Celebrated film, TV actress and director Samina Peerzada is a spirited of co-productions with the Indian film industry. In her own film Inteha, she specially invited Indian choreographer, Ahmed Khan for dance sequences. Samina is also pursuing the idea of setting up a Saarc film secretariat, under which all Saarc film partners could work hand in hand to develop the regional cinema.
In her opinion, regional cinema could be a key to amicably resolving the issues being confronted by the regional nations. She is a firm believer that the co-products would eventually help in producing subject oriented and technically sound films, besides helping the less developed film industries of the region stand on sound economic footings.
Business Recorder, recently interviewed Samina Peerzada and asked her to throw light on present state of Pakistani film industry, the prospects of co-production with India and the futuristic Saarc cinema scenario.
Talking about the co-production benefits, the actress turned director said "Lollywood has not been producing technically sound films. That is one reason why the cine-goers have continuously been rejecting the films in Pakistan over the years. Most of the directors are copying Indian films but copying is more difficult than the original ultimately sealing the fate of their products" Samina opined.
She said that once the film-makers from both sides would start investing in co-production, they would not only be safeguarding their interests, but the audience, specially in Pakistan would have the reasons to go to cinema houses. The learning process for the film-makers as well as the task masters would be of great value as well.
"The Pakistani film-makers would have opportunities to lay hand on latest technology, the Indian film industry is applying in its products. Similarly, Indian film-makers would treasure the opportunity of benefiting from the rich stories from our literature, music and poetry, besides entering into a market of 150 million people, Samina said.
When asked as to how she reacts to the attitude of the Indian film industry of producing anti-Pakistani movies, like Border and LoC, she said Pakistan does not need to produce such movies. "We know what we are. We don't have to play to the gallery. Peace talks are already under way and we as a nation are loving people," she said.
The actress said no matter what certain individuals from Indian cinema were producing, the people of this region would not allow individuals to thwart a peace process. 'If we live in peace with our neighbours, there are less chances of other nations exploiting us,' she added.
Talking about her co-production with Bollywood icon Mahesh Bhatt, Samina said "Our meeting had been very fruitful and both of us are agreed on the idea without any reservations. Whatever film I would direct while working with Mahesh Bhatt would be of social relevance," she explained.
"We have agreed on the first project of the co-production series and would launch it soon. The main idea of the project revolves around the sufferings in the region," the leading Pakistani film woman said.
Samina said she would be taking help of non-governmental organizations in the co-production such as Action Aid and a Karachi-based human rights activist, Zia Awan would also lend a hand in this regard. Talking about why she is in Karachi permanently, leaving the rich Lahore film industry, she said "I have a different mindset than other filmmakers in Lahore". It was the perfect time to bring a positive change in the Pakistani cinema by involving multi-nationals in the film business and the head offices of almost all multi-nationals were based in Karachi. "I would call it revitalization of the Pakistani cinema," she remarked.
Samina said she was developing a mindset, totally independent from Lahore industry. Film needed support from the electronic media and the entire electronic media was sitting in Karachi.
Talking of the revival of Karachi film industry, she said in coming years, she would definitely come up with a parallel film industry in Karachi along with few other serious filmmakers. "Cinema can only be created with passion and Lahore based film-makers lack this basic ingredient now.
Samina said Pakistani cinema lacks good film-makers as majority of them are uneducated and are non-professionals. The films have failed to generate business activity and this could be proven by the fact that new cinemas are not being constructed in any major metropolitan even with the high rate of expansion in city limits. "We need a network of Cineplexes in all the major cities of Pakistan," she stressed.
Talking about why in some of her films, she preferred Indian choreographers over the locals, Samina said to begin with, she needed to learn herself how Indian choreographers do the dance sequences. Secondly, all over the world choreographers follow the contemporary trends and fulfill the requirements of visual art form but in Pakistan, unfortunately, nothing of the sort takes place. "We have over all a backward structure of film industry," she said.
Floating the proposal of launching Saarc film secretariat, she said all Saarc film partners should come forward and collaborate with each other in production of films under the Saarc umbrella.
It has been tipped that the Ministry of Culture is setting up a separate cell for films in Pakistan to revitalize the industry and Samina would had this cell. When she was asked to authenticate the issue, she said. 'I cannot say anything at this stage but I am sure that cell would come up with positive changes in the film industry needed for the geopolitical changes in the region.
Comments
Comments are closed.