Life & Style

Lollywood disappointed by the budget

Ali Usman June 07, 2010

LAHORE: June 5 marked a day of disenchantment for the Pakistani film industry as the federal budget announced on the same day featured no funding for the industry. Lollywood was hoping that funds would be allocated for the establishment of a digital lab as well as for the industry’s revival efforts.

Office bearers of the United Film Association of Pakistan (UFAP) were very ‘depressed’ after finding out that the government had not reserved any additional funds in the federal budget. However, their hopes were somewhat restored on Monday when senior government officials said that funds would be allocated for the film industry through a special grant.

A source told The Express Tribune that funds for the establishment of a digital lab would be given through a special grant. The chairperson of the Standing Committee on Culture and Tourism Chairman Nilofar Bakhtiar also confirmed that the government had not given up the idea of funding the revival of the film industry.

However, critics of Lollywood believe that the film industry is not dependent on what money the government provides, but on whether senior directors and producers are actually serious about reviving it. They said that the association which represented Lollywood had not done anything concrete so far and was just waiting for the funds as if money would solve all the problems of the industry.

Over the weekend Reema told Daily Express that the industry should not be disappointed because the government was already burdened with so many problems, and “we should look towards a better future instead.”

A senior producer who requested anonymity said that people who were serious in doing work did it without any support from the government. “Ijaz Bajwa had made a nice debut film (Channah Sachi Muchi) without any support. Shoaib Mansoor made a very good movie (Khuda Kay Liye) which ran all over the world. Those who want to work actually do and those who are not serious wait for help from the government or other entities,” he said.

UFAP Chairman Mian Amjad Farzand, who was rather disappointed on Sunday, was in a better mood the day after when he discovered the grant would be given. Farzand said that ‘work’ was still in progress on the scripts of the movies. “Establishing a digital lab in Pakistan will be really helpful for producers and will help revive the film industry,” he said.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (4)

Faraz Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Nothing can substitute the general lack of taste found in practically all the few mainstream lollywood film-makers. It's never the budget, its their mindset and creatively bankrupt ideas. I shudder to think what they would do with 40 crores on a Gujjar gandasa flick. The bottom line is, the current lollywood lot should not be in the business of making films. They need to stop making excuses like lack of budget, lack of government support etc. and if they really have what it takes to make films, then produce some quality material that actually merits government support and even support from financial institutions to take care of the budget issue.

ismail | 14 years ago | Reply We cannot compete with cash-rich bollywood. Our best would be picked by indians for their movie industry and this is not bad.Because our artists want to work on a larger platform and earn more money and fame..The best we could do is make some 'watchable' movies on small budgets . Movie labs and other infrastucture would help in nurturing talent in the country. But the bitter truth is that we can never make movies and be successful like bollywood..

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Murtaza Ali Jafri | 14 years ago | Reply So....why don't the Lollywood private investors themselves establish that much needed 'digital lab', why do they feel entitled to a government handout? It should only be made if it's cost effective. You need investments that have a tangible return, not 'we deserve help because our movies are awful' subsidies. Government needs to cut spending, not throw a few more million rupees at 'Artists'. I'm sure enough of our money goes there inadvertently whether we like it or not.

Aayan Mirza | 14 years ago | Reply Well it doesn't matter government allocate money in budget or provide it through special grant, what really matters is that government should help the industry, they must understand the importance of industry, it can become one of the leading industries of Pakistan quality,revenue and work wise. It just requires some help and other work i know our directors and producers can do because i know they have got immense talent.

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