Buck up, Lollywood
Pakistani cinema has a long way to go before it traverses to India and to international markets with an Asian diaspora
The writer has been in top media and entertainment corporations in Bollywood for over a decade and can be found on twitter @tanuj_garg
It's no secret that Bollywood movies have commanded an unquenchable following in Pakistan. Through decades, Pakistani movies (the few that release) have failed to impact India though. There isn't the slightest curiosity among Indians about the films being produced across the border. Since I've been in Bollywood's production echelons, I know how difficult it is for them to even establish a toe-hold in the Indian market. Several friends and contacts in Pakistan have often requested me to help them find exhibition outlets in various cities. A classic cul-de-sac that, as there have been no concerted measures to make India aware of the content and quality of the better lot of Pakistan's film oeuvre. Ironically, while Pakistan's tele-dramas as well as a concatenation of their actors are being welcomed in India with arms wide open, its cinema is lagging far behind.
In fact, even on home turf, barely a handful of local films have made a mark at the cash counters. Occasionally, Pakistani actors, directors and distributors (especially those who haven’t managed a jab at Bollywood) cry foul about the bias towards Bollywood, but the brouhaha by the cry-babies falls on deaf ears because cinema owners are not blinded to the power of Bollywood and Hollywood franchises to keep their properties in robust health. Recent films like Waar, Namaloom Afraad, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi and Bol were among the better ones. The small-budget films like 021 and Jalebi, which were meant to resuscitate indie Pakistani cinema, failed to do so, merely bagging appalling reviews. Quality-bereft films in the Punjabi and Pashto languages are hardly worth discussing.
Clearly, Pakistani cinema has a long way to go before it traverses to India and to international markets with an Asian diaspora. For starters, it needs to find respect and acceptance in its own country, a feat which cannot be achieved by banning bigger and brighter competition from across the border. But wait, there's hope yet: signs are that 2015 could prove to be the Renaissance year for Lollywood. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s animated feature 3 Bahadur bagged encomiums and is eyeing an Indian release. The industry has its hopes pinned on Ho Mann Jahaan, Yeh Jawaani Phir Nahin Aani, Karachi Se Lahore, Bin Roye and Dekh Magar Pyaar Say, all featuring established Pakistani artistes, including Mahira Khan and Humaima Malick, who have a Bollywood connection.
Yeh toh trailer tha ! Picture toh abhi baaki hai mere dost!
On the defensive front
Reacting to an innocuous generalised suggestion made by India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to use terrorism to counter terrorism from other countries, Pakistan’s Sartaj Aziz stated, “If there is any country planning something against my country, we will definitely take some proactive steps.” To that, one could well ask: What’s wrong in weeding out a thorn with a thorn? It is an age-old, globally employed practice to use the enemy’s enemy to neutralise the former. You can’t have moral qualms and remain bystanders to terrorist tactics. Charity begins at home, sir. It would do Pakistan good to take proactive steps instead by removing extremist camps from its own soil first.
When cricket came ‘home’
Zimbabwe had become something of a world outcast under the reign of Robert Mugabe. It remains to be seen whether other countries will also open doors for international cricket in Pakistan. From Mumbai, I experienced the excitement vicariously. Friends in Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium Whatsapp-ed images and videos by the minute. “Terrorism lost, Pakistan won,” they beamed. For once, Sartaj Aziz and his peers must be chuffed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2015.
In fact, even on home turf, barely a handful of local films have made a mark at the cash counters. Occasionally, Pakistani actors, directors and distributors (especially those who haven’t managed a jab at Bollywood) cry foul about the bias towards Bollywood, but the brouhaha by the cry-babies falls on deaf ears because cinema owners are not blinded to the power of Bollywood and Hollywood franchises to keep their properties in robust health. Recent films like Waar, Namaloom Afraad, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi and Bol were among the better ones. The small-budget films like 021 and Jalebi, which were meant to resuscitate indie Pakistani cinema, failed to do so, merely bagging appalling reviews. Quality-bereft films in the Punjabi and Pashto languages are hardly worth discussing.
Clearly, Pakistani cinema has a long way to go before it traverses to India and to international markets with an Asian diaspora. For starters, it needs to find respect and acceptance in its own country, a feat which cannot be achieved by banning bigger and brighter competition from across the border. But wait, there's hope yet: signs are that 2015 could prove to be the Renaissance year for Lollywood. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s animated feature 3 Bahadur bagged encomiums and is eyeing an Indian release. The industry has its hopes pinned on Ho Mann Jahaan, Yeh Jawaani Phir Nahin Aani, Karachi Se Lahore, Bin Roye and Dekh Magar Pyaar Say, all featuring established Pakistani artistes, including Mahira Khan and Humaima Malick, who have a Bollywood connection.
Yeh toh trailer tha ! Picture toh abhi baaki hai mere dost!
On the defensive front
Reacting to an innocuous generalised suggestion made by India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to use terrorism to counter terrorism from other countries, Pakistan’s Sartaj Aziz stated, “If there is any country planning something against my country, we will definitely take some proactive steps.” To that, one could well ask: What’s wrong in weeding out a thorn with a thorn? It is an age-old, globally employed practice to use the enemy’s enemy to neutralise the former. You can’t have moral qualms and remain bystanders to terrorist tactics. Charity begins at home, sir. It would do Pakistan good to take proactive steps instead by removing extremist camps from its own soil first.
When cricket came ‘home’
Zimbabwe had become something of a world outcast under the reign of Robert Mugabe. It remains to be seen whether other countries will also open doors for international cricket in Pakistan. From Mumbai, I experienced the excitement vicariously. Friends in Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium Whatsapp-ed images and videos by the minute. “Terrorism lost, Pakistan won,” they beamed. For once, Sartaj Aziz and his peers must be chuffed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2015.