KARACHI: To take the experience of films to the masses and to those areas where there is no access to cinema, an initiative called Pardey Pe Rehney Do was launched on Friday evening.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO of the project Akhlaque Mahesar said it all started with a small idea but his team turned it into a big concept. He said all they were trying was to screen movies in areas where films had not been seen on the silver screen.

Another member of the team, Farhan Fatmi, said the team wanted the masses to see those film projects which were kept in stores. He said the aim was to show all Pakistani films made up till now to the people of the country, free of cost, and give them a lifetime experience of the world of cinema. He said the idea was Akhlaque Mahesar’s brainchild.

After the two speeches a special teaser made for the project was shown. It showed the life of the common folk and their inability to have access to entertainment facilities. One of the lines in the teaser suggested that city dwellers could go to cinema houses, and the masses were deprived of it.

Film actor Mustufa Qureshi was the chief guest on the occasion. He said he liked the term ‘pardey pe rehney do’ (keep it on the screen) which was contrary to the established phrase ‘pardey mein rehne do’ (keep it behind veils). He reasoned that those who believed in the latter (pardey mein rehney do) were corrupt but the ones who subscribed to the former were neat and clean. Appreciating the project he said “It’s a wonderful idea” because it tried to bring back to life the films that were not being discussed anymore and those actors who’re no more with us, and in the process letting the young generation know about the kind of talent that once Pakistan had.

Qureshi said the Pakistani film industry had a rich history. He said there was a time when India used to copy our films and music. He said at the time technology hadn’t yet reigned supreme, and Pakistani films did great at the box office. He said recently he was in Lahore where a condolence reference for the late actress Shamim Ara was held. He said there he pointed out that for eight years she remained in coma but no government inquired about her or TV channel reported on it, whereas, he said, if an Indian actor sneezed (chhenkta bhi hai) our media reported it while relaying national news.

Earlier, Qureshi, with other guests, visited that portion of the venue where renowned archivist of Pakistani films Guddu’s collection of posters, pictures and rare magazines were put on display.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2016