Literature and culture: ‘Film industry easy to criticise, difficult to revive’

Speakers say funds to improve filmmaking techniques lacking.

LAHORE:

“Pakistani film industry is going through a dark period,” said film director Syed Noor while discussing the problems faced by filmmakers at the second session of the fourth Alhmara International Literature and Cultural Conference on Sunday.

The theme for the session was Technology and Fine Arts. The discussion was moderated by Syed. The panellists included broadcaster Agha Nasir, film director Syed Noor, journalist Abdul Rauf, film critic Khalid Ghias, and linguist Qasim Bughio. The session was presided over by playwright Haseena Moin.

A worker polishing a sculpture of Allama Iqbal outside the Alhamra Arts Council ahead of the first session of the conference. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ

Syed said technological advancement in filmmaking was important.

“Technology helps us improve our work,” he said.

Syed also said film was a powerful way of educating people.

He said the industry had faced popular criticism for 20 years.

“No one understands that we don’t have money to create and produce what the masses want to watch,” he said. He lamented that technological advancement had destroyed the culture of hand-painted posters and made thousands of artists jobless. He said most directors did not have access to the latest cameras to produce their films.

“No one can deny the importance of latest camera tools and editing equipment,” he added. “But we rely on what we have to produce the best we can.”

Noor said it was always easy to criticise but difficult to contribute to the revival of the film industry.

He urged people to come forward and give suggestions to improve filmmaking.

“Screen adaptation is a wonderful way of telling stories,” playwright Asghar Nadeen Syed said.

Nasir spoke on the pros and cons of the introduction of latest technologies.

“Technological progress has given birth to a new concept of entertainment. Today, people can easily watch movies at home and on their computers. They did not have this option 20 years ago,” he said.“Today one can make a movie using a mobile phone camera. This wasn’t possible earlier,” he added.

Ghias said people were nostalgic about the better days of the film industry.



“They want to see movies that depict their culture because those are easy to understand,” he said.

He said works like Jeeva, Bol and Khuda kay Liye were great examples of contemporary filmmaking in Pakistan.

Ghias said the concept of a film was more important than the technology used.

“A movie is successful if the audiences can relate to it,” he said. He criticised senior TV persons for ignoring filmmaking in Pakistan.

The second day of the conference concluded with an Indo-Pak mushaira presided over by poet Zafar Iqbal. The chief guest on the occasion was columnist Munnu Bhai.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.