PESHAWAR: The Pashto film industry, despite odds, is set to screen four new movies on Eidul Azha to provide entertainment to the cinegoers.

The film directors and producers have pinned hopes on the production quality, dialogues delivery, casts, locations and strength of music of the movies. Out of eight cinema houses in Peshawar, only four are ready to screen four new Pashto flicks while the rest will showcase old runs.

Around 12 noted Pashto folk singers have already released their songs on their own YouTube channels and a few groups have released promos of short films, showcasing different aspects of Pakhtun social life.

Four of eight cinema houses in Peshawar to screen old runs

However, connoisseurs of the film making say no matter which form it takes, films hold the power to transport their audience into different dimensions within the span of a few hours.

According to their view, Pashto film industry has many issues and also the cinema culture in Pakistan is going through drastic changes but the technology and talent behind the movie itself speak when combined on screen but there is more that add to the movie-going experience.

Rafiq Jan Munsif, a film critic, says that going to cinemas has been a popular hobby for people since the moment they were introduced to the world and even after decades it has not changed. He adds that history may have evolved and fluctuated over the years but the only fact of the enjoyment people feel walking in and out of the theatre has remained the same.

The four new Pashto flicks being released in Peshawar include ‘Munga Lofaran Yoo’, ‘Badmashano Sara Ma Cherha’, Da Gaz Da Maidan,’ and ‘Qurban Day Sham Charsi’.

The first film has been directed by Arshad Khan and produced by Shahid Films Production (SFP) in which Arbaz Khan, Jahangir Jani, Shahid Khan, Jiya Butt, Feroz Ali Khan and Afreen Paree are appearing as the main casts. Noted script writer Saeed Tehkalai has written the storyline and dialogues while Zar Mohammad Zaro has composed the music of the movie.

‘Badmashano Sara Ma Cherha’ is the production of Musafar Videos, scripted by Salim Murad and starred by Ajab Gul, Asif Khan, Jahangir Jani, Arbaz Khan, Shahid Khan , Mehak Noor, Sidra Khan, Jiya Butt, and Feroza Ali Khan. Ustad Gulalai has lent the beauty of music to the flick.

‘Da Gaz Da Maidan’ is a new version with a different storyboard and cast because a Pashto film under the same title had gained popularity during the early 90s.

The fourth Pashto flick ‘Qurban Day Sham Charsi’ has Shahid Khan, Jahangir Jani and Feroz Ali Khan as mega stars.

Noted Pashto folk singers including Gulpanra, Sarfaraz, Sitara Younas, Humayun Khan, Shah Farooq, Shehzad Khayal and Gul Rukhsar are performing as playback in the movies.

Muzaffar Khan, owner of Musafar Videos Production House, tells this scribe that Shah Farooq, a young folk singer from Bannu, has sung songs for the first time for Pashto film while Shehzad Khayal, younger son of ghazal maestro Khayal Mohammad, will spellbind the audience.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2019