PESHAWAR: The Pashto film industry screened three new movies on Eidul Azha despite dwindling cinema culture due to a lack of official patronage and sponsorships.

Cinema experts said the new Pashto flicks released on first day of Eidul Azha attracted cine-goers in large numbers as their stories revolved around price hike, law and order and poverty.

‘Cha Karram Badamala’, ‘Aishaq Mubarak’ and ‘Mohabat Gandagairee Shwa’ were released on Eid with three different directors, storylines, music strength and new faces to entertain the cine-goers. Despite hot weather, visitors kept thronging the city theatres.

Experts and cinema critics said if concrete steps were not taken, the Pashto film industry would seize to exist any longer, and have asked stakeholders to save an important medium from being annihilated. “Alternatives are required for the cine-goers. Official patronage and sponsorships will ensure the survival of the theatres in the provincial metropolis,” Jan Hazoor, a cinema fad, told Dawn.

Critics regret lack of official patronage for declining cinema culture

The first flick, ‘Cha Karram Badamala’ (who made me a vagabond), has been directed by Arshad Khan, scripted by Salim Murad, while dialogues have been written by Saeed Tehkalai, and Nazar Mohammad Zaro has composed music.

The cast of the movie includes Shahid as hero, Jahangir Khan, Hussain Swati, Tariq Jamal, Shehnaz Begum, Jiya Butt, Imran Khattak, while Bisma Chohan has been introduced for the first time in a Pashto film.

“Though most visitors enjoyed social media releases, a good number still wanted silver screen as Pashto cinema has a legacy and past glory,” Mumtaz Khan, a cine-goer, remarked.

Director Arshad Khan told this scribe, ‘Though Pashto film industry is fast declining owing to lack of official patronage and sponsorships, the performers worked hard to bring Pashto flicks for cinema visitors. He added the story directed under his supervision not only entertained the cine-goers but also educated them about the poverty that has made life unbearable for common people.

“I have introduced new faces as usual. I wanted to give chance to new talent to showcase themselves. As before, excellent track music, beautiful locations and powerful dialogue delivery and relevant storyline are salient features of the movie,” he claimed.

“Noted artists, including Sidra Khan, Sher Dil Khan and Achee Khan, were also part of the flick, and the cine-goers would definitely appreciate the overall stuff,” he hoped.

Director Arshad Khan regretted that cinema houses were being razed, but no alternatives were provided. He said only three cinema houses were left in the city where a dozen cinema theatres used to screen old and new runs.

The second Pashto flick ‘Aishaq Mubarak’ (love is a bliss) and the third ‘Mohabat Gandagairee Shwa’ (love has turned a useless business) directed by Arbaz Khan and Shahid Usman are expected to do good business.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2024