Commercial theatres rake in profits

Forget Lollywood, commercial theatre houses across Lahore are pulling in large crowds.


Ali Usman October 31, 2010

LAHORE: Lollywood may not be drawing in people but commercial theatre houses across the city are pulling in large crowds.

Commercial theatre producers, directors and artists are enjoying the boom which they say has come again after seven years. According to estimates obtained by The Express Tribune, theatres in Lahore earned Rs13.3 million collectively in the last spell which ran for 16 days.

People associated with the business believe that the reason for increased interest in theatre may be due to a lack of other modes of entertainment and the good value for money. “In one performance, a viewer is treated to a live performance of two and a half hours which includes dances and comic dialogue. Ticket prices range from Rs200 to Rs2,500,” said a commercial theatre artiste.

Commercial Theatre Producers Association Chairman, Zulfiqar Ahmad said that theatres used to generate profits in 2001 and 2002, but after 2004 business declined because of raids on theatres. “Theatre has picked the same momentum that it used to have seven years ago meaning that those associated with the business are very happy,” he said.

Unlike cinema owners, theatre producers haven’t tried to get taxes waived and are willing to pay these dues. “If we are earning (good) money we should pay it back in form of taxes. The excise and taxation department earns the maximum amount of entertainment taxes from commercial theatre,” said a producer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to official figures, Alfalah Theatre earned Rs4 million from its last spell which starred Nargis as the lead and had an estimated profit of Rs1 million spread out over 10 days. Mehfil Theatre’s drama, Sharmili, earned Rs3.8 million with an estimated profit of Rs1 million in its last spell and according to the management, their current production, Munni Badnaam Hui, is also doing excellent business.

Business at Naz Theatre was down for several years and at one point the theatre shut down because they couldn’t generate enough money to meet their costs. However, in the last spell the theatre made Rs0.5 million, which is the most it has earned in six years.

Zufliqar Ahmad said that Alhamra Hall 1 had been booked for record breaking Rs0.67 million for a single spell. “The booking was done through an auction and the money was to be donated for flood relief activities. Never before has a public auditorium has been booked for this amount when the price of a ticket ranges between Rs150 and Rs250,” he said. However, despite paying this huge amount, producers earned Rs0.2 million in 16 days.

Business is good but with uncertainty prevailing in the country, one doesn’t know for how long.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2010.

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