Govt hinders imported movies screening

LAHORE - As Lollywood has failed miserably in screening any local movie for Eidul Azha; all cinemas in the provincial metropolis have planned to screen Bollywood and Hollywood movies (one each) on the auspicious occasion. But to cut a sorry figure, local filmmakers have released four low cost movies including Gujjar Badmaash, Vehshi Badmaash, Madam X and Hussan Parast today (Saturday).
Pakistan Central Board of Film Censors (PCBFC) has issued censor certificate to four Pakistani, one Indian and one English movie to exhibit on the Eid. Rasheed Dogar has directed two Pakistani movies including Madam X and Hussan Parast and Masood Butt Gujjar Badshah while Sangeeta has directed Vehshi Badmaash. The later is being launched at Shabistan Lahore, Taj Mahal Faisalabad, Kashmir Mahal Gujranawala, Taranum, Mir Mahal, Angor and Capri at Multan, Regal Sheikhupura and Khayam at Sargodha. The main cast include as Shan, Sana and Laila.
The Indian movie 'De Dana Dan is being screened in the City at DHA Cinema, Gulistan, Plaza, Sozo World, Cine Star and Cine Gold along with Dream Land Multan, Minro Faisalabad, Zinco Plus and Raksi Gujranwala and Rex Sargodha. Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Shetti, Pareesh Raval, Neha Dhopia and Sameera Redi are the stars of the film. The English movie '2012 is the other new foreign movie to be screened at local cinemas, otherwise, maximum cinemas have been showing already imported Bollywood and Hollywood movies.
Earlier, according to reliable sources the federal secretary Information was reluctant to issue censor certificate to importing movies due to many reasons. But now he has issued certificate to only two foreign movies. In fact, it is a bitter reality to admit that local film industry is breathing its last because of its inability to satisfy cinemagoers demands and that is why theatres are screening foreign movies, which is the only way to lure people to theatres as they have access to latest Bollywood and Hollywood movies at their homes.
In other words, it is a continuation of the trend of showing imported movies in the theatres across Pakistan.
The other important aspect needs to be given attention as the cinema-owners have revealed that they had purchased the screening rights for the Bollywood and Hollywood movies on Eid-ul-Fitr due to poor quality of local production but now Information Ministry has cut their hands, and that they are unable to screen any new Bollywood and Hollywood movie.
While talking to The Nation, Director DHA Cinema, Nadeem Mandviwalla said the cinema-owners always followed 'demand and supply rule. 'But if local industry produces movies according to the taste of masses then there is no reason to not display them in local cinemas, he added.
He further said if the government did not issue censor certificate to De Dana Dan and '2011, then the cinemas would not have anything new to display on the auspicious day.
It is unfortunate reality that Lahore, the cultural hub of the country, is forced to switch over either to Indian or English films due to the failure of Pakistani film industry. The cinema-owners and distributors are of the view that local industry has a thing from the past now. Therefore, they are without any choice except screening Bollywood and Hollywood movies. On the other side, some theatres in the City will show new stage dramas on the day. This is the only genuine local production, although a bit objectionable, presenting recreational relief to the citizens.