The buzz from a Lollywood film set

While one actor is busy filming his scene, others stand memorising their lines and exchanging pleasantries.

LAHORE: The lights are on and the camera is ready. A dozen gun-toting men led by Shafqat Cheema pass through the streets of a village hurling their guns in air while drumbeaters beat the drum enthusiastically. Women and kids stand on the roofs of nearby houses and watch these men passing through the streets.

The group reaches a spot; Cheema asks his bodyguards to stop, takes a step forward, looks into the camera and loudly says, “Numberdarniey”. The director shouts “Cut”. The first wind-up shot has finally been successfully taken.

This scene - shot at a village set in Lahore’s Bari Studio - will feature in Masood Butt’s upcoming film Numberdarni which stars Shaan, Saud, Meera, Nargis and Bindya.

The buzz on a Lollywood film set is quite interesting. When Cheema was filming this scene, others including Saud, Meera and Rashid Mahmood were present on set memorising their lines and exchanging pleasantries. Though a scene in the film may focus on only two characters, many people work together while it is being shot. Many of them - known as ‘extras’ - never capture the audience’s attention. However these ‘extras’ are well-known among film stars and directors. They visit senior actors while they are on the set, exchange greetings and go back to their assigned locations.

“This is great. When shooting takes place, the life comes back to the studio. Otherwise we are just left to recall the good old days,” a senior employee of Bari Studio said.

While advanced technology has been introduced in almost every field of work, Lollywood is largely devoid of it. The cameras, equipment and other paraphernalia being used are outdated. The acting scenes, which look very strong when witnessed in person, don’t make the same impression when screened in cinemas.

Saud, before giving his shot, jokingly wrestled with a man on set. “This is refreshing and artistes do enjoy with each other on the set,” one of the assistant directors commented. He lamented that film studios rarely witness any activity these days as not many films are being made in Lollywood.

Meera, dressed in a bridal outfit, talked to people while on set. But while others kept talking to each other, she prefers to sit in a corner and think about her dialogues. “Every artist has their own style. Some like to remain silent before their shot while others prefer to keep chatting,” one of the senior cameramen said.

Film studios would often attract large crowds who would come to see films being shot. While there are fewer visitors these days, the magic of seeing artistes in person is greater than watching them on screen, a contractor who deals with extras told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2010.