PESHAWAR: The movie buffs and music lovers are enthusiastic to enjoy three new Pashto movies, five telefilms and sound 10 music albums on Eidul Azha.

Film directors Arshad, Shahid Usman and Arbaz Khan expect good business from their productions on Eid. The new Pashto flicks include Shadal Zalme, Lambe and Juram Auo Saza starring Shahid Khan, Dua Qureshi, Babrak Shah, Sidra Noor, Afreen Paree, Achhi Khan, Jahangir Khan, Tariq Jamal, Arbaz Khan, Khalida Yasmeen, Ajab Gul and Mohammad Hussain Swati.

Experts said that Pashto entertainment industry promoted violence and vulgarity instead of highlighting real issues of the people and boosting a soft image of the militancy-plagued province.

The art promoters and film producers while disagreeing with their critics said that terrorism and extremism could be countered through art and cultural activities. “People need entertainment and peace of mind. Our critics should know that we have been through a tough time as militancy has affected badly our art and artists,” said Zahid Irfan, a local art promoter.

Critics accuse entertainment industry of promoting violence, vulgarity

Noted singers Nazia Iqbal, Bakhtiar Khattak, Sitara Younas, Rais Bacha, Asfandyar Momand, Khalid Malak, Hashmat Sahar, Wisal Khial, Shehzad Khial, Dilbaraj, Asif Kheshgi, Nazneen Anwar, Sheena Anwar and Rani Khan have sung playback songs in the music compositions of Shakirzeb, Zar Mohamad Zaru and Gulalay. Singers Gulpanra, Shah Sawar and Rahim Shah have also contributed to various albums released on Eidul Azha.

Azra, Dilbar Munir, Uzair Sherpao, Mumtaz Zeb, Nasim Pehlawan, Shehnaz Begum and Rahim Shehzad also played roles in the films. Saleem Murad Ali, Darwaish and Saeed Tehkalai have written screenplays and dialogues for the new Pashto releases.

The film directors claimed that their productions carried good stuff to impress the movie buffs through popular cast, powerful storylines, dialogue, beautiful music, poetry and attractive locations. The films have been shot in the heartbreaking sites of Balakot and Naran valley.

Arshad Khan told this scribe that despite a slump market, his production always pulled large crowd owing to his quality work, music and cast coupled with good locations. He said that Pashto movies went through an able team of censor and never promoted vulgar scenes and substandard contents.

“My film Shadal Zalme is a story of a simple young man. I have picked up from our own environment. We need to educate young men of numerous things around them. Such characters definitely make up an impress story,” he said.

Pashto music industry will release five telefilms and music albums on Eidul Azha. Noted music director Shakirzeb has also brought out his own album titled ‘Ghazal’ while Nazia Iqbal’s album ‘Musafara Yara’ will hit music charts in the market. Senior Said Rahman Sheenu and Ismail Shahid could not release any work due to their tight schedule in their other programmes. An album titled ‘Attanr’ has also registered its good impact on the audience.

However, most critics have complained of glorifying using drugs, violence and rude behaviour in Pashto movies, telefilms and even music albums.

Rustam Jan Shahid, a local Pashto poet, said that it was regrettable that nobody took notice of substandard, immoral and full of violence stuff being produced and promoted through silver screen and telefilms.

He said that authorities should come forward to correct the so-called filmmakers and art promoters. “I understand that such stuff and contents have nothing even remotely with Pakhtun culture and lifestyle. That’s why educated, decent people and families never walk up to cinemas,” said Mr Shahid.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2017