KARACHI: In scenes eerily similar to drama on the big screen, violent mobs, protesting against an anti-Islam film, unleashed their rage on nine cinemas across Pakistan in 2012.

Among the nine was the iconic Nishat cinema, established in 1947, in Karachi.

The fate of the charred building of what used to be a bustling Nishat cinema hangs in the balance as the Mandviwalla Estate in an advertisement put the 66-year-old theatre on sale on Monday.

“The journey of entertaining millions at Karachi’s prominent landmark, the glorious Nishat Cinema has now come to the end,” the ad reads.

During the violent protests of angry mobs over the controversial video Innocence of Muslims in 2012, Nishat cinema became a target of vandalism and arson attacks.

Speaking to Dawn about the advertisement, the owner and managing director of Mandviwalla Entertainment, Nadeem Mandviwalla, said the sale was inevitable as there was no possibility of reconstructing the cinema.

“We have to move on — we cannot rebuild it. There is no point in erecting a new building because what is the guarantee that it won’t happen again? M.A. Jinnah Road is a vulnerable point for cinemas and every now and then protests and rallies are held on the artery,” he said.

“When the mob was ransacking the cinema, 70 channels were telecasting it live. It continued for hours and yet the police did not intervene. Why should one build property when security is not provided? Had the authorities concerned reached the spot, I would have some reassurance... But they didn’t.”

Mr Mandviwalla adds: “The attack by the mob was not hidden, it was done in broad daylight and it was a security lapse because they had been given the opportunity to ransack those places.”

When asked if he would consider building a cinema at the same location, he said: “After the incident, I was asked about rebuilding the place myself at a press conference, I had said I could reconstruct a cinema there if the assembly passed a bill that there would not be any processions on that road — that it would be declared a red zone.”

Once buzzing with people of all ages, Nishat is now reduced to a skeletal frame, with no sign of the glory days when people would flock to the spot and queue up for their favourite films.

“There is no doubt that Nishat cinema is one of the oldest landmarks in the city and almost everyone has a nostalgic affiliation with the place. I do, too, but this country is going through grave problems — people lose their lives every day and for me it is more tragic than the loss of a cinema. These are turbulent times and I cannot prioritise Nishat over human loss,” Mr Mandviwalla said.

Although Prince, Capri and Bambino cinemas also suffered the same fate as Nishat, they were able to recover from the episode.

“Bambino, Capri, Nishat and Prince were targeted but the damage faced by Capri and Bambino was not as severe as suffered by Prince and Nishat. It was next to impossible to revive Nishat.”

Mandviwalla reiterates his sentiments citing a famous Urdu adage: ‘Pehli baar ghalti hoti hai, doosri baar nadaani.” (The first time you do something wrong, it is a mistake but the second time you do the same, it is foolishness.)

Given the landmark’s history as a popular site of the city, news of the cinema’s sale saddened Karachiites.

Cultural critic and columnist Nadeem Farooq Paracha shared his views on the news:

“The local government should intervene and make it a heritage by rebuilding and preserving the site.”

Commenting on its effect on the future of Pakistani cinema, he said: “It would not have any such impact on the prospect of Pakistani cinema because multiplexes hold the future. However, the Nishat cinema is a classic cinema and must be preserved. It’s a definite loss for the underprivileged, and Bambino and Capri might follow suit.”

Commenting on Nishat’s historical importance, Mr Paracha said: “Like I said, it has immense historical significance for not only Pakistani entertainment industry but it also has its own social and historical importance. It was an icon and has its significance just like any historical icon has.”

Veteran actor Bushra Ansari also shared similar sentiments: “It is a sad development. People have had a long association with Nishat and it is not going to be good for cinema here.”

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2015

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