After months of boycotting Bollywood content on the decision of Cinema Association across Pakistan, film exhibitors and cinema owners have decided to call an end to the self-imposed ban. The decision was taken due to the rising tension of cinema shut-down in the country as a result of the dying audience and lack of screening content.
Zoraish Lashari, Chairman of the Film Exhibitors Association, told reporters that the screening of Indian films would resume from December 19. “The cinema owners and other stakeholders in the industry have been hit by the decision to impose a temporary suspension on screening of Indian films. A lot of investment has been made into upgrading or building new cineplexes and multiplexes and the business at this time is dependent on screening of latest Indian films,” he said.
Seems as though, we have proved it ourselves, the so-called growing Pakistani cinema can not survive without the existence of Indian content and entertainment. WHAT A SHAME! Claiming to shine and outdo the neighbouring country, we couldn’t go a few months without their presence in our cinema screens? Was it actually the Bollywood content that spiced up the demand of cinema nationwide? Do Pakistani films ever get the business they plan out on accomplishing? So many questions and all because of one simple move – the comeback of Bollywood to Pakistani cinema!
As a journalist and a proud citizen of my nation, it hurts to see that an entire industry fails to succeed without the presence of our arch rivals – India. How can we manage to move ahead of them, if we can’t manage to beat them in their own game? I know it is not easy, but it is not impossible either. It was a proud moment for me to write that the cinema owners had announced to back the army on account of the tension created after the Uri attack, and ban Bollywood. However, bringing back what should not have returned so soon, is definitely not something one would have expected nor desired!
