PESHAWAR: The Pashto entertainment industry has released four new movies this Eid.

Also, a week-long Pashto musical show started on the first day of the Eid festival where film stars, stand-up comedians and folk singers performed.

The special Eid show ‘Da Akhtar Guloona’ attracted visitors and its tickets were sold at Rs2,000 to 2,500.

Four new Pashto movies having Arbaz Khan, Ajab Gul, Shahid Khan, Mehak Noor, Sidra Ali, Jia Butt and several other noted performers in lead roles were released on Eid in city cinemas, while some old runs were also screened. The ticket per show was sold for Rs400-600.

Experts have regretted the decline of Pashto cinema and said investors and filmmakers suffered losses due to a lack of professionalism, sponsorship, good scriptwriters and passion for visual art.

Arshad Ali Shan, a film critic, blamed it on militancy and insecurity.

Producers and filmmakers said they expected a huge success due to attractive locations, engaging story lines, charming song lyrics and quality music.

They said there was a high likelihood of film buffs going to cinemas in large numbers on Eid.

The Pashto films to be screened on Eid include Bendiwan, Pekhawar Zama De, Yar Dushman and Charta Khanay, Charta Faqeeray featuring actors Ajab Gul, Arbaz, Shahid Khan, Jia Butt, Mehak Noor, and Afareen.

“Stories of these movies are related to our everyday life,” Muzaffar Khan said.

Senior film star Ajab Gul told Dawn that Pashto cinema had been struggling for survival for a few decades.

He said Pashto filmmakers and investors were striving to produce quality movies.

“I don’t claim work of high standards but still Pashto entertainment industry brings out something good for cine-goers on Eid,” he said.

Mr Gul, however, said the relevant story lines were still a far-fetched dream, while there was also a lack of playback singers.

Nazar Mohammad Zaro, a senior music composer, said music was still the strength of Pashto movies and folk artists worked hard as playback singers.

“Official patronage and public interest could boost up the image of Pashto cinema,” he said.

Young performer Rozina Khan said it was very strange that most young cine-goers took more interest in musical shows than movies.

“The reason for this trend can be live performance despite the fact that most shows have film stars,” she said.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2024