They don’t have any other city where they can put a film production studio? Ghoom ghoom kar lahore pe aa jaatay hain.
How healthy has the Punjabi influence been on the film industry? If one watches Pakistani films, I’m sure that person would be surprised to find that there are actually other subcultures in Pakistan…
Re: Lahore and films?
They never left Lahore to begin with. I don't recall having any film production houses outside of Lahore/Punjab.
Re: Lahore and films?
They do have facilities in karachi (it is also supposed to be the center for sindhi films? 
) but who cares? when no one even gives interest to paki films (except some lota public in punjab)..
Re: Lahore and films?
OK, like I have my roots in the same province Lahore is in, but I gotta say this: The stuff from Lahore is rural, backwards and totally sucky. It was like this in the 80s, and sadly, that place has "dominated" the scene since that period excepting the occasional flashes of brilliance from other prts of Pak such as MCC, the drama serial Hawayein etc. We need more "national" participation in this entertainment biz, please!! Though the problem now is NOT that, but the trashwood-isation of all the soaps and films. Will someone with a vision please step in??
Re: Lahore and films?
I don't understand the rationale behind this Lahore specific thread. Do I need to remind people about the influence of hip-swaying movies originating from Peshawar?
Let's be honest here. Pakistan is largely a conservative country. Most people would sit in the privacy of their drawing rooms watching all sorts movies, but they won't dare to go to theaters. All these wanna-be producers think that it's because of low standard movies being produced. If they think that government is going to help them set all facilities, it ain't gonna happen. Govt. has enough problems on it's plate fighting extremists. And, govt. doesn't subsidise movie-making in Lahore either. The number of movie theaters in the country is going down, not going up. It's the same for Lahore or Karachi.
If these people really think that they can attract the public back to cinemas, then they would have to take risks, something they're not ready to do. All we're left with is low-taste formula movies, catering to mostly illiterate classes.
And, by the way, how's movie making going to flourish in the areas where the govt. voted in by the people have decided to ban even musical instruments. Please tone down your Punjabi bashing, and see the real problem.
Re: Lahore and films?
I'm actually talking about setting up new production companies in Karachi. Its metropolitan. Its more international. Its multi-ethnic, so you get an influence of all kinds of sub-ethnicities of Pakistan. Its got the conservative and modern both. Its just such a mixed salad of a city, that I can envisage more creative productions coming from there. Plus, anyone who sets up a production house there doesn't need to worry about pressure from the current Lollywood mafia.
I remember reading an interview on sameena peerzada, and she talked about how people in lahore really made her life difficult, because these other production crews were bullying her when she was doing that inteha movie of hers.
I'm sorry, I just can't relate to Pakistani films. They are so heavily dosed with Punjabi culture, that I get annoyed. How about representing MY background? How about making a movie that I can relate to? I don't live in a Punjabi village. I live in an international environment. I live in a multicultural environment. I live abroad. And I dont speak Punjabi and I dont have parathas for breakfast, and I dont wear those punjabi style ghagras to parties. And I dont fall in love with heroes who have laambi laambi moochay who carry around guns.
Its not punjabi bashing. Even many punjabis can't relate to these movies.
Re: Lahore and films?
I agree. You're right. I also agree about the mafia in film industry. To tell you the truth, I've never seen any Punjabi movie all my life. Maybe a couple of Urdu movies. I also agree that Karachi is more like mini-Pakistan. Their input can rejuvenate the whole film industry. You're right.
I don't want to veer away from topic here. But, I think we need to see things in a broader perspective. It's about the whole ethos of the society. An environment that, unfortunately, does not encourage any artistic activity. In the past few years, you might've read about a number of incidents where 'protestors' burned cinemas in Karachi and Islamabad. In Lahore, all cinemas are being converted into commercial plazas. People seem to be pleased with the rubbish Indian channels are dishing out. It's like a culture, a mindset that's inimical to artistic pursuits. 'Ache gharano ki larkiyan' don't work in film industry. All we're left with is chest-heaving 'jattis' who know all the tricks of the trade.
Anyways, there's still hope. Islamabad may be afraid of openly supporting any art/film activity for obvious reasons. The best thing, in my opinion, would be some initiative from these artists/producers/investors who really want to bring about a positive change. They'd have to keep these 'jatti' loving producers out of the game, if they want to succeed.
If we could have some investors who are brave enough to break from traditional set-up, and put their resources for these people with new ideas, that would be wonderful. Pakistanis should also encourage a change, and stop watching 'Sas bhi pehle kabhi baho thi'.
Initiative; Investment; Risk; Seek patronage of govt (if they're generous/bold enough).
Re: Lahore and films?
Trust me, that is NOT Punjabi culture, not even the culture of the illiterate feudal/village sorts. The stuff they’re showing only glorifies the outlaws/thugs and 99% of times, these are the people who’re financing these films.
Re: Lahore and films?
Production houses in Karachi with directors and producers from Karachi would be good for a change. It would at least get the other crowd watching Pakistani movies for a change.
Just like I cannot relate to dramas from Lahore/Islamabad/Peshawar, I cannot relate to the current Pakistani movies. Different movies should appeal to people from all walks of life and not just one or two in particular.
Re: Lahore and films?
^^ These days even Khi is sadly churning out the same trash. A "hit" title song, "phoren locashens", and literally EVERY celebrity you can think of and pow! you have a mega-ruppee raking drama. Some say that they've started to place too much emphasis on glamour, and that shouldn't be really a bad thing. What's actually happened is that they've started resorting to really horrible scripts, the acting quality is TRASH, the stories totally lack any sort of depth, all you get to see is elegantly dressed bimbos strutting around equally wooden men. And then those horrible, horrible soaps from across the border are just acting as a killer for any sort of creativity. The only hope now lies in films.
Re: Lahore and films?
Oh please bollybuster. If the movies come up to the current quality of dramas (Lahori, or Karachi-made, either one), woh bhi bohat bhari baat hogi.
And you can't really compare it to the drama situation, because with dramas, there are production houses in both karachi and lahore, and also many in peshawar and quetta as well. So the drama industry has its fair representation of all areas in Pakistan, plus it manages to cover areas abroad where Pakistanis abound.
This is simply not the case with films.
Re: Lahore and films?
^^ Just wait and watch. I think the Pakistanis have finally come to realise that TV-based entertainment has to be 'disposable', and it's really the films which count as serious stuff. The quality of scripts and acting is better than that on television for most of the "hatkey" films. Like even that horrible Dil Aapka Huwa had decent acting and camerawork/sets, or Laaj which was a Talat Huseein film all the way. Coming to Punjabi films, the apple of Syed Noor's eyes also acts pretty well - I'll definitely give her that. That she has zilch screen presence and is too old for most of her characters is another story. If the entertainment scene ever gets buzzing again like it was in the 80s, it would be due to films and NOT television.