Life & Style

10 things Lollywood should do

Qaiser Iftikhar May 12, 2010

LAHORE: With film associations established, taxes on local films waived and massive funds announced by the government, filmmakers and artists are not the only ones concerned about the deteriorating condition of the Pakistani film industry. Fans of Pakistani cinema are equally worried.

A survey conducted by Daily Express had respondents giving 10 key suggestions to help revive the dying film industry..

1. Pakistani film industry needs young and educated people to make an international presence.

2. Lollywood needs latest technology but with that it also needs skilful labour to operate the advanced equipment.

3. Film directors should stop playing it safe by only casting actors with a record of a few hit films.

4. Films promoting racism, crime and gandasa culture should be banned.

5. Lyricists writing vulgar lyrics should be penalised.

6. Films should have themes helpful for the betterment of society.

7. Saima, Meera, Sana, Resham, Shaan, Saud, Nirma and Babar Ali, should no longer play lead roles in Pakistani films.

8. A lot can be improved if the students of film and cinema at different universities of Pakistan stay to work in Pakistan.

9. Other than a few cinemas, all of the theatres need to be renovated.

10. Many people are reluctant to join Lollywood because of the negative associations attached to the industry. Lollywood, therefore, needs to improve its culture and environment.

The respondents said that although both Bollywood and Lollywood began their journeys from scratch in 1947, Indians are far ahead of Pakistanis today. “Ours used to be a flourishing film industry in past that provided a cheap source of entertainment. Now, Bollywood has started making big-budget movies starring Hollywood actors and our film stars have started moving to the television industry,” said a movie-goer. There was a general consensus that in the last 10-15 years, Lollywood has failed to create good actors.

“We are now fed up of seeing same old faces and their performances,” said a film buff. The survey participants crticised that showbiz celebrities are now a part of media buzz not because of their performance but because of their scandals. They complained about vulgarity in Pakistani films, a trait that makes local movies inappropriate for family entertainment. Despite being rather aware of the ups and downs in the film industry, film buffs are still positive about its future. They believe that steps like opening new cineplexes can bring people back to the cinemas.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 13th, 2010.

COMMENTS (8)

Mustafa | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistani film industry has to do away with making films on typical subjects and themes. It should make films on diversified subjects and genres, just like Bolly and Hollywood. Lollywood should venture into adventure, thrillers, horror, comedy, war movies etc. I think our IT industry also has the capability of making animated movies. Animated movies should also be experimented in Lollywood. Show the public something different from the stereotypical past and I am sure they will appreciate the chnge.

Jaad Syed | 14 years ago | Reply The politics interference has destroyed pakistani film industry! A/c to a web report, in early 70s the film industry in Karachi was producing and exporting more films than hollywood, I dont know what prompted the govt to shut it down in Karachi and shift it to Lahore, Instead they should have established new one in Lahore, this would have created a healthy competetion in Pakistan itself. By the way i consider the term lolly offensive, until and unless Pakistani film industry changes the name lolly, nothings gonna change!

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Disgusted | 14 years ago | Reply Survival for Lollywood lies in its closure. This is a ridiculously stupid statement. If you think about it, Lollywood cannot survive and close at the same time. Duh.

Faraz Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistani government needs to promote a culture of tolerance and acceptance, cinema ought to be a part of that movement. In addition to that our film makers and especially the script writers need to work on developing plots that can hold the audience to their seats for a few hours -- good stories are absolutely crucial. They also need to get rid of the song and dance structure to the films as well, because that has really no basis in the local culture and neither and really adds no value to the plot. If the local film makers can prove their mettle, the the government needs to step in to kick bollywood out of the theatres so the local productions rake in the revenues.

Natasha | 14 years ago | Reply I expected something better.

MSH | 14 years ago | Reply I wish the survey revealed something we didn't already know!

Tanzeel | 14 years ago | Reply Survival for Lollywood lies in its closure.

Cervet Cahn | 14 years ago | Reply I have my reservations with the word "Lollywood" itself. Before going for any further changes, we should get rid of this preposterous title. Why exactly do we have to copy everything from "Bollywood"...(who eventually have to copy everything from "Hollywood"!!). We need to think innovative, there could be a million names like simply Pakistan Film Industry or anything for that matter. As long as we keep copying stuff, nobody should expect success from us. P.S. we really cant think of going International with that title, it is so embarrassing!

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