Great point you have made Standard.

aanizdabst did you get the Cd from Pakistan or from here in the UK.

Come on yoyo please grow up.

Sanam411 I wish it was just the film industry but nothing ever gets done right in all Pakistan.

Well our directors think that the film has to be a hit in Pakistan and then release it overseas. Agree with you aanizdabst. There is a ready made market for Pakistani films overseas. Dubai, UK, USA and Canada are the best markets for our films.

Along as the film is a good production and is marketed well people will come to see it.

Totally agree.

Well the mixing is nearly complete for Reema's film in India and so is the trailor of the film. The mixing has been done at the same studio where recently the film "Paheli" and Sarkar's mixing have been done.

From next week the trailor of the film will be shown at all the Cinemas across the country.

On the 12th of July she will return to Pakistan from Bangkok after the final processing for her film with the complete final print.

Then starts the publicity of her film.

Very sad. Can't we do anything right. This always happens at virtually every award ceremoney be it for films or TV.

Charizmatic has the soundtrack for Tere bin jiya na jaye released.

Well Reema is currently in India for the mixing of her film. She is returning back to Pakistan on 10th July. The film is being released at Metropole and at Sozo World in Lahore. They are the two main Cinemas.

We might just get a clear idea when she returns from India.

Personally I feel what Mubasher Luqman has done is ethically wrong. Reema had announced her date before Mubasher had. So why cause problems by announcing the same date.

In fact he has had so many months where he could have released his film. So why choose 12th August.

Yoyo thats is brilliant news.

Jami be or Saqib Malik dono film banaray hai.

Agree with you Khanwh lekin inferior complex ka masla hai.

Who whould buy an offical Indian DVD for 1200 rupees or more probably, when people are getting an excellent copy of the same thing for just 80 rupees.

Agree with you Charizmatic music is just average and I dont like it.

LAHORE: Director-cum-producer Mubasher Lucman exhibited tremendous media power. The event was the launching of the music of his film ‘Pehla Pehla Pyar.’

A large number of film producers, directors, exhibitors, distributors and bureaucrats were present on the occasion. Never before, the music album of a film was launched in such a fabulous manner. It was even astonishing for the major stake-holders of the industry.

The most remarkable aspect was the arrival of the Federal Chairman of the Film Censor Board Mr Ziauddin from Islamabad besides the Chairman of the Film Producers Standing Committee from Karachi Mr Shaukat Zaman, Chairman Film Producers Association Mian Amjad Farzand, Secretary Information and Broadcasting and Culture Mr Taimur Azmat and all representatives of major television networks, newspapers, magazines and radio networks including media people of the foreign channels.

Addressing the gathering, Mubasher Lucman explained the rationale behind the choice of the film’s music. For the first time an audio tape carries background music which is simply beautiful. The melodies are genuinely lovable and music is extremely powerful. Mubasher promised it would be a family movie.

Taimur Azmat was all praise for the director and said that he would always encourage youngsters like Mubasher to come forward. Mian Amjad Farzand told newsmen that Mubasher Lucman’s film was exceptionally good. Chairman Censor Board Ziauddin was very optimistic about the film and said that the movie would turn the tables in favour of Pakistani film industry.

Credit should be given where it is due snd Mubasher Luqman deserves it after the high profile audio launching ceremony of PPP.

One also hopes that he quickly sets a date for the release of his film and the promotion is done in grand style. At last he has done something right for once.

I just wish that Imran Mslik is watching and listening to all this. Please wake up Imran Malik because your dads reputation is at stake also.

Js ki movie ko bool jawyo.

Some of it is old news even though it has appeared in the News International Jang today but I am surprised over Mubashar Luqman also releasing his film on same day as Reema. He has made no formal announcement so can't be right.

Anyhow exciting times ahead.

Standard is it the film "Sohna yaar punjabi" which has shamil Khan as hero.

Indian Movies are being shown on cable but they are in VCD format and not in DVD. The print quality is pretty poor.

Charizmatic I also don't know why the B4U logo is being used.

Lets see how long this Anti-piracy drive lasts in Pakistan because there are alot of bigwigs with vested interest in this huge multi million rupee business.

For an example a few years ago it was estimated that the Rainbow Market in Saddar, Karachi on daily basis did a business of 1 crore rupees.

More then 70% of the market is dominated by Indian Stuff and the rest by Pakistani and English.

Incidentally this won't be the first Pakistani film to have scenes shot in India because a few years ago one song from the film "Very good duniya very bad log" produced by Rashid Khawaja(also of Salakhain) and directed by S.Suleman was shot in India. The song was picturised on Resham, Fakre Alam and some extras.

Laagta hai Zara shiekh ki mother nay be Momi kay saat dance karna hai India ja kar. Bachara producer. Hum kabhi be soodray gay nahi.

A 12-member cast and crew unit of film 'Kabhi pyar na karna' will be leaving for Mumbai by the end of this month to film a song. The departure has been delayed as visa of actress Zara Sheikh's mother has yet to arrive from Islamabad.

This was stated by director Javed Raza while talking to The Nation Plus on Tuesday. Moamar Rana and Zara are the leading members in the cast, which also includes Veena Malik, who will be going to India. There were rumours in the film industry that Indian Embassy had refused to issue visas to the group as they were going there for the shooting of film. If everything goes, as planned Javed's film will be the first to have scenes filmed in India. "We will be shooting a special item song in which Neha Dhopia will perform with Moamar. Zara will also feature in the song but the song will have just Neha's dance performance," Javed said.

He said that he has signed a written contract with Neha. "Earlier we wanted Shilpa Shetty to perform but there was problem of adjusting the schedule," he said.
Javed criticised Meera and Sana for giving sweeping statements that caused them visa problems. "They gave some political statements, which created problems for others. Now our visit has been cleared by the Indian Home Department," he maintained.

He said the song 'Kurti lae aee' sung by Suneidi Chohan will prove to be a blockbuster. "We are taking a lot of pains to ensure that. Forty dancers wearing Rajasthani dresses will perform with Neha and Momi. A special set has been prepared in a Mumbai studio to film the song," he said.

Prof Aqeel Ahmed Ruby has written the lyrics and script. Kh Tariq, who is based in USA, is the producer of 'Kabhi pyar na karna'. The film will also be shot in UK and USA.

A 12-member cast and crew unit of film 'Kabhi pyar na karna' will be leaving for Mumbai by the end of this month to film a song. The departure has been delayed as visa of actress Zara Sheikh's mother has yet to arrive from Islamabad.

This was stated by director. Moamar Rana and Zara are the leading members in the cast, which also includes Veena Malik, who will be going to India. There were rumours in the film industry that Indian Embassy had refused to issue visas to the group as they were going there for the shooting of film. If everything goes, as planned Javed's film will be the first to have scenes filmed in India. "We will be shooting a special item song in which Neha Dhopia will perform with Moamar. Zara will also feature in the song but the song will have just Neha's dance performance," Javed said.

He said that he has signed a written contract with Neha. "Earlier we wanted Shilpa Shetty to perform but there was problem of adjusting the schedule," he said.
Javed criticised Meera and Sana for giving sweeping statements that caused them visa problems. "They gave some political statements, which created problems for others. Now our visit has been cleared by the Indian Home Department," he maintained.

He said the song 'Kurti lae aee' sung by Suneidi Chohan will prove to be a blockbuster. "We are taking a lot of pains to ensure that. Forty dancers wearing Rajasthani dresses will perform with Neha and Momi. A special set has been prepared in a Mumbai studio to film the song," he said.

Prof Aqeel Ahmed Ruby has written the lyrics and script. Kh Tariq, who is based in USA, is the producer of 'Kabhi pyar na karna'. The film will also be shot in UK and USA.

More on the Anti- Piracy drive.

Piracy is as alive as ever in Karachi

Yes, the panic alert that went around after the FIA raids on the DVD/CD manufacturing factories had Karachi viewers flumoxed, but they heaved a sigh of relief when pirated films slowly but surely started making their way back to the shops. Lahore might be crying for its share of movies, but this last weekend, Karachiites have been home happy with their copies of Bunty Aur Babli (a relatively 'good', read clear, pirate print) and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (a demo print, that is as good as a master copy).

The crackdown on piracy is nothing new in Pakistan. After all, we all recall the days when the Rainbow Centre was closed down for a little over a week before its doors were opened again. Karachi is the largest video and audio market in Pakistan and its distribution networks, though illegal, are sophisticated enough to come up with alternative avenues when those that exist are forcibly shut.

Indeed, in the wake of CD factories being shut down for producing pirated CDs, even legitimate labels like Soundmaster cannot release music, because they used the facilities of the same factories that have been shut down. On the other hand the fact that no action is being taken against cable providers that continue to show American, English and Indian films much to the delight of their viewers is just one example of why nobody is taking copyright seriously at all – just yet.

Piracy has for so long been the norm in this country that a switch to copyright will have to involve a long term plan to create awareness of intellectual property rights in Pakistan and then make sure that the laws relating to intellectual property are enforced and not publicly flouted.

This is what I read about the current Anti-piracy drive a few weeks back. So its not new or breaking news.

A visit to any entertainment media outlet is no longer exciting for music or movie fans. What awaits them nowadays is sheer disappointment. Everywhere they go there are empty racks where once used to be a stack of a huge assortment of CDs and VCDs bulging with movies of all genres. About a month back, a customer had the luxury of buying a DVD containing up to five English movies or two to three Indian movies for Rs 80 to Rs 100. But now shopkeepers are quoting ridiculously high prices or refusing to entertain customers. Most of them are even telling their loyal customers that they have temporarily suspended their business and will resume soon.

Regardless of the stance taken by these retailers and wholesale dealers of CDs and DVDs, one thing is for sure, - their main supply chain has been cut since the last one month. What happened was that in a raid conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Karachi, six factories producing pirated optical discs were shut down. Besides, nine people were arrested and more than 400,000 pirated CDs, DVDs and audio cassettes, along with 10,000 master discs (stampers) were confiscated. Two of the raided factories are located in SITE area, three in FB Industrial Area and one in North Karachi.

The said factories were reportedly producing millions of discs that were mostly exported to different countries. Whereas a huge number of these discs were also supplied to wholesale dealers, shopkeepers and retailers in business centers like Rainbow Centre in Karachi, Hafeez Center and Hall Road in Lahore, Imperial Market in Islamabad and so on. The instant shock suffered by businessmen dealing in optical media was so severe that they condemned the government for toeing the line of foreign masters at the cost of their countrymen. "Our business activities halted the day FIA sealed six factories all fulfilling the entertainment and educational needs of the country," was all that Saleem Memon, President Rainbow Video Merchant Welfare Association, Karachi could say when contacted by media personnel.

Muhammad Shakeel, a wholesale dealer at Hall Road in Lahore tells The News on Sunday that export of pirated DVDs from Pakistan had been an eyesore for international brands which were suffering heavy losses due to this practice. "The whole operation against DVD manufacturers was carried out on behest of world leaders in entertainment business. Though the main purpose was to stop the export of pirated DVDs, the closure also affected local markets and the ordinary customers. Reason being the sources for the local and international markets is the same. These DVDs produced in manufacturing plants situated in Karachi can fetch about Rs 60 (US$1) each in Pakistan and Rs 600 (US$10) each in the international market," he adds.

Shakeel's claims are well supported by the annual report released by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) for the year 2005. IIPA is a private sector coalition formed in 1984 to represent the U.S. copyright-based industries in bilateral and multilateral efforts to improve international protection of copyrighted materials. The report says that Pakistan remains one of the world's leading overproducers and exporters of pirated optical discs of copyrighted material. It says that ten known facilities in Pakistan produced an upwards of 230 million discs in 2004 of which about 205 million were exported the same year. Based on the latest evidence, more than 30 per cent of those discs were ultimately destined for the US. The report adds that exports of pirated copyrighted material from Pakistan harms markets in at least 40 countries.

Adeel Ahmed, an MCS student says, "It was never a big deal to get hold of DVDs of movies before their release in theatres. But now nobody is ready to talk to customers, due to fear of being caught for dealing in pirated goods. Shopkeepers say they are wary of entertaining new customers as they may well be personnel of law enforcing agencies in disguise," he tells Instep. Adeel says he is hardly convinced by the argument given by international companies complaining against copyright infringement. There is no justification in making the domestic consumers suffer for the failure of the importing countries to check an influx of pirated products. "This does not mean that I support piracy. In fact I strongly oppose the idea of selling copyrighted products at uniform rates all over the world. Is it fair that a company that gets something made in China or Taiwan for $5 sells it worldwide for $100 just because it has an established brand name? If international entertainment companies want to stop piracy, they must offer DVDs and games at cheaper prices, according to the purchasing power of people in a particular country. They have nothing to lose, as they are not earning any revenues from countries like Pakistan. I think they would be willing to buy original products if they are not 100 times more expensive but just maybe two or three times more than the pirated products."

Asif Bhatti, a computer hardware importer, agrees with Adeel. He says, "If Western countries want to stop piracy in Pakistan, they need to convince international distributors to lower their royalty charges. I don't think there is any foreign label selling original CDs or DVDs in Pakistan. How can you stop this so-called illegal business from expanding when people do not have the option to buy the legally produced products?"

He cites the example of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, which has recently announced the release of more than 100 movies on DVD in China at discounted prices. "The release of low-cost DVDs in China will help the company offset some of the losses caused by piracy. But more importantly, this will help develop a culture of buying legally produced copyrighted products in that country. If this can happen in China then why not in Pakistan?"

Going by the book there are three main types of piracy, and all of them are rampant in Pakistan. They are simple piracy, counterfeits and bootlegging. By simple piracy we mean the unauthorised duplication of an original recording without the consent of the rights owner. The packaging of pirated copies is different from the original. Counterfeits are copied and packaged to resemble the original as closely as possible. The original producer's trademarks and logos are reproduced in order to mislead the consumer into believing that they are buying an original product. Whereas bootlegs are the unauthorised recordings of live or broadcast performances duplicated and sold without the permission of the artist, composer or record company.

"The reason behind existence of every type of pirated material in Pakistani markets is the immunity from law enjoyed by those dealing in this business. Though considered a big crime in developed countries, our courts normally take piracy as a minor offense. The punishments are often more token than effective," says Ali Asghar, a Lahore-based lawyer. He thinks the trade of illegally produced optical media can only be stopped by making the laws stricter and effective and defining tougher punishments for wrongdoers.

He also calls for passing and implementation of an effective optical disc law as suggested by IIPA. The international body says this law should cover areas like giving government authorities "control over optical disc production, including mandatory licensing, inspections (including by representative organizations), closure of plants in violation, monitoring and control on imports of production equipment and raw materials (including optical grade polycarbonate) and requirements to use unique source identifiers (SID Code) to track location of production."

Welfare Association of Hafeez Center Offices (WAHCO) Finance Secretary Arif Nadeem seems perturbed by the "harassment" of association members at the hand of law-enforcing authorities. He says "it is quite disturbing for all of us to face raiding parties headed by law-enforcing authorities. We have even asked the representatives of international organisations to bring irregularities, if any, to the notice of the association before approaching law-enforcing authorities. But the problem is that every time they get a case registered against a few retailers, they accompany the raiding party and just disappear."

Arif says that none of these complainants has ever come to us and discussed piracy-related issues. "What we want to do is to convince them to offer their products at affordable rates in the domestic market. Once they agree to our proposal, we would ensure that not even a single illegally produced unit is sold in the market. This would save them from going through the agony of approaching the FIA and police authorities and convincing them to come to their rescue," he concludes

One could not blame Amjad Bobby or any other music directors if the producers insist on Indian singers.

Shabnam Majid has been used for films. We once had Waris Baig and Shazia Manzoor both were favourites of Amjad Bobby. In the last few years we also had Arshad Mahmood , Anwar Rafi, Tehsin Javed and others.

Currently Ameer Ali and Tauseef Dar do get a chance when the music is not recorded in India and both have wonderful voices.

Even Ali Zafar lent his voice for a duet with Shabnam Majid for the film Shararat.

Basically we should stick with our own singers full stop. By going to India we are destroying the livelyhood of our play back singers.

Standard, Mohammad Ali Sheikhi thats interesting. A singer from the 1980s and early 1990s. He did come in a few Pakistani films in the 1980s. He also had one film by the name of Shor with Babra Sharif as hero but the film was never released and recently was shown on TV.

One film where Sheikhi and Sadaf Iqbal lent their voices was for the film Raaz made in the early 1990s and it was Mohsin Khan's first Pakistani film. The film had some great music.

There have been raids in about 10 of the biggest factories in Karachi and have been closed down where pirated Dvds and cds were produced by the millions both for the local market and for export.

Yeah Prime Tv has stopped showing Lollywood Today and channels like Ary are showing programmes like Bollywood Buzz instead. Very sad.