PPP takes flying start despite bad weathe

LAHORE - Five films premiered across the country on the occasion of Eidul Azha. Viewers in large numbers braving the dry and cold weather rushed to the cinemas. Only one Urdu film - 'Pehla Pehla Pyar' was released and some movie buffs went home disappointed as they failed to get tickets for the packed to capacity shows. Mayhem was reported in some cinemas where allegedly some 'uncensored' songs were shown.
Produced and directed by Mubasher Lucman top star Nadeem, newcomer Ali Tabbish, Resham, Zara Sheikh, Sajid Hassan and Kanwal star in 'Pehla Pehla Pyar'. The film is a pure love story and was filmed in Thailand and Dubai. The music by Yousaf Khan and choreography by Bollywood talent Jo Jo are excellent.
Sangeeta has directed producer Muhammad Afzal's 'Athara' while the cast includes Saud, Shan, Nirma, Sana and Saima Khan. Director Sohail and Imran Hussaini's 'Madam Dhiarey Baz' has Laila, Ahmed Butt, Saima Khan and Kanwal in the cast. Pervaiz Rana has directed the movie. Masood Butt has directed filmmaker Khadim Hussain's 'Sharif Gujjar', which has Saud, Shan, Laila, Sana and Saima Khan in the cast. Producers Riaz Gujjar and Shahzad Gujjar are presenting Rashid Dogar directed flick 'Jism'. Shamyl Khan, Mahak Jan and Saima Khan are included in the cast.
The City District Government in the past has undertaken many campaigns to check practice of screening uncensored songs and exhibition of obscene posters. The occasion of Eid, however, gave a free run to those engaged in such practices. Vulgar posters and production stills (of scenes perhaps censored) were displayed in the lobbies of at least four cinemas. Others had painted the obscene pictures black at some points making them perhaps more suggestive and luring to the young teenagers. If there was something objectionable in the pictures why are they not removed? When the officer incharge of such operations Tariq Zaman was contacted on Friday, he said it was in the notice of City Government and an operation would soon be launched to stop this menace. "We would ensure that no such poster, hoarding or picture is displayed at cinemas. Those showing uncensored songs will also be taken to task," he said.
Chairman Cinema Management Association Qaiser Sanaullah, who is also the manager of Metropole Cinema, while talking to this scribe condemned the screening of uncensored songs in cinemas. "The producers exert pressure on cinema management to show these songs. The producers of 'Athara' urged us to run two songs that had not been censored. We have till now been able to face the pressure even though there have been exchange of harsh words as well," he alleged.
He said earlier movie 'Bhola Saniara' was shifted to another cinema as they refused to allow screening of uncensored songs. "Other producers in some cinemas of the Lahore circuit were however successful in convincing cinema owners to show uncensored songs. "I believe underworld people are backing them. They want to destroy the cinema industry," he maintained.
Filmmaker Jamshed Naqvi who was also present said such practices were blight on the Pakistan Film Industry. "Families would never come to cinemas to see movies if such practices continue. The government should take notice of the situation," he said.
Mubasher Lucman said it is the right of expression of any filmmaker to present what he wants but he should not cheat the viewers. "They should tell the people what kind of a film they are presenting. If they want to want to express themselves in such a way they should go ahead but only after giving it the right rating. They should not call these flicks family films.
"They have no right embarrass families who come to cinemas in the hope of seeing a good film," he maintained.
Film writer and director Raja Riaz have also slammed the practice of screening uncensored songs. "We had heard of this practice in small towns in the past. It is a shame that this has begun in the metropolitan city of Lahore.
"There are two or three filmmakers, who are tarnishing the image of whole film industry. The Ministry of Culture should take notice of these new developments," he said.
Saima Khan is a popular stage dancer, who has been banned a number of times from performing on theatre. She is featuring in all the four Punjabi films.
Reportedly Mian Amjad Farzand, former Chairman Pakistan Film Producers Association, recently resigned from his post of member Pakistan Film Censor Board in protest against the clearance of some films by the Board. He is in Dubai and was not available for comments.