Death of Pakistani cinema
(Syed Hussain Mosavi, karachi)
There was once a time when
Pakistani film industry was at its peak and a time when people had to use high
contacts to get permission to come to the studios and watch shootings. People
used to watch our movies all over the world and movies used to celebrate silver,
golden and platinum jubilees. However, that is not the case now. Back in the
days when first-class movies were produced and cinema-goers thronged the
theaters seems to be hazy memory today. The industry that emerged in 1960s and
1970s is now barely breathing. Many cinemas are closed and the rest pay heavy
taxes. Quite a few of them are used for commercial functions.
The young filmmakers emerging from schools all over the country.
“We have new film schools, this is the most positive sign,” Szabist, National
College of Arts, BNU, Iqra University and the Karachi University all now offer
some sort of degree in film making or production.
A revival of the industry is much needed which can take place only if the
government lends a helping hand and expresses serious concern in this regard.