Will 2012 be the end of Lollywood?

YUSRA MURSALEEN

KARACHI: This year is considered the end of Lollywood because this year’s budget did not allocate funds to the Pakistan film industry.

According to media sources, only two to three Lahore-based movies are scheduled to be released this Eid as film-makers have moved from Lahore, leaving the once busy studios silent and empty.

Chaudhary Kamran, the producer of last year’s “Bhai Log” has been working since long to restore the existing producers’ association.

Kamran asked, “Why would investors want to make a film which is unable to recover (investments)?” He further added that although his movie, which was released on Eid was a big success but still unable to recover the investment.

Actor Kanwal who is effectively working with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to support the entertainment industry said that the government’s indifference is the main reason behind the collapse of Lollywood.

She further added that once Lahore was considered as an identity of film productions, but now it is losing its identity.

On the other hand, renowned director Javed Sheikh is optimistic about the production of films.

He said that 2013 will be a comeback year because Lollywood is scheduled to release eight highly budgeted movies including “Waar” and “Zinda Bhaag” and movies by Humayun Saeed, Shoaib Mansoor and Jami.

He further pointed out that Rawalpindi, which was considered a dormant market for films, has turned into one worth Rs20 million.

Lollywood has produced blockbuster movies like “Khuda Ke Liye” and “Bol”, so we can still hope for the revival of the film industry in Pakistan.