitabh is on the billboard. We hear their ads on tv and radio regularly in Lahore – so I guess they have chosen 14 Aug. date to start this in Karachi as well.
Interesting how his old and passe news still becomes fodder for the standard Pakistani-Indian sparring game.
Indians are over billboards, in ads, on people’s TV all the time, so that’s is not a big deal and happens all teh time. The issue for a few here was teh context and the flag and 14 August , especially with teh history of the feroz Khan case where Pakistani hospitality was abusedby an Indian star. Also, lets be clear, teh ‘government’ did not make anyone take any billboard down. There was a little public outcry and then some local officials made a statement, there was no ruling or directive on this. Most important, as someone said, no one even knows about this is Pkaistan except a few people around that area and these internet junkies. So it really was and is a non-issue. I read this post as a somewhat tongue-and-cheek attempt to say, ‘guyz, please don’t make tooo big a deal out of this’… so, please lets not!
The best jokes are the most subtle…or incongruous. Thanks Sabizak
Not really Franz! Except that there is a cultural reference here. This man on the board is a huge Indian Cinema icon and him sitting up there wishing Pakistanis a Happy Independence Day seems slightly incongruous, to say the least. Just like Adil has mused in his post, one cannot quite understand if this is inadvertant or a deliberate move by this Pakistani company that he seems to be promoting.