Film releases pushed ahead
Lahore-based directors to put out projects on or after Eidul Fitr
Shehzad Rafiq’s film Salute was originally scheduled to release in March. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
In wake of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park attack on Sunday, a number of cinemas of Lahore have temporarily shut down. The films that were slated to hit theatres in April have now been pushed ahead for release. While some directors have earmarked Eidul Fitr for screening their films, others remain indecisive.
While Shehzad Rafiq’s Salute, Syed Noor’s Bhai Wanted and Price of Honour and Jamshed Muhammad’s Sawaal 700 Crore Ka were originally scheduled for a March release, other projects like Two Plus Two, Raasta, Tum Hi To Ho and Whistle were to come out in April.
However, that is now no more the case. Apart from Noor who has decided to release both his films on Eid, Sawaal 700 Crore Ka will also be out during the extended festival holidays, according to actor Ghulam Mohiuddin.
Film festival: ‘Films help transform society’
Another film, Blind Love, was slated to release in April. However, the Faisal Bukhari directorial will now release in May. Distribution Club President Ejaz Kamran said, “We could not release the film at a time when people are avoiding cinemas hence we decided to delay it.”
Concurring with the issue of cinema availability close to Eid, Tum Hi To Ho director Sangeeta is unwilling to compete with other local productions. “I believe that there is a need to release films regularly and not all on one day,” she said. Due to “personal reasons”, Sangeeta mentioned she will be releasing the film two weeks after Eid.
‘Pakistani cinema not ready to challenge taboos’
On the other hand, major releases to go head-to-head on Eid include actor-director Shaan’s Arth 2 and Moammar Rana’s Sikander.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2016.
In wake of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park attack on Sunday, a number of cinemas of Lahore have temporarily shut down. The films that were slated to hit theatres in April have now been pushed ahead for release. While some directors have earmarked Eidul Fitr for screening their films, others remain indecisive.
While Shehzad Rafiq’s Salute, Syed Noor’s Bhai Wanted and Price of Honour and Jamshed Muhammad’s Sawaal 700 Crore Ka were originally scheduled for a March release, other projects like Two Plus Two, Raasta, Tum Hi To Ho and Whistle were to come out in April.
However, that is now no more the case. Apart from Noor who has decided to release both his films on Eid, Sawaal 700 Crore Ka will also be out during the extended festival holidays, according to actor Ghulam Mohiuddin.
Film festival: ‘Films help transform society’
Another film, Blind Love, was slated to release in April. However, the Faisal Bukhari directorial will now release in May. Distribution Club President Ejaz Kamran said, “We could not release the film at a time when people are avoiding cinemas hence we decided to delay it.”
Concurring with the issue of cinema availability close to Eid, Tum Hi To Ho director Sangeeta is unwilling to compete with other local productions. “I believe that there is a need to release films regularly and not all on one day,” she said. Due to “personal reasons”, Sangeeta mentioned she will be releasing the film two weeks after Eid.
‘Pakistani cinema not ready to challenge taboos’
On the other hand, major releases to go head-to-head on Eid include actor-director Shaan’s Arth 2 and Moammar Rana’s Sikander.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2016.