Vernacular cinema: Urdu movies cast aside in the city this Eidul Azha
Leading film producer Muzafar Khan says nothing can compete with Pashto films.
A view of Arshad Cinema which continues to deliver popular local releases. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
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.
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.