Art and artist – both in visual and performing genre – survives in Pakistan but at a very heavy price. Musicians, painters, singers or actors live in most difficult times, while the state institutions, meant to promote art and culture, ignore them. The art councils and other institutions remain indifferent to the issues of artists, many of them have passed away in abject poverty while others live in conditions that are not fit for a person, who is protecting and promoting rich cultural heritage of the country.
The film industry in Pakistan has failed to be vibrant and some of the people attached to it are compelled to set up their own businesses at a small scale to earn their livelihood in the federal capital.
Khalid Tanoli is one of such artists, who brought laurels working for the films and television over the last two decades, but with the slump in the local industry, he is struggling to earn living, selling variety of fried fish at his small hut along the roadside at G-9/2, opposite to the Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9). Narrating his miserable story, 45-year-old Khalid Tanoli told Pakistan Today that he started his career in 1990 with a popular drama serial “Ajj Di Kahani” from Pakistan Television (PTV).
Born in Abbottabad, but settled in Lahore, Tanoli said his professional career in film industry was over but he had been working with zeal on TV. “My ongoing television drama serials are “Amar Beil” and “Zindagi Aik Safar Hay” from ATV, while “Bus Aik Tera Intazar”, “Insaan” and Nai Nasal” were the forthcoming drama serials to be telecasted from PTV,” he said, adding that he was also performing in underproduction “Jaago Magar Khamosh Raho” and “Bhaag Ali” and a feature film ‘Dil Da Jaani’, featuring Shan, Saima, and Sana.
“I have worked with all the leading film and television stars. One of my current Punjabi drama serial is “Sohni Mahiwal” in which I am working along with Shafqat Cheema for Apna Channel.” Tanoli said he had played different roles from Peon to Police Officers, from Driver to Villain, and as a Jailer and Father in number of Urdu and Punjabi films- “Sher-e-Punjab”, “Dada Badmash”, “Mulla Muzaffar”, to name a few in which I appeared in these get-up.
Settled in the federal capital for the last four years, Tanoli said because of poor scriptwriting, acting, production and Indian and Western cultural onslaught, Pakistani film Industry was pushed into a quagmire and almost finished.
“It (film Industry) could never be revive again, because every quality movie is easily available on cable networks, and internet on different websites. Why should people bother to watch Pakistani movies that have nothing to impress audience,” Tanoli said, while inserting sticks into wooden stove.
“Sangeeta Begum, Rao Qurban Ali, Pervez Rana, Anjum Pervez, Arshad Dar, Babar Kashmiri, Irdees Bhatti, and Ajab Gul are few of noted produced with whom I have worked,” Tanoli said.
“I have worked with Yawar Hayat, Ayub Khawar, Tariq Ahmed, Abdul Aziz, and Yasin Malik on TV.”
He blamed Indian soaps and films are also responsible to down Pakistani film industry. “But the flaws that caused industry’s decline are our own. Producers is also reluctant to take chances on his investment, said Tanoli, who has three school going children.
“I have learnt fish frying techniques from one of my colleague producer while working in Lahore, and it clicked. Now, by the grace of Almighty, I am the only fry fish seller who has all range of fried fish in the federal capital.” “Rahu, Trout, Baam, Masheer, Mushka, Simon, and Surmai are the fish, I brought from Tarbela and Mangla Dams, and also from Kaghan and Naran while few fish I imported from Karachi,” Tanoli said. Talking about the rate of mouth watering fried fish served with sauce, Tanoli said the prices varied. Tanoli said he was looking for a better spot where he could set up his fish selling business to serve fried fish in a better ambience. “I have struggled and I am satisfied with my life.” he said. Tanoli requested the government that time was not over yet. “The government must do something now for the revival of film industry, for the sake of promotion of art and culture.” “I have worked with commitment and devotion for the promotion of art and culture and there are thousands of artists like me, who are looking forward government institutions to something for the welfare of artists – as they are the asset of the nation,” he said.
