Where did it all go wrong?

A look at the declining fortunes of the local film industry.

LAHORE: A total of 3,159 films have been released in Pakistan (excluding Pashto films) since 1947. But a look at yearly record of films produced since then shows a rapid decline into the void that exists today.

While 1,568 films were released in the first 30 years of the country’s existence, since 1977 the number of films has decreased. According to data obtained by The Express Tribune — which was reported on last week — only 673 films were released between 1977 and 1987.

According to All Pakistan Film Producers Association manager Muhammad Azam, the film industry never recovered from the imposition of martial law in the country in 1977 and the subsequent clampdown on entertainment activities.

It took a decade for the film industry to regain its footing.

While there was an increase in film production between 1987 and 1997 — a total of 539 films released —the number declined in the next decade to 340. It also saw many noted professionals leaving the film industry and few films released after 1997 did exceptionally well at the box office (Syed Noor’s Choorian is one example to the contrary).

Azam says that if the number of movies released on Eid is deducted from the figure of the movies made in the last three years, one would see that at an average four to five movies are made in a year. “People are not even familiar with names of several movies released in the last three years. They released and vanished,” he explained.

Only 39 films have been released in the past three years.

“It is true that we can’t match the Indian film industry’s resources. However, directors used to make films with very limited resources focusing on the script, story, poetry and acting,” Azam said.

A lot of hue and cry has been made by filmmakers and other professionals related to the industry; however no concrete steps have been taken for the revival of Pakistani cinema.

Regional cinema has also suffered.

Azam said that the association’s record includes all Urdu and Punjabi films. “We don’t have a record of Pashto films as they were often released in Peshawar with just one print.”

Actor and filmmaker Ajab Gul recently told Express News, “The Pashto film industry did well until 1993 because of the overall quality and the themes of the films. However, some unprofessional directors and actors entered the industry and that reversed the fate of Pashto films. The industry was neglected for the next eight to 10 years. Nobody owned or supported it.”

Pashto films are now produced at a low cost and sold directly via DVDs or VCDs. On average, at least eight such films are released every week.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2010.