Nick-Marcus: Question

[George]

Hi Nick & Marcus,Does any of you know where I can get a copy of the Sikander movie? (the indian one which is listed on this forum)
That would be very helpful.Thank you,g.

[marcus]

Hi George,I'm afraid I haven't a clue. Reading about it here in Pothos was the first time I'd ever heard about it, and I've been wondering where one might find a copy for ages.I did once see a very short clip, in some TV programme, and it actually looked quite fun. Whoever played Alexander, while not looking particularly Greek, was certainly more convincing than Richard Burton!But Nick might know where you can get it.All the bestMarcus

[nick]

Hi George, hi Marcus -Yes, I know where to get it - but you will have to buy a plane ticket to Karachi or Dubai.When I was in Pakistan in 1999 I was determined to look for a copy. Although I checked various video stores during my four week stay, I found nothing, so I dedicated my last two days in Karachi entirely to finding the tape. At last some owner of a video shop understood that I was looking for an "old Hindi movie", as the Pakistani put it, and gave me the adress of a small shop in some Karachi bazaar.This small shop was something unbelievable - and quite like how you would imagine it in any Hollywood film where the main character unexpectedly finds something precious and rare within an mysterious back alley shop (like in Gremlins). An old Pakistani shop owner with a white beard sat in the middle of giant stacks of hundreds of videotapes. "Old Hindi movie?", he asked me hopefully after I mentioned the title Sikander. Indeed, I confessed. After ten minutes of searching through his piles he came up with a whole bunch of "Sikanders".As I had posted a message on pothos.co.uk that I was looking for the tape, I bought three copies. Just two people had told me they were interested. One tape I sent to Sikander, the other to another person (forgotten who it was), one I kept for myself. (It's here next to me on the bookshelf.) Of course, in retrospect, I should have bought the entire collection then - to distribute them amongst many of us here at the Forum.The tape was issued by a company named "M.M.Video" which is based in Dubai, UAE. On my tape it says: "M.M.Video - A name of Quality and Collection in Old Movies from 1935 to date". I know of no adress in Dubai - but this is your clue.Wished I had bought a dozen of them back then.Regards -
NickP.S. The format is European PAL, however, not suitable for US users. The movie was taped from some Arabian tv station and is interrupted by commercials every now and then. Tape quality is average, but acceptable.

[nick]

O yes, a nice detail.When I stepped into my Swissair plane back to Europe next evening, a friendly Pakistani shook my hand and said he knew me. I could not remember ever having seen his face at all."But I have seen you", he explained. "You are that European who has been looking for that old Hindi movie all over town. Many people noticed that."True story. Nothing exaggerated.Regards -
Nick

[nick]

http://www.upperstall.com/films/sikande ... odi.htmThe actor who is playing Alexander is Prithviraj (Kapoor) and if you like an Alexander with a touch of arrogance, he is indeed really doing a much better job than Burton.Regards -
Nick

[susan]

On British TV, within the last ten years, there has been a TV series of an Indian epic, the Mahabharata I think , in which I saw Alexander's invasion portrayed.Alexander had a rather obvious blonde wig, but was played by an Indian. Has anyone else seen it ?Susan

[George]

Nick & Marcus,Thanks a lot for your help on this.
Nick - what an adventure in tracking down that tape...Be well,
g.

[maciek]

Hi Nick!
Wow You were like Indiana Jones with some secret mission!
BTW I'd like to see this film also... Maybe I will be someday in Karachi ...