LAHORE - As Lollywood has desperately failed to produce any local movie for Eid-ul-Azha, all cinemas in the province have planned to screen Bollywood and Hollywood movies on this auspicious occasion.
It is for the first time in the history of the country that not a single Pakistani film will be released on eve of Eid-ul-Azha, which is traditionally considered as the most appropriate time to market films.
In fact the local film industry is breathing its last, as it is unable to meet as well as satisfy the demands of people and that is why cinemas are presenting old Bollywood and Hollywood films, which is a continuation of the trend of showing imported movies in the theatres across Pakistan.
The cinema-owners who always follow ‘demand and supply’ principle have expressed concerns over the miserable situation of Lollywood. The reliable sources disclosed that federal secretary information has also imposed sanctions on importing foreign movies due to many reasons. According to federal secretary, the DVD of each imported movie would be presented to him for issuance of NOC for its import, which is now possible only through smuggling, as no producer will allow original print.
That is why both scarcity of products and absence of would be movie-watchers have forced almost every theatre in Lahore, which is called the cultural hub of the country, to switch over either to Indian or English films. The cinema-owners and distributors are of the view that local industry has drowned now, therefore, they are without any choice except screening Bollywood and Hollywood movies.
Talking to The Nation, the cinema-owners revealed that they had purchased the screening rights for the Bollywood and Hollywood movies on Eid-ul-Fitr due to poor quality of local production but now Information Ministry has cut their hands and they would cannot screen any new Bollywood and Hollywood movie.
The cinemas throughout Punjab including Empire, Sozo World, Metropole, Kashmir Mahal, Cine Gold, Cinstar, Nishat, Shaheen Auditorium and Shama at Sialkot; Dream Land and Rex at Multan; Gulistan at Sheikhupura; Ciros and Cinepax Cinemas at Rawalpindi; Prince, Taj Mahal and Sabina at Faisalabad; Zinco Palace at Gujranwala; and Shaheen Auditorium at Sargodha have planned to exhibit already imported Indian and English movies.
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