Cinema: A dying source of entertainment
ISLAMABAD – The Capital of Pakistan is deprived of even a single cinema theatre to entertain the residents.
There was a time when people were crazy to watch movies on big screens and every weekend it used to be a treat for families to go to cinemas but with advancement of technology this trend has diminished and many cinema houses have been closed.
Now the situation has totally changed as no one is willing to invest in this business and if anyone is interested in watching Pakistani films, there is no government support to promote cinema owners.
A senior official at Censor Board told The Nation,” Decline in cinema business compels their owners to convert cinema houses into commercial plazas and such other business, from where they could earn sufficient amount Rawalpindi city is and example in front of us”.
However, he said that according to provincial law, if someone converted his cinema into plaza or such other place than it was must for him to establish a mini cinema along with the plaza.
He admitted that families did not come to cinema houses due to low standard films. According to the Censor Board official, “cinema business declines due to low quality films and an increase in the number of cable television channels”.
When Pakistan came into being in 1947,Indian films were also released in the Pakistani cinemas, and likewise Pakistani films were also shown in India. In those days Pakistan’s film industry and its Indian counterpart were about equal in almost all aspects and respects. In 1965, the release of Indian films in Pakistani cinemas was banned and Pakistan lost one of its competitors.
Viewers said cinema houses were no more fit for family entertainment. “When families will not go to watch films then it will cause a huge loss to the cinema industry”, said an old viewer.
In the capital city almost three or four years back Nafdac 1 and Nafdac 2 at Blue Area were two good cinema houses that offered high-quality entertainment to families,
In Rawalpindi the number of cinema houses has come down drastically over the last decade. Plazas have come up in place of the cinema houses.
People go to cinema when they have the facility to watch quality movies, People like films that are close to their real life and happiness, if they have facility of good quality movie then they would definitely go to watch movies Said an office worker while talking to The Nation.
Advent of cable TV, DVD and CD players diminished the cinema trend, it keep people for away from cinemas however, all these are the minor factors, cinema owner government should support owner in this regard, he said.
Quality movies and cinema houses in good condition are a need of the time where people could enjoy with their families he added.
Sadia explained that unfortunately, Pakistan film industry has always suffered from lack of educated people and due to low quality films it fails to provide healthy entertainment.
Source: The Nation
Date:10/30/2007
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