THIS is apropos of the statement made by Syed Noor (Feb 23) that the Pakistani film industry did not sink suddenly but the process was gradual as nobody took serious notice of it.
He said further that its revival was not difficult as some serious efforts could very well take care of everything.
I agree with the statement. Gone are the days of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s when Pakistani cinema lovers used to throng at different cinemas of the country to watch movies of their favourite Pakistani actors.
The Pakistani film industry ruled over the hearts and minds of the people of the country for more than three decades where they enjoyed watching Pakistani films in cinemas of the country with their families.
Artistes like Darpan, Santosh, Mohammad Ali, Waheed Murad, Nadeem, Lehri, Rangeela, Noor Jahan, Sabeeha Khanum, Zeba, Nayyer Sultana, Shabnam, Shamim Aara and Barbra Sharif moved the hearts of many cinegoers with their superb natural acting.
Stories of films of those years are still fresh in the minds of those who watched them during their youth.
Pakistani films of those years stood very popular because in those days films were made with great commitment.
A great sense of professionalism was witnessed in the making of films. Writers, producers, directors, singers, poets and actors used to give their best to make their films memorable and lively.
Unfortunately, commercialism took the better of Pakistani films where sense of professionalism was compromised.
Today, no one really likes to watch many Pakistani films with their family members due to which cinema hall owners have been suffering badly.
In my own town Sukkur, Shalimar cinema (Minara Road), Imperial cinema (Ghanta Ghar), Rushna cinema (Ghanta Ghar) and Paradise cinema
(Barrage Road) were once very old and popular cinemas in Sukkur town.
These were dismantled long ago and many towering shopping plazas and residential units have been constructed. Similar is the situation in other cities of the country.
We need to improve the quality of our films. Only then we will be able to attract maximum numbers of people to watch Pakistani movies.
ABDUL SAMAD SAMO
Karachi
Source: Dawn
Date:2/25/2011
