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August 4, 2005
Fun and games
What I miss in Karachi is good cinema. The 70s was the last decade, I seem to recall, when we could book our seats at the Capitol, Palace, Paradise or Rex and enjoy the latest, or almost latest, films. During the interval we’d spot several friends and knowledgeably discuss the finer points of the film and the more cerebral trailers. And then the high-quality and sophisticated films ceased and over the years the better cinema halls also disappeared. The government’s recent step in abolishing the tax on film tickets is too little, too late.
And now, all we have is the tiresome TV. Watching DVDs at a home entertainment centre doesn’t come close to going to the pictures. For a fun outing there are now the restaurants, and like the picture houses of yore, you need to book a table at the best ones. But satiating your taste buds isn’t the half of it. A good film, and there were dozens of them, could make you think, stir up your emotions and send your imagination soaring,
OK, so there are the Sunday bazaars. You run into people you know there and you come home covered with dust but laden with goodies. But entertainment? No, only the grossly materialistic can find shopping a truly satisfying activity.
The odd music concert, art exhibition, dance or theatre programme is just that: odd. Lacking government patronage, subsidies or funding of some kind, regular artistic activity is hard to establish. The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) was developing nicely under Kishwar Naheed, and will hopefully pick up again, now that it has an experienced new MD. But one swallow does not a summer make.
Lahore has the Peerzada brothers whose Herculean efforts have culturally enriched that Mughal bedecked city. Not to mention it being the Lollywood of Pakistan.
Even the seaside, Karachi’s unparalleled natural asset, which gives all its citizens endless pleasure, tends to drown its more ardent devotees during the six summer months when its exciting waves and cool sea breezes are needed most.
A government, or result-oriented NGO or other social-work group interested in promoting the welfare of its citizens, would have turned the city’s many beaches into places to which you could turn for fun and frolic, relaxation or exercise. A few strategically built piers for boating, surfing and water-skiing, plus safe swimming, of course, would have changed the personality of Karachi.
The navy, which apparently holds much of the coastline, can open up and develop some sectors, particularly Manora, for this megapolis’ fun-starved populace. And the cost for such development can easily be met by the excess funds and facilities that are ceaselessly showered on our politicians. Trim the money lavished on our ministers and such, on VIP travel, Umra and Haj extravaganzas, and the government can turn the Karachi coastline into a wonderland.
This is a simple recipe for promoting the health and happiness of Karachi’s 13 million citizens who are hungry for entertainment. But who is interested in the public, particularly since the greed of the fat cats knows no bounds.
So what’s left? Ah, yes, weddings. In the absence of any means of enjoyment, we go berserk at weddings and are busy transforming them into an entertainment activity that offers everything: food, music and dancing, fashion and jewellery shows.
Event managers are giving a facelift to the wedding scene of the more affluent with masses of fresh flowers, subtle lighting and endless yards of dainty drapery. Look how the marquees or shamianas have changed. Not to mention the bridal jora, with the more sophisticated brides moving away from the traditional red and gold towards softer colours and style.
The near absence of fun and amusement explains why packs of young Pakistani men go marauding down the streets at the slightest call by any misguided party — howling, yelling, setting tyres and cars on fire and creating mayhem on every side, and, of course, consuming energy.
Lacking access to the few exclusive clubs this city has, to sports practice and competitions organized by fathers and mothers and other civic-minded adults, as is the system in the developed countries, or to music, theatre, art, and dance classes, sessions and concerts — what are the nation’s young to do? How are they to burn up their excessive youthful energies? To add to their problems, our religious mentors, maulvies and madressah types whose word carries much weight, frown at the very idea of entertainment.
It is clear that the young must have outlets and, like water, many may have found one. The present outlet or channel for their exuberant spirits is not one we approve of. It is called extremism or fanaticism. Our leaders are talking about the need to project the soft face of the country. But the soft face has long been neglected and even smothered by these very leaders. It is time to provide for the people’s need for entertainment, distractions, diversions and leisure activities in order to restore normalcy among us.
At a meeting on the topic of improving poor people’s health called by a religious party’s women’s wing, I once recommended that we take care of their need for fun and games. While the party’s ladies expressed shock and disgust at my suggestion, the others dismissed it as being utterly frivolous. And yet, psychiatrists and other experts of human nature emphasize that to retain our sanity we need liberal doses of entertainment. A good film, anyone?
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