Pakistani producers and filmmakers called for an urgent press conference recently to share their disappointment with cinemas prioritising foreign films over their local productions. Adnan Siddiqui, Dum Mastam producer, Wajahat Rauf behind Parde Mein Rehne Do and Yasir Nawaz with his crime thriller Chakkar at the edge, urged PM Shehbaz Sharif to support their ventures and look into the matter.
The Covid-19 pandemic had deeply impacted cinematic productions and the film industry with a halt on mass gatherings. Despite that, filmmakers kept on with their long shooting schedules, in hopes to release the films after the pandemic ended. This Eid, Pakistani cinemas saw not one but five local productions and people flocked to see the films on the first two days of its release. However, the success was short-lived and was quickly dominated by Marvel’s yet most anticipated film of 2022, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
“On the fourth day of Eid, we suddenly found out that our Pakistani films have either been removed from cinemas or their screenings have now been reduced to under 5%,” claimed Rauf in a video clip shared on social media from the conference.
He further added, “I appeal to the government of Pakistan and relevant authorities to allocate an equal and fair share to [each production]. Pakistani films are doing good, you’ve the numbers in front of you. Because if that doesn’t happen, then producers will stop making films here.” Rauf also asked the media to “interfere, regulate, and help find a solution” to their financial ruins.
Nawaz, the director and actor of Ahsan Khan, Neelum Muneer crime thriller, specifically addressed the prime minister and urged him to look into the matter of their distress. “I’ve a small request for the prime minister to help save the Pakistani film industry from drowning. Our content is very strong and the revenue will come in Pakistan only.”
Siddiqui, the mastermind behind the Imran Ashraf-starrer Dum Mastam, also took the stage to share his views on a certain foreign film blocking their “deserved” cinema slots.
“My only request to the government of Pakistan is that we’re very small producers. We’re all trying to make it big here, we’re learning and you can help us grow and flourish. And this is how you can do that; there should be a proper policy that decides how much time and space will be allocated to foreign content and how much to local content. PEMRA has a law that television cannot play more than 10% of foreign content and similarly, there’s a policy that more than 15% foreign films will not be shown here. Please take our requests seriously and give us the opportunity to earn what we righteously deserve.”
In terms of local content, viewers have a choice between Saba Qamar and Zahid Ahmed’s crime-comedy Ghabrana Nahi Hai, Hania Aamir and Ali Rehman Khan’s social dramedy Parde Mein Rehne Do, murder-mystery Chakkar starring Khan and Muneer, as well as the Adnan Siddiqui romance production Dum Mastam.
On the international front, cinemagoers can choose between Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
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