Indian movies and Pakistan Cinema

Pakistan film industry has started its working in 1948. Over 10,000 Urdu feature films have been produced in Pakistan since 1948. As well as over 8,000 Punjabi, 6000 Pashto and 2000 Sindhi feature films are also released. First film was released on 7th August 1948 at the Parbhat Theatre in Lahore. Since Pakistan gained its independence from British, Lahore became the hub of cinema in Pakistan. Later on film industry has been shifted to Karachi.

The 60’s decade is often cited as being the golden age of cinema in Pakistan. With the passage of time Pakistani movies lost their quality. Especially after the war of 1971, Pakistan film industry has lost attraction for the viewers. The story of our films turned to filth and gun culture. Lack of good story let many films to flop and cinema to incur huge loses. Many cinemas have been closed due to continuous loss. The cinemas which remained working started releasing Indian films to gain the viewership back. The fall of Pakistan film industry, gave a boost to Indian films in Pakistani cinema. It has been considered that Indian film is necessary for keep the cinemas working. Now a day, Indian film industry is main contributor in GDP of India. Indian films earn a lot of money from Pakistani cinemas. In the contrary national film industry is facing a strong competition, taxes. Indian films are enjoying profits because of their cost efficiency and quantity. But Pakistani films are made less in number and they have to compete a larger industry. To make national film industry a good part in Pakistan GDP, government should take bold steps.

Release of Indian films has a dual impact. One is, we are paying them to buy bullets and ammunition to be used against us (in Kashmir & on LOC). Indian’s atrocities in Kashmir is continued. India started using pellet guns on unarmed Kashmiris. Indian is spending its huge budget on its army. Releasing Indian movies is supporting Indian film industry. Providing them foreign exchange to destroy us and continue atrocities in Kashmir. After Uri attack, India has banned Pakistani films and dramas. In response of India’s ban on Pakistani dramas and films, Pakistan cinema association banned the released of Indian movies. This self-imposed ban was removed in December 2016. There was no intervention of government in either ban or removal of ban on Indian Movies.

On the other hand, Indian films have a strong impact on brains of our youth because they should their complete culture in these films. Watching Indian movies cannot turn ant Muslim to Non-Muslim. But these films are a strong medium of transmission of religious beliefs and culture. Dramas and movies are a medium to inspire human brain. The two nation theory is also blurred in brains of new generation. These films are a slow poison for the Islamic culture. Even language has also been changed. In present time, war is not only fought on boarders. Now, war is fought on every boarder specially capturing brains of next generation also became important in this era.

Concluding more, imposing ban or releasing foreign films or dramas should be policy matter on national level. Ministry of information is responsible for these decisions. To let Pakistan film industries flourish, some positive steps are required by Ministry of Information and technology. Pakistani films should get tax rebate whereas huge taxes should be imposed on foreign films. To protect our future generations from cultural invasion, a strong policy regarding foreign dramas and films is required.