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Friday March 29, 2024

Islamabad Literature Festival concludes

Ziaul Haq blamed for local showbiz death

By Jamila Achakzai
April 27, 2015
Islamabad
With the country’s once-flourishing film industry now almost dead, panellists of a session at the Islamabad Literature Festival on Sunday pointed the finger of blame at General Ziaul Haq by and large insisting the military dictator’s bid to Islamise society in early 80s caused the showbiz to begin dying.
Nonetheless, they strongly felt that strong realistic themes, quality script, better production and not the least heavy investment could help turn things around.
In the discussion on ‘Pakistani Cinema: Kal Aur Aaj’ (Yesterday and Today)’ at a local hotel, actor and director Asif Raza Mir, film actress Jia Ali, scriptwriter Shahzad Raffique, producer Yasir Jaswal and senior film actress Bahar Begum appeared as panellists in front of a sizeable audience.
Senior actor Raju Jamil acted as the moderator.
Top film actress of the past Zeba Muhammad Ali was also invited to the event but she didn’t show up for undergoing angioplasty lately.
Asif Raza Mir said once Pakistani films were known for good subjects, quality script, strong production, superb acting and sweet songs and most of them were still popular with the people, who loved to watch them over and over.
“During the good old times, people from directors to producers to actors to musicians used to do films professionally but that thing is missing these days. Besides that, I think (military dictator) General Ziaul Haq’s policy of Islamisation also dealt a devastating blow to the entertainment industry, especially films,” he said.
The producer said Gen Zia’s acts of conforming the society to his own version of Islamic laws through strict yet uncalled-for regulations and censorship forced to the people into abandoning the film industry and many cinemas to close down.
He said from 1950 to 1980 was the golden period of Pakistani film industry and during that time, cinemas totalled 1,500 in the country but the number plunged to around 45 during Gen Zia’s rule.
He, however, said more and more cinemas were opening up taking their countrywide number to 75 and that was an encouraging development.
Asif Raza Mir felt youths should come forward and try new things in the industry professionally though.
“Not only will this revive showbiz in the country but this will give them good money as well,” he said.
Participating in the discussion, Shahzad Raffique also believed the country’s film industry suffered the most during Ziaul Haq’s 11 years long dictatorial rule and that it was the military ruler’s unnecessary Islamisation of society that triggered the collapse of showbiz.
He insisted though fewer in number, quality films were still produced in the country.
“I don’t agree that Pakistanis don’t watch Pakistani films. Whenever cinemas screen good films, they show up in large numbers, so their problem is with poor quality of films and not the place where they’re made,” he said.
The scriptwriter pushed investors to put money in showbiz and government to patronise filmmaking to ensure that the industry sees good days yet again.
“We need to make quality films by going for new yet realistic themes and using quality scripts. Also, there is a need to encourage the entry of young producers and directors to the industry,” he said.
Bahar Begum said she was impressed the quality of some films produced lately and was confident about the revival of the film industry.
She said strong subjects and quality scripts made good films, so producers should engage good writers besides using modern filmmaking techniques.
Another panellist, Yasir Jaswal, said those comparing Pakistani film industry with that of India were mistaken.
“In India, the (film) industry has got good investment, government patronage and the latest technology. No such thing is available here but even then, we’ve produced some quality films in the recent past, which could do the country proud abroad if marketed well,” he said.
The producer said lately, he made ‘Jalebi’, which turned out to be a blockbuster, so it meant the country got talents to attract the audience back to cinemas but what they needed was encouragement and patronage.
Participating in the discussion, actress Jia Ali said film actresses didn’t get the respect in society what they deserved and therefore, respectable families didn’t allow talented female members to join the profession.
She said the people did like if good films were made.
“What people need are quality films no matter who make them. If we come up with good script, new themes and quality directions and production, cinemas can pull crowds like the past,” she said.
The festival came to an end later in the day with closing speeches by Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi, with keynote speeches by Zehra Nigah and Paul Harding, winner of the Pulitzer Prize & a Sufi Music Ensemble by Rafi Peer.