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Revival of Cinema: 'Screening of Bollywood movies a temporary measure'
Censor board chairman says the step was taken only to revive cinema culture in Pakistan.
Censor board chairman says the step was taken only to revive cinema culture in Pakistan. PHOTO:FILE
ISLAMABAD: With major Pakistani productions few and far in between, screening of Indian movies in Pakistan have become a temporary guardian angel for the local cinema industry, Chairman Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) said on Thursday.
“The decision to show Indian movie is only a temporary one and is taken to keep the cinemas functioning across the country while satisfactory steps are taken for the revival of local film industry,” said Barrister Shahnawaz Noon while talking to APP.
Pakistan’s film industry commonly known as “Lollywood” has been on a constant downward slide for the last 12 years, which has not only reduced the entertainment opportunities for movie lovers in the country but also caused losses to those associated with the profession.
Blaming previous government for neglecting the film industry, Noon said that the present government took all stakeholders on board and announced funds for various projects to revive and make it a competitive industry.
Besides funds for artists, technicians and other persons associated with film production, the government has approved the project of National Film Academy and Film Laboratory, establishment of four cinema houses in the federal capital, scholarships for studying subjects regarding film-making and reduction in additional taxes, he added.
The CBFC Chairman further said that the board comprising of old members was dissolved and new members were appointed to bring young talent forward, which will introduce new ideas for the benefit of the film industry in Pakistan.
He was of the view that Indian movies were screened only on temporary basis and the establishment of a film laboratory and funds announced by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would help improve the standard of Lollywood films within six months.
Commenting on Pakistani artists working in Indian movies, he said “apart from filmmakers, it is also the responsibility of our artists to make every effort for the revival of their own industry instead of leaving it.”
Reader Comments (11)
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If there was a small tax on every Indian movie and money reserved ONLY for production of local movies, there would have been no crisis!!
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Imagine money collected since 2007 (when Bollywood films were allowed) and number of films made with that tax!
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Wake up chairman sb! Wake up Culture minister, wake up PPP, Wake up PML (N), wake up PTI (sadly PTI doesn’t have any film/media policy too)!!!
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“Besides funds for artists, technicians and other persons associated with film production, the government has approved the project of National Film Academy and Film Laboratory, establishment of four cinema houses in the federal capital, scholarships for studying subjects regarding film-making and reduction in additional taxes, he added.”
Four years ago, Chairman Mr Noon claimed that the government was making a ‘film city’ in Islamabad where there will be a Cinema, modern Lab, Film Academy for students etc. Now after four years, nothing has materialised and his REHETORIC (lip service) has turned ONE cinema into FOUR! A man of word indeed!!!!
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@Express Tribune, Why don’t you follow such claims regularly? Will you interview Mr Chairman by the end of this year to ask him where are those 4 cinemas etc??
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By the time Lollywood becomes watchable Bollywood will be light years ahead. It is already Asia’s richest film industry.
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damn ET censorship
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@Syed:
No my friend, believe it or not japan and china is asia’s richest film industry, not bollywood…. bollywood would come 3rd or 4th .. just see the technology used in action / fictional films from countries like china and Japan ..there are far ahead of bollywood…there will be a day bollywood catches up… but what saddens me is that when bollywood spends millions of dollars on technology / action scenes or special affects,… the story and acting flops 80 % of the time, there are some exceptions but not enough …… also our stupid censor board still have the 1980s mentality..all these factors have stopped bollywood from experiencing its true potential…..
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Bollywood movie screening in cinemas finds its craze mostly in urdu speaking population of karachi, the rest of the country has no interest in bollywood films being shown in the cinemas, they are happy watching them on DVDs, cinema going is looked down in most of the country but watching movies on TV or DVD is not. I have not seen any craze from people in my city in punjab to specially go to cinema to watch an indian movie.
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@jimmy: Totally agreed. The quality of Hong Kong based Cantonese movies and South Korean movies is light years ahead of Bollywood and a lot of Bollywood “hits” are rip-offs of those movies. Awarapan (A Bittersweet life), Zinda (Old Boy), etc are only some of the examples. Even the Hollywood movie “The Departed” was a remake of Cantonese “Infernal Affairs”, both of which are super hits.
I used to be a big fan of Bollywood in early 2000s but with time they’ve lost all the viewer reputation with only around 10 out of 400 movies being watchable (story/acting/subject/cinematography wise). We’d rather take our already great Dramas to longer plays level and get those great actors/actresses into our movie industry!
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Hollywood is US$40 Billion dollar a year industry in the US alone.
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Even the UK film industry contributes US$9 Billion (£6 Billion) a year.
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ONE Hollywood blockbuster often makes more than a US$1 Billion (e.g. Priates of Carribean etc).
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WHOLE BOLLYWOOD industry doesn’t make even US$1 Billion a year! There is lot of exaggeration. If there are 1000 films a year in Bollywood, we should be seeing atleast 3 films a day!
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Hi,
As a moderate muslim i would like our cinemas to screen Korean movies..They provide you the best and cleanest entertainment Ever!. I have seen many korean movies and i have recommended them to everyone…In the end i like to say is Please stop bollywood vulgarity!
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hey but release of english movies in Pakistani Cinemas should be permanent…. I cannot live without them
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sirji..even i watch lots of korean movies…lol i find it funny tht u said they provide the cleanest entertainment ! they are like hollywood…they have differnt genres: comedy ,action, drama, horror, adult etc…. but if u tell me all their films are clean then sorry u must be looking at a glass mirror.. however i will admit bollywood is no where in comparison with film industries of korea,japan, usa and european cinema,. But still we are one of the best… As for vulgarity..iam sorry thts yr opinion…but i find pakistan’s over make-up actresses, gandasa culture, hero wth axe, lousy acting more vulgar !! in the end our country does nt rely on hollywood to run our film multiplexes :P
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