Lollywood eyes foreign markets

The producer of Lollywood's upcoming first digital sound action movie Salakhain, Khalil Rana, is eyeing foreign markets for its release. This film which may spell a death knell to the crude action flicks being churned out by Lollywood has taken over two years in the making.

Salakhain directed by Shahzad Rafiq and co-produced by Rashid Khawaja boasts of a big star cast including model Ahmed Butt, Zara Sheikh, Meera, Saud and TV stars Shafi Muhammad and Sajid Hassan. The film has been shot in picture-perfect surroundings of Gilgit, Skardu and Hunza, Lahore, Daravar Fort in Bahawalpur and Nepal. Celebrated writer Amjad Islam Amjad has written the script. A foreign crew and about 60 dancers were used in the filming of three songs in Nepal. Khalil, who is leaving tomorrow for USA in connection with the release of the film there, said "I am not new to releasing a film in the foreign market.

I directed and produced a movie Sool which I released in US in 2001. That film was made at a cost of Rs 2.1 million. It brought in Rs 15.3 million from the US market. It was rejected by the distributors here and could not be released in Pakistan. I believe Bollywood has already opened up the foreign markets. Now 30 to 40 per cent of the cost of big budget Indian flicks is covered from the US market. Take for example Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Ghum, which did a business of $ 3.7 million at the US box office. Similarly Dev Das brought in $2.8 million and Tum Bin $ 1.8 million. We too can do it if we come up with good quality movies. I am leaving for US to strike a deal with a leading Hollywood distribution company. Warner Village Co will release Salakhain in UK."

Khalil hopes to release the film in US, UK, Canada and UAE. "We intend the release it in Pakistan first in the first week of May. 80 percent of the work is complete. The dubbing has been done and the background music will be completed in a week's time. The final post production work will be done in Bangkok. We did not work in rush to meet any deadline. We have tried to ensure a good quality production. I am overwhelmed with the response that the trailer of film has brought in our cinemas.

Leonard Barnard Co is designing the publicity campaign and we hope to reach out to millions of cinema goers who are disappointed with Lollywood flicks," he said.
His passion for films is unbounded and he talks endlessly about what is happening around in the world of filmmaking. Khalil is a German citizen and is based in New York. He took a few short courses in film making in Germany and later did a 2-year degree course from the University of NYC. He says he is a dreamer. "Film media is a powerful media in the world. It is unfortunate that here in Pakistan we are lagging behind in this medium. I dream of better times for our film industry. I could have invested my hard-earned money in some other sector but I have a firm faith that we can turn things around by presenting good quality films in the foreign markets", he said. The cost of Salakhain has reportedly touched Rs 40 million.

After Salakhain Khalil has planned another project which he will announce by the end of February. "It would be a comedy film. I have written the script myself and hope to engage M Arshad again as music director," he revealed.