Pakistan is going through critical times with its unstable economy and its unpredictable sociopolitical situation. Pakistan’s film industry is in the same situation as our economy. There was a time when our boisterous industry, with renowned artists, was blooming like a flower giving its sweet nectar to everyone across the country as well as across the border. However that charm soon started to wilt and lost in time. That Golden era turned into a dark age for Pakistan’s film industry. The question is why we stopped getting films like Yeh Aman by Riaz Shahid, Ghareeb of Salim Nigar, Insaaf of Syed Kamal, Aina of Nadeem and Shabnam, and the list goes on…Have we forgotten the aspects of how to make a good movie or is it we are too lazy to come up with good plots? The answers can be quite radical.
Pakistani producers need to learn from other huge blockbuster movies and need to stop their meaningless whims, and look for opportunities by learning and seeking something new. Nowadays nobody is interested in watching Pakistani movies even in the cinemas there is less audience watching Pakistan movies and more foreign movies are garnering attention. What a pity. We should learn from Hollywood and even Bollywood, No offense! First, we need to avoid adding Romeo and Juliet-like character with their unending family rivalries, sizzling Saas Bahu fights, and not to mention no streamlined plots. Producers should think more rationally than traditionally. Production houses should seek good script writers, and then they should work with actors who are good at dialogue delivery with giving genuine emotions. As we are a Muslim country we should work on making biopic movies on our Muslim warriors like Salahuddin Ayyubi, Tippu Sultan, and the remarkable history of our freedom fighters, and stories having a moral ground in them. Recently, Pakistanis have loved watching Ertugrul, a Turkish series. If Hollywood, Bollywood, and Turkey can make their movies in the light of their history why can’t we?
Furthermore, we should modernize our film industry so that we can show our movies in a broad spectrum. One way is to provide more opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work and provide funding for new productions. Another way is to improve the quality of films by providing better training for actors and filmmakers, and by investing in better equipment and technology. Additionally, creating a supportive environment for filmmakers by providing tax incentives and reducing censorship can help modernize the industry. Investing in film festivals and other events can help promote Pakistani films and filmmakers to a wider audience domestically and internationally. Living in an age of technology, Pakistani directors should utilize social and digital platforms to promote and reach a wider audience. Encouraging international collaborations can be a boon to this. Additionally, bringing more diversity in the industry in terms of scripts and actors is extremely important. Perhaps these measures can make a good start.
