HYDERABAD, Feb 22: Pakistani television channels and films can be used for reforming younger generation instead of exposing them to foreign culture. “It`s an irony that the dominance of Indian film industry has hit our youth who consider it to be a ladder of success.

Pakistani film icon Syed Ghulam Mohiuddin Noor expressed these apprehensions in an exclusive interview with Dawn.

Fearing total collapse of the film industry, he emphasised on educating children about their culture and traditions though movies as these are apt to leaving a deep impression on their minds.

Popularly, known as Shah Jee, he said that the film industry didn`t sink suddenly but the process was gradual as nobody took serious notice of it. However, its revival is not difficult as some serious efforts can very well take care of everything, he said.

Syed Noor was invited by Mohammad Aziz of Aziz Art Circle for his crowning ceremony on the lawns of Radio Pakistans Hyderabad Station late on Monday night which lasted till early hours of Tuesday. The ceremony was utterly disorganised and with the exception of Prof Inam Sheikh and Naseer Mirza, none spoke about Syed Noor and his achievements.

There were dissenting notes over repetitive casting choices in Syed Noor`s films.

Syed Noor strongly called for preserving the national culture through films and establishment of academies and schools of performing arts or else the industry is sure to doom. Noor made his debut 40 years ago in film industry as an assistant to Director S. Suleman.

Our culture, instead of the neighbour`s should be fortified by portraying in a positive way. What an irony that our children consider Krishna and Hanumann as their heroes as they are exposed to these cartoons on cable televisions instead of being attracted alternatively, he said.

Syed Noor firmly believes that the industry sank because of the dearth of talent, ideas and brilliant actors.

Shah proved his mettle as a writer by bagging the highest number of Nigar Awards.

The society should give respect to film industry for its revival and parents some reliance by encouraging their wards to make their career in showbiz as acting has gained a lot of acclaim worldwide, he said.

Counting factors for the decline of Pakistani movies, he laid emphasis on the latest equipments and advised the cinema owners not to turn their enterprises into plazas, instead introduce multiplexes enabling people to watch movies with their families where sound and visual effects should soothe their mood, said Noor.

Big investment attracts big audience therefore people venturing into this business should ensure maximum facilities for their viewers as gone are the days when people enjoyed sipping cold drink and eating popcorns while watching a film.

Film industry is a serpent`s tooth as nobody gives an air to new dimensions, he said in reference to his earlier bid to reform it. The laidback attitude of people doesn`t allow them space to grow. He questioned as to how much our people give vent to technical laboratory, camera, technology and cinema while elsewhere multinationals financially support their filmmakers and the governments exempt them from taxes.

The decline here was a two-way process as filmmakers made low-budget soaps and people complained of sub-standard films.

Competing with India is not an easy task as they spend around Rs2.5 billion on one movie while here it takes merely Rs10 million, he said adding “we are no match to Indian films.”

We all are responsible for its downfall as the government did not set up school for performing art while film making was not taught as a subject. Now, the Punjab University and the National Arts Council have taken initiative in this regard, he said.

Criticising private television channels, he said that even a minute incidence of Indian film stars get space but here even death, like that of Salomi could not be aired.

Noor asked the channels to stop showing live violent shows which are more like a fight between Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi than talk shows.

He said that dramas impact more than films because of the involvement of huge amount of money which filmmakers are afraid to invest.

He felt pained over Pakistani artistes who perform in India but often tend to give-up their national identity. These people create their market on the basis of talent but then refuse to perform in their homeland which had given them the identity in first place. A glaring case is of Adnan Sami who got fame from Sargam. What a pity that despite having so much talent whenever he sings there are several Abhijeets to speak against his voice.

He advised Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali to perform in India without compromising on their Pakistani identity and make money but then perform here on lower rates for raising the level of field.

When you have earned Rs10 million in a show abroad then why not perform for Rs25,000 in your own country, he said.

In reference to Veena Malik`s fiasco in a reality show, he reminded that Shilpa Shetty refused to appear in compromising scenes on the plea that she was an Indian first.
Source: Dawn
Date:2/23/2011