‘Lahore Se Aagey’ brings people back to cinemas

Saba Qamar-starrer mints Rs25m in two days, ‘Doctor Strange’ follows close

KARACHI: The release of Lahore Se Aagey comes as a breath of fresh air for cinema-owners as they struggle to maintain footfall in the aftermath of the ban on Bollywood films. The Saba Qamar-starrer seems to have injected some life back into their empty halls.

The film, a spinoff of Wajahat Rauf’s Karachi Se Lahore, has collected nearly Rs25 million over just two days. “It collected Rs12.4 million on the first day and Rs13.5 million on the second. The audiences have been crowding the theatres as it was the first weekend,” vice president marketing at ARY Films Asfandyar told The Express Tribune.

Lahore Se Aagey is currently running in theatres along with Marvel’s Doctor Strange, which is in its second week. “The film is doing really well and has about 80% occupancy,” said Atrium Cinemas managing director Nadeem Mandviwalla. He added that the two films couldn’t be compared because Doctor Strange, being in its second week, will clearly have lower business, and that this week will be crucial in determining its success. “Regardless, Doctor Strange is also doing well. But currently, Lahore Se Aagey is leading. It has four shows per day and if the two are doing really well, then you can say a film is holding its own and Lahore Se Aagey is.”

Cinepax Cinemas general manager marketing Mohsin Yaseen echoed the sentiment. “Doctor Strange is in the second week but it did stand up to the expectations. It’s doing well but Lahore Se Aagey is leading the collections.

The film, directed by Rauf, sees Yasir Hussain reprise his role as Moti opposite Qamar, who plays Tara. The film follows the odd couple on a road trip from Lahore and beyond, as their relationship grows over the journey.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2016.

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