All’s good for Lollywood — on paper!

Chances are that many of these films may never make it to the set.

LAHORE:

According to the documents available with The Express Tribune, some 18 films have been registered with the Pakistan Film Producers Association (PFPA) since the start of 2011.

However not a single Urdu or Punjabi film has been released so far. PFPA, a body which is responsible for registering film titles, has listed some high profile films including Oscar by Meera, Hum Nahi Hain Dehshat Gard by Chaudhary Rehmat Ali and Aman Ke Aasha by Hameed Alam, since January. However, the cinema halls are still waiting for a Pakistani film.

The only Pakistani film that has so far been released is a Seraiki film Parayee Dhe. Films like Bol by Shoaib Mansoor, Waar by Bilal Lashari and Price of Honour by Syed Noor are all set to be released in 2011 although the final dates are yet to be announced.

Other films that have been registered this year include Bahu Beti by Altaf Hussain, Sala Sohra Tey Jawai by Imran Ali, Mera Ishaq Ishaq by Muhammad Hanif, Run Mureed by Maqsood Ahmad, Reshmaan Tey Sheera by Maqsood Ahmad, Peeno And Shehryar by Zubbair Shah, Hum Nahi Hain Dehshat Gard by Chaudhary Rehmat Ali, Hum Sab Umeed Sey Hain by M Sher, Balan by Muzaffar Hussain, Oscar by Meera, Aeho Kuri Leni by Shafiq Elahi, Veer Piyara by Saddiq Tahir, Raj Malangi Da by Iqbal Bhatti, Aman Ke Aasha by Hameed Alam, Chalay Na Chalay by M Riaz, Ishaq Mein Khuda Ko Jana by Muhammad Afzal, Haseena Chor Sipahi by Maqsood Ahmad and Chaudhary Da Chun by Salahuddin Mir.

The film fraternity believes that if even half of these movies get released, Lollywood can start moving ahead. “This is quite possible and has been a practice in previous years. Many films are registered on paper but never manage to hit the cinemas. It is a possibility that none of these films will release this year or even in the next few years”, says PFPA Secretary Jalaluddin Hasan.

Currently the post production work of Khamosh Raho, a film by Altaf Hussain starring Shaan and Juggun Kazim, is being completed in Lahore whilst the release of Jarar Rizvi’s film, Son of Pakistan, has been delayed for the fourth time. Dates are yet to be announced for the much awaited film Love Mein Gum by Reema which was earlier named as Kitni Haseen Hai Zindagi.

The work on the above mentioned film is yet to be started and not a single one of these films is on the set. “The films are merely announced to gain some interest and many of the producers don’t bother to start the shooting. The studios have almost no film activity. If 17 films have been registered then technically not a single studio should be free, but all this happens only on paper in Lollywood,” says the owner of a film studio in Lahore who didn’t want to be named.

United Film Association Pakistan led by Mian Amjad Farzand Ali and Film Federation of Pakistan led by director Sangeeta had vowed to make 10 films. However the Lollywood fraternity is still waiting for their promises to be fulfilled after two years. “It is not difficult to publicise a film. I will announce it when I can complete it, rather than just getting the title registered,” explains Amjad Farzand Ali. Sangeeta, on the other hand, says she is working on several films and will release them soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2011.