LAHORE, June 13: The first two Pakistani films released this year only on Friday last – Khamosh Raho and Aik Aur Ghazi – so far have done little business at the box office.

Khamosh Raho directed by Altaf Husain was released with five prints whereas Aik Aur Ghazi directed by Syed Noor was released with three prints only.

Sources told Dawn Khamosh Raho's budget was Rs12.5 million but by now it had only been able to collect Rs160,000 at the box office.

Similarly, Aik Aur Ghazi was produced with a budget of Rs8.5 million and had only been able to earn a little over Rs100,000.

The two films were put on display simultaneously on June 10 that too also divided their audience. Security concerns and price hike are other major factors contributing to thin turnout.

The slump in Pakistan's film industry can be gauged from the fact that after these two films, only four movies are in the pipeline – Reema's Love Mein Gum, Syed Noor's Jugni, Faisal Bokhari's Bhai Log and Rasheed Dogar's Sala, Sauhra tay Jawaie. Reema said her film would be released soon but she was not in a position to give a final date for this purpose.

“Right now I am working on the marketing of the film which is the most important part of releasing process,” said Reema adding that for the first time she was shooting a promotional song of the film with some 40 prominent artistes.

She said filmmakers focused more on the release of the film and paid less attention to its marketing whereas without marketing, one could not rope in a large audience.

According to experts, the four films that are in the pipeline would hardly get any cinema if released on or near Eidul Fitr because of new arrivals from the Bollywood. Cinemas would be more interested in the exhibition of Indian films rather than Pakistani movies, they added. — Staff Reporter