Transporters promote Lollywood

Transporters in Punjab have their reasons and ways to promote  downtrodden Lollywood.


Ali Usman June 22, 2010

At a time when Pakistani movies are not supported even by the local cinemas for screening, transporters in Punjab have their reasons and ways to promote  downtrodden Lollywood.

Major bus services from Faisalabad to Lahore screen only Pakistani movies in the two-and-a-half-hour journey. Transporters do not screen any Indian films and strictly follow the code of showing either Urdu or Punjabi Pakistani movies.

Muhammad Nawaz, a bus driver on the Faisalabad-Lahore route, told The Express Tribune that the buses on the route screen Pakistani movies to support the local film industry. “This is what we can do for our own film industry. We have to screen a movie anyway, then why not our own films,” he said.

Interestingly, the buses going from Lahore to Faisalabad screen Pakistani movies in Urdu while buses coming to Lahore from Faisalabad screen Punjabi Pakistani flicks. “This is to satiate the taste of the people. We know by experience that those going to Lahore from Faisalabad like to watch Punjabi films while passengers going to Faisalabad from Lahore prefer watching Urdu movies,” Javed, another driver explained.

Shahreyar, a passenger travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore, said that he has watched the same Punjabi movie as many as three times during his recent travels. “I am a frequent traveler between Lahore and Faisalabad. Each time I on my way back to Lahore, I watch Pakistani Punjabi flicks. This might sound funny but this is how things work here,” he said.

When asked whether he supported the idea of promoting Pakistani flicks by screening them in buses, Shehreyar said, “I think it is fine. It shows that these transporters are more sincere about reviving and promoting Pakistani cinemas than many bigwigs of the industry. However one gets really bored while watching the same movies again and again as there are not many new Pakistani movies available.”

Shahid Javed, another frequent traveler between Lahore and Faisalabad, discussed the problems he faced due to the fact that Punjabi songs were played on high volume and he could not sleep throughout his journey. “The problem is with the content of the movies. However, if the transporters show Pakistani movies to promote the local cinema, this is a good initiative on their part. I just wish that quality movies are made in Pakistan so that one can enjoy them and the journey,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2010.

COMMENTS (4)

saad | 13 years ago | Reply torturous journeys!!
Asif Nawaz | 13 years ago | Reply Impressive. Way to go!
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