Pakistan has agreed 'in principle' to screen one of the great classics of Indian cinema, breaching a longstanding ban on theatres showing Indian films, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.

In yet another sign of warming relations between India and Pakistan, the film Mughal-e-Azam will become the the first Indian movie to be legally screened in Pakistani cinemas once it get approval from the Censor Board.

Set in the 16th century A.D. during the rule of the Muslim emperor Akbar, Mughal-e-Azam brings to life the tale of the doomed love affair between Crown Prince Saleem and the beautiful court dancer Anarkali.

Originally shot in black-and-white, Mughal-e-Azam was re-released in India in colour last year. Indians and Pakistanis regard the film with great affection, as it harks back to the glory of the Mughal Empire and their common heritage.

President Pervez Musharraf gave his support to the sceening of the 1960 classic, after receiving a request from the family of Mughal-e-Azam's director, K. Asif.

"A letter has been sent from President House to them. We have thanked them and have in principle agreed that it should be screened," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said, though he added that a final decision still had to be taken.

Indian films are hugely popular in Pakistan, and a flourishing bootleg DVD industry the advent of satellite television means Pakistanis can now watch Bollywood movies at home, even if they cannot see them at the cinema.

But, older Pakistanis living close to the border, recall tuning into Indian television stations especially to watch Mughal-e-Azam when it was first aired decades ago.

"It is now up to the Censor Board when to release the film," Qaisar Sanaullah, a member of the executive council of the Cinema Owners Association, said, adding that money raised would be donated to help people affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami.