The party withdrew its threat after filmmaker Boney Kapoor and CEO of Colors TV channel met Thackeray at his Dadar residence this afternoon.
The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had on August 30 issued a diktat to Colors TV channel, warning it to not broadcast the show "Sur Kshetra" which would feature both Indian and Pakistani vocalists on September 8. It had also asked eminent singer Asha Bhosle not to judge the show.
MNS sources said the party was withdrawing its threat because the show had already been shot and a lot of money spent.
However, Thackeray has asked the show producers to keep in mind public sentiments and made it clear that MNS would not allow such shows in future, they said.
Earlier, protesting against the show, Ameya Khopkar, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena, the film wing of the MNS, had said, "They (Pakistanis) talk of art, but they forgot everything when they banned Ek Tha Tiger in their country. Our artistes are being discriminated against."
Thackeray had ridiculed Bhosle for her decision to appear on the show. On Bhosle's remarks that Pakistani vocalists should be welcomed in the time-honoured Indian tradition of "Atithee Devo Bhava (Guests are Gods)", Raj had quipped, "Is this 'Atithee Devo Bhava' or 'Paisa Devo Bhava'?", in a veiled reference to the fee she might have charged for the show.
The Indo-Pak musical show goes on air on September 8 on two entertainment channels -- Colors and Sahara One.
Besides Bhosle, it features noted singers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, including Himesh Reshammiya, Abida Parveen, Atif Aslam and Runa Laila. Eight Pakistani vocalists and as many Indian singers are participating in the show.