A view of Arshad Cinema which continues to deliver popular local releases. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
Although several Pakistani films have been released in the country recently, no mainstream Urdu movies were shown in cinemas across the city during Eidul Azha. Seven of the city’s nine cinemas were showing Pashto movies while the remaining two were showing English movies.
Since Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye first hit theatres in 2007, there has been a surge in the number of Urdu films produced in the country such as Bol, Siyaah, Chambaili, Ishq Khuda, Josh, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, Zinda Bhaag (Punjabi) and Waar, but none of these movies were shown in Peshawar. Instead, Pashto films Zadi Pukhtoon, Gherat, Gandagir and Orbal graced the silver screen.
“It all depends on the market. Majority of the movie goers love to watch Pashto movies,” said Khalid Khan, manager of Capital Cinema. “We even gave up showing Indian movies as there was no enthusiasm among the people for these,” he added.
The cinema houses showed Indian movies for a few months after Indian films were allowed in Pakistan. Later, the cinemas reverted to Pashto movies, given the great demand for vernacular cinema.
“When it comes to Peshawar, Urdu or Indian movies cannot compete with our Pashto movies produced with limited resources,” said Muzafar Khan, one of the leading film producers in Peshawar. He said people in Peshawar were more interested in local films due to the poor quality of Urdu films.
The cinemas of the city are in ailing condition. Only nine cinemas remain; their peak time for doing business is during Eid and all of them are try to release Pashto movies. “They would not take any risk by going for an Urdu movie. They want to run their houses,” said Muzafar.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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I am glad that Pashto films capture not only KP province but are popular in Afghanistan as well. . As far the comments above about the 'artificial' Urdu movies and better East Pakistani Bengali movies: Bengladeshi movies are worse in quality than Urdu movies. Only quality that comes in literature or films comes from West Bengal (Indian state).
Well, that's good news for Pashto films and KP in general. It's great that the cinema houses understand market signals.
Sigh...when will Pakistani journalism learn the importance of disinterested reporting and good editing? Why does this article assume that it is somehow bad that cinemas in Peshawar show only Pashto movies?
With this sentence, Express Tribune has hit a new low: Only nine cinemas remain; their peak time for doing business is during Eid and all of them are try to release Pashto movies.
A good sign that Pashto movies replace Urdu (and other) movies in KP. May be the quality of all Pashto movies are not good but this may be a starting point.
In East Pakistan (Bangladesh) from the mid-60's Bengali film industry revive/'revolt' against West Pakistan consperacy in cultural front (cheap propaganda urdu movies part of it). Indian Bengali (and other) movies were banned after 1965 war. Movies based on Bengali folk stories became superhits. Artificial urdu movies from Lahore/Karachi became less and less popular among Bengali people in late 1960s.
Though 1960s East Pakistan and current KP situation are not comparable, Pastho movie industry may use fully the current trend for the reverted to Pashto movies by improving its quality.
I think they are right not to release them because of two issues: First, only 9 cinemas (it is a Pashto majority city so if they don't show Pashto films, the industry will die) AND secondly, not much demand from public. . We should build a few multiplexes to give people choice.