Syed Noor’s Price of Honour delayed

LAHORE: Lollywood filmmakers are lobbying intensely to ensure that Indian films will not be screened on Eid, but they have nothing to offer in return.

Filmmaker Sangeeta and actor Ghulam Mohiyuddin addressed a press conference with the Federal Minister for Culture Pir Aftab Jillani in Lahore on Wednesday. They announced that they were all ‘unanimous’ on the subject of banning Indian movies on Eid. They claimed to have five films ready which they can release on Eid.

However, film industry insiders told The Express Tribune that at least three of those films are old productions which had not been screened earlier.

In the midst of this ‘should Indian films be banned or not’ saga, filmmaker Syed Noor has delayed the release of his much awaited film Price of Honour.

In April, Noor had announced that Price of Honour would release in a few months. While Eid is considered a perfect occasion to release new movies, Price of Honour isn’t ready for release yet. The film has been touted as a ‘realistic film’ which aims to promote parallel cinema in Pakistan with its release. Most of the shooting for the film has been done in Rahim Yar Khan.

The film is based on the subject of violence against women and honour killings. The cast was chosen through a competition broadcast on ARY.

Earlier this year, Noor had claimed that he had four films ready for release. He had also ruled out rumours that film was based on or inspired by the story of Mukhtaran Mai. Atif Naveed, Rakshi and Danyal are the three actors making their debut in the film.

When asked about the release dates, Syed Noor told The Express Tribune that the film was still being edited. “Now we plan to release it next year. Most probably it will be released in January,” he told.

When asked about his film academy Noor said that classes would start after Eid. However he had earlier claimed that classes would start in May. “A six-month course on acting, direction or production will be offered and the fee will be Rs150,000,” he had announced in March.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2010.