LAHORE – As each year comes to an end, whatever has happened is reawakened in everyone’s memory. Like all passing trends, some of the incidents fade away, leaving no mark of their occurrence, while the residue of many others stays and in fact even builds a base for future events and happenings. On this note, one of the most important sectors of social life is arts and culture and this is one part of life that should be dynamic.
But arts and entertainment in Pakistan not always grows towards the positive direction. Sometimes it is regressive, in terms of its inspirations, forms, and even commercial value. Other times, it is reminiscent of a new renaissance of art movement. Movies, and music, which comprise the basis of arts and culture happenings for the general public, is what matters most, but unfortunately this sector seems not to be doing too well considering what it can actually accomplish.
OF FILMS AND CiNeMA:
Cinema for instance, has taken a slow pace. It may have a few streaks of vibrant highlights this year, thanks to film makers like Syed Noor, but in general, the cinema quality remains poor and financially it is failing.
Pakistan Today spoke to Syed Noor, who also aired similar opinions to that of many others belonging to the film industry, including second leading film maker Sangeeta.
“The film industry has definitely worsened this year,” he says categorically. “We have seriously fallen into a crisis because of the excellent marketing by our neighboring Bollywood. At least a hundred channels market their films, locally and internationally, while our film posters are hardly even seen on billboards. Meanwhile, they have a larger budget, and this is the reason our cinema is getting more and more suppressed day by day,” he says.
Noor says his prime concern is that Pakistani cinema is not backed by the government; film makers do not get enough incentives, financial help or even motivational support by our government, or even the private sector.
However the quality of cinema leaves much to be desired.
“It is true that many of our film producers invest only about Rs 0.1 million to make the worst movies ever,” he laughs. “A lot of our film directors do not even have the skill to hold a camera. How will we even think of completing with a much more preferred industry which is producing films like ‘Robot’?” he questions.
Noor says that film and acting academies, along with introducing the courses at colleges and schools, is a starting point from where this form of entertainment can be understood from a young age. He himself has changed his style of filmmaking from the typical love story, to a more thematic approach. He has three new films in the pipeline, including Price of Honour, Jugni, and Aik Aur Ghazi.
OF PLAYS AND THEATER:
Meanwhile, theatre and stage plays suffer a similar fate. While once Lahore used to be the capital of cultural festivities such as theatre, today there is hardly anything being done with regard to this area. Ajoka Theatre Group Director Shahid Nadeem explains that major reasons are national security and economic problems in the country.
“Though government restrictions have been less this year, non-state actors have played a role in attacks and threats to the theatre community,” he says. He recounts attacks on venues and even individuals (performing artistes) during the Rafi Peer Festival, in Nowshera at the PTV festival which took place in Ramzan and at Ajoka’s series of plays against terrorism in Karachi.
At the same time, the issue that was raised by the Ministry of Culture itself concerning Ajoka’s play Burkavaganza was highly surprising and unfortunate, he says. The issue has still not been resolved.
The World Performing Arts Festival too was not held this year, he says, while Punjpaani, had to be held in Amritsar because there were no sponsors available in Pakistan. “The economic condition has led to there being a lack of sponsors, and government-run arts councils aim to support low grade stage performances, rather than quality theatre, because those are commercially more viable. If this carries on, theatre can’t expect to prosper,” he says disgustedly.
However some performances have marked the year, such as Tilism in Karachi, Viraasat by Ajoka, and Rafi Peer’s Youth Festival.
Ruthless taxes by the government have also slowed down the growth in both cinema and live performing arts. Although the 65 per cent tax on cinema has now been removed, a 20 per cent excise tax on theatre makes life difficult for quality art to develop.
“The 20 per cent too has to be paid in advance and depends on how many people come, not the amount of tickets sold. So tax has to be paid even for complimentary guests like the media,” says Nadeem.
OF DRAMAS AND TELEVISION:
Television is probably one fa
