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M. SAEED AWAN
FILM CONTRIBUTOR
The veteran director talks about how he soldiers on in the fast changing world of Pakistani cinema

Syed Noor is set to start production of his most ambitious project yet... starring none other than Amir Liaquat!

Lollywood gave us talented film directors such as Nazrul Islam, S. Suleman, Pervaiz
Malik, Haider Chaudhary, Masood Pervaiz etc, but none has played such a long and
successful innings as Syed Noor.

As a script writer Syed Noor aka Shahji penned scripts that initially earned him his good
name, and then he stepped into film direction and wowed audiences with Ghoonghat, Majajan,
Choorian, Daku Rani, Jeeva and more. However, the years are now starting to take a toll on
his health, but his determination to create something worthwhile has not waned.

Currently, Shahji resides with his first wife Rukhsana Noor (Saima’s TV engagements keep her
in Karachi) in a remote area of Lahore called Tricone Village surrounded by a peaceful and
tranquil environment. It is also within easy reach of Shabab Studios where he mostly shoots
his films and engages in office work. It is here, surrounded by familiar film paraphernalia, that
he opens up and talks about the Pakistan film industry and his plans for the future.

“My greatest grievance is with Sharmeen; despite knowing thatPrice of Honour was lined up for
release, she launched her documentary A Girl in the Water. I fully acknowledge her services and
potential as a fellow film-maker, but she should have approached me before taking the initiative.
She damaged my project.”

Is the film industry moving ahead or stagnating?

Frankly, considering all the damage caused during the past couple of years, I have little hope
for its recovery. My guess was that it might take five to seven years for it to get back on its
feet. It’s a miracle what has happened during these past two years. But don’t go measuring
its success ratio just now as it’s the lowest in the world. I mean to say that a constant flow of
film production is necessary for the success of any film industry and the proper cultivation of
cinema.

Where did we go wrong?

Ten years ago, a young, energetic breed of professionals should have stepped in and taken
over our film industry which unfortunately never happened. When the LSAs handed me the
achievement award last year, I objected … that award put a full stop in my career ... a ‘no
more room for you’. Should I sit at home now? I continued to accept challenges as they
came along and shaped my ideas and destiny. I’m still sailing this ship. Unfortunately, my
colleagues didn’t and were left behind.

Don’t you think that directors like Iqbal Kashmiri, Pervaiz Rana, Masood
Butt etc can take on new challenges in film-making?

They belong to a different school of film-making. They are used to working on the outdated
35mm technology. When it converted to digital they got sidelined.

Secondly, the world of cinema has moved ahead with innovative ideas, angles, camera, lights
etc. Since there is no academy or government patronage, the chances of studying film-making
have always remained slim. But I say this with utmost sincerity that these directors have
rendered great services to our film industry and can still persevere if they bring about an
improvement within themselves.

"When the LSAs handed me the achievement award last year, I objected … that award put a full
stop in my career ... a ‘no more room for you’. Should I sit at home now? I continued to accept
challenges as they came along and shaped my ideas and destiny. I’m still sailing this ship. Unfor-
tunately, my colleagues didn’t and were left behind."

Lahore-based Punjabi films have a mass appeal as compared to others.
Comment.

It was once the case. But now the centre of film-making is back in Karachi, with a few
shortcomings.

There have been some good films like Jawani Phir Nahi Ani. But I’m sorry to say that there are
some movies that are not up to the mark, and declaring them as ‘feature’ films would be a
mistake. Actually these are TV serials with songs. It’s shocking, really.

After the shifting of film-making to Karachi, shouldn’t we use the word
Karawood instead of Lollywood. What do you say?

It’s all a fuss. There is only Hollywood, no Bollywood or Lollywood. It should only be called the
Pakistan film industry and nothing else!

What do films mean to you?

In nutshell, the sole aim of films is to entertain. Film without entertainment is not a feature
film but a documentary.

Under the present circumstances, you seem to be the only person who can revive
Punjabi cinema after a glorious track record like Choorian, Majajan, Shareeka, Mehndi
Walay Haath. What’s holding you back?

The time of Punjabi cinema is over. Waise bhi ab filmein Punjabi/Urdu mixup ho gaye hain.
Many Urdu films now have two to three Punjabi songs.

Our owners hardly took any notice of the dingy, shabby cinema houses. They thought that
despite sub-standard facilities films would continue to attract crowds. They also discouraged the
exhibiting of Pakistani movies, preferring Indian content instead. Consequently, our film producers
turned to other businesses.

I would like to credit Nadeem Mandviwala for the revival of films. Hats off to him.

"Some [recent] movies were not up to the mark, and declaring them as ‘feature’ films would be a
mistake. Actually these are TV serials with songs. It’s shocking, really."

Can the situation be improved?

Sadly, the present government has no ministry of culture. Perhaps we are among the few countries
which give the least importance to culture, despite India and Hollywood storming and capturing the
world market, and focusing on the young generation.

I strongly believe that India is nothing without its film industry as it has vastly improved its image
and economy through it. Our government does not keep this in mind. It should revive NAFDEC
without further delay which could connect us to other worlds through culture.

Thirdly, Pakistani colleges and universities that teach film-making to students must have proper
equipment like cameras, lights, set designing tools etc. Just mere theories won’t do.

Do you think Adnan Sami quit his Pakistani nationality due to his excessive
Bollywood engagements?

Rubbish. At least Adnan Sami spoke the truth about him being an Indian. A number of Pakistani
singers, artists work there but don’t care to work in our industry. What can you say about such
hypocrisy?

Directors are often seen bragging about release dates, and the same seems
to be the case when it comes to your film Price of Honour which was lined
up for release in April 2015?

You’re right. I admit my fault. But the saying goes ‘Man proposes God disposes’. Issues like funds,
publicity, cinema availability etc kept holding me back. But my greatest grievance is with Sharmeen
Obaid-Chinoy; despite knowing that my film Price of Honour was lined up for release, she launched
her documentary A Girl in the Water — The Price of Forgiveness. It was as a real setback for me. I
fully acknowledge her services and potential as a fellow film-maker, but she should have approached
me before taking the initiative. She damaged my project.

"I made Shaan a supreme actor while low-calibre directors have damaged his reputation as an actor."

What other films do you have in the pipeline?

Bhai Wanted is almost complete but the biggest project of my life is on its way. I wrote a screenplay
four years ago, keen to produce a different kind of message-oriented film. I was wondering whom to
cast opposite Saima when I came across Dr. Amir Liaquat’s show and my heart said that I’d found
the right man. I decided to convince him to sign my film. Initially, Amir Liaquat was reluctant to
accept my offer but when I narrated the story to him, he agreed. He will be my next hero with
Saima as the leading lady.

So when do you plan to start the film?

Soon. It all depends on Dr. Amir Liaquat’s availability.

Why has Saima switched to TV? Some argue that a film star should not work
on the small screen as it undermines his/her stature?

I don’t agree. Saima has earned 10 times more popularity than films simply because TV has a
much larger viewership.

Why was Saima absent at the premier shows of her own movie recently?

Uski marzi, main kya keh sakta hoon (It’s her decision, what can I say?).

Who is more accredited for a film’s success, actor or director?

Most certainly the director. I made Shaan a supreme actor while low-calibre directors have damaged
his reputation as an actor.

Originally published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, April 10th, 2016

Is it end of Punjabi film industry?

Faizan Javed

LAHORE-The new wave towards revival of cinema industry has grabbed everyone’s attention and
people are happy with the development. One thing, however, not being taken into account is that
the once burgeoning Punjabi film industry is at its lowest ebb and it may be the beginning of its
end.

The film industry in Lahore has almost come to a standstill. The revival of film industry is only in
Karachi. There is now new generation of enthusiastic young directors, actors, producers. They are
brimming with new ideas and thoughts and are making good high-quality films. The future
feasibility of film-making business in Pakistan is demonstrated by the facts that now many
international companies are interested in investing in the showbiz.

If you talk about late 1970’s films in Pakistan an average of 80 films were released in a year. The
increasing fame of Punjabi cinema meshed with a pool of actors which became the reason for
changing class flow of film audiences. Most films in late 6o’s and 70’s were considered as the best
source of entertainment for the families. The business like beginnings of the boom, which was at
its peak from the mid-’70s to the early ‘80s explains the popularity of cinema’s in Lahore. The 60’s
decade was often considered as the golden age of movies in Pakistan. Many stars rose to fame in this
period and became legend on the silver screen. In 1962, Shaheed aka Martyr, marked the Palestine
issue on the motion picture and became a massive hit. Films like Choorain, Majajan, Heer Ranjha
used to sound tremendous in content that broke all records at the box office. These films shared
strong music, traditions, folk’s, motifs, stories based on real life, romance & violence which remind
us of their own new wave. If we talk about late 1970’s there were more than 1,000 cinema houses.
Now those cinema houses are turned out into CNG stations, malls, dhabba’s, property dealer offices
etc and many people who used to make films have become distributors of Indian films. The number of
functional cinemas some years ago had fallen to below 100. But now a number of new cinemas have
come up in recent years. Year 1979 was time when the rise of popular violent Punjabi film Maula Jutt
came in action and revolutionized the Pakistan film industry to new corner. Sultan Rahi as Maula Jatt
character influenced huge audience of Punjab. Every aspect of his character exhibits a strong, brave,
Punjabi masculinity. He defined a popular culture and symbol of heroism in Pakistan. After the record
breaking success of Maula Jutt (1979) the movies with a lot of violence became the trend of industry.
It was in year 2007 films like Khuda Kay Liyae brought some hope for Pakistani film industry. It was
followed in later years by box office hits like Bol, Waar, Mah-e-Mir, Na Maloom Afraad, Jawani Phir Nahi.

Talking to The Nation filmmaker Ashiq Mirza said there was a time gandasa culture films were successful
and cinema houses were full of public. “Almost every cinema in Lahore nowadays has switched to
releasing Urdu or English films. They have forgotten Punjabi films culture which was once show business
in Punjab. Distributors these days prefer to purchase films from India and showcase them in the cinema
houses instead of investing to make Punjabi movies.

“My humble request to the government and the distributors is that Pakistani film industry is not doubt
moving towards revival in Karachi but what about the industry in Lahore? Why the end of Punjabi films?
There is still for Punjabi films especially in rural areas. These films should be made in Lahore and Urdu
films in Karachi. Films like Maula Jutt, Heer Ranjha, Basheera, Zindigi and Playboy will definitely do
good business.

Filmmaker Abbas Jutt the main reason why Punjabi films are gone because the circuit had become so
small and people were not so sincere with their work. “Government never supported us. Sadly we are
among those countries whose government doesn’t pay attention on their rich cultural heritage. We
always used to shoot films at own our expense. A few efforts were made by filmmakers in the late
90’s to revive the industry and prompt the middle-classes to return to cinemas but that didn’t work
and with the passage of time cinemas turned out into markets.

“I respect those people who are still making films and entertaining the public but my question is why
do we have to go at foreign countries for sound designs, film editing. We should purchase these
equipments hire professional people for training and establish our own theatre world. We used to work
on the equipment which was available at that time and the films being shot then were massive hits.
Above all the Punjabi culture films should be kept alive. Rebuilding the cinema industry will take time
but the producers should realize this issue and make films with original concepts,” Jutt said.

Film producer and director Pervaiz Rana said Karachi based filmmakers cannot compete with Bollywood
mainly because of limited audience. “Only Punjabi films have the capability to counter Indian films. I
remember when I made the film Pardesi it swept the box office. We are hardly releasing 26 to 30 films
in a year whereas in past average of films being made was 50 Urdu and 45 Punjabi films. Of these
films 16 Urdu and 10 Punjabi films would become super hit. Mostly the viewership was in Punjab but
Karachi was considered a hub for the business of films. They reason we had to face downfall is that
filmmakers didn’t try to come up with new ideas. It was a peaceful hunting ground for filmmakers but
they didn’t utilize it properly. I’m making two Punjabi movies which will be released soon after
the month of Muharaam,” Rana said.

Source:The Nation, October 09, 2016