BOL NEWSPAPER | January 1 2023

Is the drama industry moving forward, or there is a standstill? BOLD takes on board the views of industry stakeholders to find out the answer

content and production design of his serials, when compared to his previous endeavours.

KARACHI By Maheen Aziz

I am not an astrologer who would tell the future by reading the movements of the planets and stars. However, besides being an entertainment journalist who critically analyses TV serials and films and keeps a vigilant eye on developments in the showbiz world,, I also tend to watch TV to entertain myself just like any other TV viewer does.

"Mai us se shadi nahi karna chahti", "Isko toh maza mai chakhao gi", "Kia yahi hai meri qismat?" and the rest of the commonplace lines fall into my ears whenever I switch from one TV channel to the next. This harks back to my childhood days in the early 1990s when there was a craze for Indian soaps in Pakistan. There were a couple of TV channels in Pakistan such as PTV and STN (formerly known as NTN) and as children, we would only switch to these channels for cartoons or 'Ainak Wala Jin,' the children's favourite show. As I grew up I never knew what the Pakistani drama industry was making as there was a handful of famous TV serials with such outmoded narratives of the past that only elders like my parents could better understand. Yet, I remembered the names of Indian dramas by heart and would tune in to the Indian channels on exact time to watch 'Kahin Kisi Roz', 'Kasauti Zindagi Ki' and many others. There was a huge variety of dancing shows and a lot more 'entertainment' on Indian channels, as compared to what Pakistani TV channels had to offer round the clock.

Now I realise that was just fluff provided in the name of entertainment. However, the question arises as to why my generation was excitedly adamant about watching those stupid serials through which we never learned or gained anything positive? That was mainly because of the appealing visuals, relatability and connection. You got it right, connection! Since the Indian TV serials were, in fact, damaging our own culture, they were later banned in Pakistan, and that was the opportune time when the TV production houses in Pakistan were geared up to seize the opportunity by producing such megahit TV serials as Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Humsafar, and countless others.

Nonetheless, Pakistan’s TV drama industry was gradually established and came to fruition some five years back. Hitherto, there was not much creativity or interesting plots in TV serials, but lacklustre, monotonous and repetitive tales. While the cinema industry was in the 'reviving' phase, the drama industry was getting a larger audience, competing with itself every year and today’s drama industry is far ahead of those years when it was offering the fluff, tedious and meaningless content. Where the drama industry is heading now and what future it holds for the viewers are two of the questions that were asked to the crème de la crème of the industry.

To know about how TV producers tend to look at their own drama productions, I reached out to Abdullah Seja, who is a producer as well as CEO of Idream Entertainment. Seja is also the youngest TV producer, making TV serials that are ruling the TRP charts. One can see a lot more maturity in the visuals,

If I end up signing a runof-the-mill project, the only reason would be financial...

If I am doing a drama that has nothing to offer in terms of novelty, social message, or anything else except the routine masala stuff, then you can bet that I am being paid really well

Syed Jibran

"There is always a thin line between art and a commercial TV drama. I would make dramas that the audience wants to watch. The success and failure of a story, good or bad, is determined by the viewers’ choice. Relatability to the target audience is another aspect that is under consideration by any production house. When it specifically comes to my production house, we aim at providing pure entertainment. We are the only production house that has produced a drama serial on AIDS, an issue that has many myths around it and is not even talked about in the open. Thus, there is less awareness and through the drama, we successfully reached the masses to deliver a story of a lifetime."

The producer is quite optimistic about delivering quality content in 2023 as well, aiming to produce high-budgeted serials that will be much more than family masala and will revolve around love stories, taboos, and a lot more.

Abdullah believes the relevance of his TV serials with people is all that matters. "I have come across a lot of women who have been stalked or trapped just like Saba Qamar is in the drama serial ‘Fraud.’ So there are real stories like ‘Tinder Swindlers’ or ‘YOU’ that you happen to watch on Netflix."

However, there are a handful of TV serials that are based on both reality and quality, but there are still a few or maybe most of the serials having runof-the-mill plots, insipid stories, and even repetitive faces. Syed Jibran, a seasoned TV and film actor,

stuff, as somehow it still attracts a large number of viewers. We do are getting different scripts but, again, the ratio is still far less than it should be."

Sami Khan has also been giving back-to-back hit serials and recently two of his characters, Dawood and Vasay, are worth mentioning here. The actor explained how is it for him to take up roles which are way less than his stature and what makes him sign run-of-the-mill scripts. “The art is to make a place for yourself in situations that are run-of-the-mill, I try my best to do justice to my craft in every play I sign, be it a normal script or an extraordinary one. I give my best to my character and those attached to it, and that's why the rest doesn't matter at least to me. If the audience is relating to these plays, nothing can be done except give them different kinds of plays so their taste varies.”

Samina Ahmed, a veteran actress, said that all dramas are not the same. “Not all serials are showing family politics and fights, there are good dramas like Sang-e-Mah, Bakhtawar, and Parizaad. Unfortunately or fortunately, I am not among those who look at the negative side. I feel it has become a national habit to criticise everything without delving deeper into it. Having said that, we surly need diversity and new stories and I observe this change whenever I watch a drama or read a script.”

The actress said that we have high expectations from TV channels which sometimes bring disappointment. “We expect everything in a drama that we see on OTT platforms and movies and that is not possible for now as we need other platforms to show diverse work. I have always been positive about the industry and I am very much hopeful that there will be betterment in the future.”

My question is, ‘Why do we need to portray only the negative aspects of our society?’ I am not saying that these stories do not exist, but where are the creative minds and thoughtful writers?

Usman Peerzada

Capturing most of the TRP chart, I asked Abdullah about how important are TRPs and what effect they have that make producers choose a few scripts which are repetitive. "TRP plays a pivotal role in helping us know which type of TV content is being followed the most. We do not decide what the audience wants to watch; it's the audience who decides what they want to watch, therefore, we create such content that many consider repetitive. It might be repetitive, but it still rules the TRP chart.”

On the contrary, Sami Khan thinks that TRP game puts pressure on an actor to perform well enough to bring the highest TRP for the channel. “It’s time something should be done about it. We need to raise the bar and give different stuff to the audience instead of what the TRP suggests. Dramas like Kankar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai were aired when we were fighting the Indian soap operas, and right now we don't have much competition, even amongst ourselves. The best stuff happens when you are competing hard and our producers need to revisit that angle this year.”

Usman Peerzada, the veteran TV and film actor, recalls how dramas in his times were all about true passion and today it’s all commercial. “It seems to me that the drama industry has hit a rut and is not moving forward in the right direction. But I won’t say that today’s TV serials are substandard, when compared with those produced in our times,” says Usman Peerzada.

“No doubt, there is talent and confidence in today’s actors, but the only thing which is missing is passion, an essential attribute that helped us hone our acting skills and gave the industry such memorable and irreplaceable content deemed as classic today. Today, actors do not try to take their craft to the next level as most of them tend to think commercially,” he stated.

I would make dramas that the audience wants to watch. The success and failure of a story, good or bad, is determined by the viewers’ choice. Relatability to the target audience is another aspect that is under consideration by any production house

Abdullah Seja

gets brutally honest and shares his thoughts.

"If I end up

The Ghabrana Nahi Hai actor also sheds light upon the positive aspects of dramas and says that the future of the drama industry has always been bright and prosperous. "Yes, the speed at which we can progress is in our hands, but ironically due to restraints at many junctions, it is considerably a slow process. The reason why we are

When I go to watch a movie and find it failing at the box office that too because of failed marketing strategies and planning, I wonder how smartly our TV channels market their dramas by releasing OSTs which has become another big element that contributes to the success of dramas.

"OSTs play a significant role in a TV serial's success, keeping the audience intact until the drama goes on air. Honestly speaking, about 20 to 30 per cent of emotions are delivered and driven by music and here again, we bring those singers on board who enjoy a huge following and whose voice people want to listen to. Later comes the game of how well a drama is produced and directed and is also visually pleasing, and this is where the ball goes in the viewers' court. In sum, this is how the chain continues." Abdullah answers.

According to him, there are tens of networks that produce so many dramas in a day that the mind boggles when you try to calculate the number of serials which go on air every week. “In our times, we were converting classic novels into dramas and one such example is ‘Teesra Kinara.’ We adapted concepts even from Russian literature and would do theatre so passionately without thinking in terms of its commercial success. Whoever couldn’t make films in that era died peacefully with no regrets as what they did for television in those years is unmatchable even today.”

Usman Peerzada believes there is a dire need to revise the content and scrutinise it critically, however, we do not have good stories to share with the audience.

“Right now, I have four to five scripts to go through and I am perplexed which one to take and which one to

drop, as in every script there is a daughter eloping from her marriage or a depressed woman crying at the top of her voice throughout the serial. In fact, there is so much depression and sadness in scripts being written today.”

“My question is, ‘Why do we need to portray only the negative aspects of our society?’ I am not saying that these stories do not exist, but where are the creative minds and thoughtful writers? As things currently stand, all famous and well-established playwrights have hired people who write for them and that is the reason we do not have stories like ‘Dhoop Kinaray’ and ‘Kankar’ anymore,” he added.

He is of the view that India has gone way ahead in terms of technology and craft, but on the other hand, we have everything at hand but we lack people to utilise it. The production houses in Pakistan, according to him, should think many times before finalising a script and critically analyse what message they are trying to convey, considering the fact that their channel is also aired in other corners of the world.

“TV is a commercial entity and that is our bread and butter so I would not say that they should stop selling what is in demand. But it will be sheer hypocrisy that we banned Indian content in our country because it was damaging our cultural roots and now we are showing the same rubbish in our dramas, based on age-old lower middle-class issues, saas-bahu disputes, and domestic politics,” Usman Peerzada said. Being the biggest entertainment industry right now, it is time to talk about bigger stories and better content and in the end, contemplate what is being delivered to the audience. Except for the entertainment, what else is there in a TV serial that makes a viewer think? There was such one TV serial that touched my soul and made me ask myself, ‘Why I never thought of becoming an Army Officer?’ And that was ‘Aik Hai Nigar’ which was a biographical drama based on the life of Nigar Johar, a three-star general of the Pakistan Army. Another example is Sinf-e-Ahan which was a drama serial that left an impact on the audience. In a word, if we want to make heroes out of ordinary souls, we need to tell inspiring stories.

As Charles Dickens writes in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, “A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self.” I conclude my article with this quote, hoping that our producers bring more quality than quantity to the television screens realising the fact that amidst all the political chaos, depression and mayhem, our people truly need entertainment and TV is the great escape that everyone turns to with one’s eyes glued to the screen.

signing a run-of-the-mill project, the only reason would be financial. I still do so as I already mentioned. If I am doing a drama that has nothing to offer in terms of novelty, social message, or anything else except the routine masala stuff, then you can bet that I am being paid really well."

not getting many

subject-oriented TV serials is because of

demand to keep making the routine

BOL Entertainment is gearing up to deliver another year of some of the best content Pakistani television has to offer

By Hasnain Nawab KARACHI

Given the rise of streaming platforms and a plethora of drama channels, the options available to Pakistan’s audience are too many. In an age where viewers are inundated with a stream of unending content, it is imperative that production houses establish their distinctiveness by offering a variety of TV serials to their viewers to set them apart from the rest of their competitors in the industry.

On this front, 2022 proved to be a monumental year for BOL Entertainment, with many of its TV shows becoming the most watched programmes on both television and YouTube. However, the brains behind the success of BOL Entertainment are not content to simply rest on their laurels. Instead, they are eager to build on this success and ensure that the content BOL Entertainment offers in 2023 also meets and furthers the lofty standards that have been set in 2022.

However, before venturing into the realm of TV serials, it is imperative to acknowledge that a large chunk of the viewers who tune in to see what entertainment options BOL has to offer are enticed by the engaging personalities of presenters like Danish Taimoor, Faisal Qureshi, Mathira, Ahmed Ali Butt, Sanam Jung and Khalid Malik. Taimoor’s show ‘Game Show Aisay Chalay Ga’ is impossible to ignore given the fact that almost everyone seems to be tuning in to watch it. Taimoor’s ability to enrapture his audience and keep them on

tenterhooks is unparalleled, which is why people flock to not only see his show on TV but also live in the auditorium. Similarly, Qureshi’s ‘Jeeto Eik Minute Mein’ is another fan favourite which is sure to continue delivering prizes and surprises in the New Year too. Jung’s show ‘Aakhri Khilari Kon?’ is the newest entrant on this front, but it’s easy to see why it has already won over a dedicated

following of ardent watchers. Jung’s vivacious personality, coupled with the elimination style nature of the show, keeps viewers hooked as the multi-talented host and actress helps the show running in a smooth manner. However, these shows are gearing up to become even bigger and better in 2023, with a lot more talent ready to join BOL’s roster.

Given the impressive team of presenters and hosts BOL has assembled over the past few

years, it is not surprising that audiences not only enjoy the current roster of game shows but are also eager to see what 2023 has in store for the channel.

When it comes to comedy shows, it is safe to say that the quality and quantity of content which BOL Entertainment offered in 2022 was simply second to none. Be it the hilarious hijinks of Naveed Raza in the show ‘Banglay Mein Kon Hai,’ or the cast

of colourful characters in ‘Hasna Mana Hai,’ ‘Aap Ko Kya Takleef Hai’ and ‘Upar Bhabhi Ka Makan,’ there was enough comedy on offer to keep the entire family laughing throughout the year. Keeping true to this, BOL Entertainment will be offering a host of comedy shows in 2023 too which will surely entice viewers as much as their current shows have.

With regards to the year ahead, audience

can expect the entertainment options BOL offers to continue to remain very strong.

The ‘Insta Show with Mathira,’ which already rakes in tonnes of views, will have a line of impressive guests gracing the show in 2023. The ‘TickTock Show’ helmed by Fahim Khan has also become a popular staple on BOL, and it will continue to deliver the best from the world of social media in 2023 as well.

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

It has been a decade and a half since we experienced life at Pandora through James Cameron’s Avatar, and the director makes the audience revisit the planet again, but this time, everything has changed. The way he captures the beauty of the alien planet makes you want to watch the film again and again, just like it happened with the original Avatar. The film may have taken more years to complete than entire franchises do, but the result proves that when there is a will, there is always a way. Despite its drawbacks and throwbacks to films of the past, James Cameron raises the bar again with technological advancements and visionary filmmaking, showing that he is the only one in the race to the future, with no other person in sight!

The Plot Avatar – The Way of Water takes place a decade after the humans were defeated in Pandora; former human turned Na’vi Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have laid down their arms to raise a family, that includes two sons Neteyam and Lo'ak, daughter Tuk, adopted daughter Kiri and a human boy named Spider, the left-behind son of Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). They are doing a good job until the ‘Sky People’ return, forcing the Sullys to run for cover so that their tribe doesn’t get hurt on their account. They do find a place with the sea tribe but are unaware that Spider (Jack Champion) is tricked by his estranged father’s avatar to help them trace Jake and his family so that he can have his revenge.

The Good Avatar – The Way of Water is not just a film, but as most James Cameron flicks, it is a template for oth-

ers to follow. The film might have taken more than a decade to complete but every step of the way, it's going forward. Add water to all that and the director returns to the world of The Abyss and Titanic, someplace where he hadn’t been for 25 years. He makes the viewers fall in love with the ocean by taking them for a dive in such a way that not many would be able to resist the temptation. With crystal clear water everywhere, different species of sea animals that not many had seen, and the return to motion capture for actors, everything is perfect here despite the passage of so much time.

As for the performances, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana stand out as always, but one must mention the return of Stephen Lang and Sigourney

Weaver, in new avatars. They use all their experience to play the new characters and are able to connect with that audience easily which remembers them from the first film. Also, Cameron reunites with Titanic girl Kate Winslet who joins the cast as one of the main characters and uses her star power to attract her fans and those of the Titanic. Although suspense was the last thing on the director’s mind when he was making the movie, he did put a few elements here and there to surprise those who wanted something new from the movie.

The Bad

When a director like James Cameron repeats himself, it's either because he is short of ideas or desperate for a hit. He does a 'Terminator' here (the plot of the first two films is more or less the same) by going back to the classic films of the 1980s and the 1990s when the going got tough and that put off that audience who were familiar with those films. Why was there a Commando angle in the film where the lead character has to fight the antagonist to save his children; why did one character repeat the most popular ‘Come with me’ line from T2 when anything else would have had the same effect; why was the protagonist hunting the hunters in Rambo mode; or the sea animals behaving as if they had watched Jaws or Jurassic Park during their spring break. And if that’s not all, there is a little of Titanic here and there, especially at the climax when the battle between the humans and the Pandora people enters the final phase.

Also, the action arrives too late in the film, and even though it doesn’t disappoint, there is hardly a ‘wow’ moment in the flick, one that stays with the audience when they exit the theatre. The film’s storyline is the weakest link which could have been bettered somehow, but it might be due to the fact

that the director has eyes on more sequels that he used this film as a go between the first and the third film. Even then, the second film could have had more sequences like the ones in the first film, such as the one where the Colonel is about to attack the avatar link unit and Neytiri saves the day, or the one where Jake finds out that the humans are the bad guys here, and decides to switch sides.

The Verdict 3.5/5

They say sequels aren’t necessarily as good as the original flick, and it’s both true and false in the case of Avatar – The Way of Water. True, because it doesn’t surpass the original in any way except VFX

and duration, and false, because the original turned out to find a place amongst the biggest films of all times, bettering which wouldn’t have been possible. Yes, the duration of the film was too long and it could have been trimmed by 30 minutes, but then the result might have been different. On the whole, Avatar – The Way of Water is a breath of fresh air in a tsunami of films that are following the same pattern, doing the same things all over again. James Cameron broke it in the past with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Titanic, and Avatar, and is back to what he does best. Released by HKC Entertainment, Avatar: The Way of Water is running successfully in Pakistan.

The sequel of Avatar gave James Cameron a chance to pay tribute to 1980s and 1990s cinema, including his own films!

I used to be too reliant and dependant on others for a number of things. However, in the New Year 2023, my aim is to be self-reliant and self-dependant. So, this is my resolution for the year, being much independent as well as defying failures and disappointments in one go. Self-reliance is to go

Zhalay Sarhadi Actor

I want to be the best host for my guests in 2023. I am not aiming to become a big star or singer, but something that's about etiquettes and manners and that's to make sure that no one from my house goes empty stomach or starving

Hira Mani Actor

It seems that the year 2023 will turn out to be way better than 2022 because the New Year not only begins with the first COVID-free year since 2019, but also many exciting things are lined up for the next 12 months. If we stay true and honest to ourselves, think of others before thinking about our gains and help those in need, then 2023 might become the year that changes us, our country and makes the world a better place to live in

Sami Khan Actor

By Taha Kehar KARACHI

I don’t have a specific New Year resolution, all I wish is that our Issues regarding petrol, gas and electricity are resolved and economy is able to stand on its own feet. If these issues are not resolved no amount of New Year resolution or celebration would matter. Hoping for a better Pakistan in 2023!

Ahmed Ali Butt Actor

My New Year resolution is to make my brand 1984 internationally famous. This year I will be more focused on my physical fitness in a bid to desist from leading an unhealthy lifestyle. I do not have any regrets not I do such things which make me feel sorry for. The year 2022 took my father from me which is difficult to cope with. I am still grieving and will might be doing the same for the rest of my life till we meet again in the life hereafter

Naveed Raza Actor

My new year resolution is to do something different and new. I am desparately seeking a character which is not suppressed and repetitive. This year I have signed up for the drama serial Ek Thi Laila and in 2023 I am surely going to bring something new for my fans.

Lady Chatterley's Lover highlights partial truths about D H Lawrence's novel and conceals realities that might seem unpalatable

When D H Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover was published in the 1920s, the novel drew considerable ire for brazenly defying social conventions. At its core, the novel revolves around an illicit relationship between an upper-class married woman and a working-class man who is on her husband's payroll. Readers were predictably outraged that the novelist had ventured into risqué terrain and created a bold portrait of female sexuality at a time when the subject wasn't openly discussed in the mainstream. As a result, Lady Chatterley's Lover was heavily vilified, censored and even banned.

Lady Chatterley's Lover turns an intimate gaze on Constance, referred to as Connie, an aristocratic woman who marries Clifford Chatterley, a baronet and war veteran who is paralysed below the waist in World War I. Besieged by the loneliness that accrues from a loveless marriage, she begins a passionate affair with Clifford's gamekeeper Olive Mellors, a man who carries his own emotional demons after the war. Transgressions of such a grave magnitude would have been chastised at the time, but Lawrence doesn't use his canvas to reproach Connie and Oliver's conduct. Instead, the narrative becomes a moving meditation on the difference between admiring a man's intelligence and falling head-over-heels in love with him.

Over the decades, copious film and television adaptations of Lady Chatterley's Lover have been produced that capitalise on the novel's scandalous reputation. Netflix's decision to jump on the bandwagon and churn out its own adaptation might be construed as an attempt to enliven, if not altogether reimagine, the classic.

However, this adaptation caters to a different audience than what Lawrence had to reckon with. Modern-day viewers aren't as conservative as they

used to be. It is difficult to envisage a story about infidelity and an inter-class romance appealing to people who aren't easily outraged when social norms are flouted and explicit content appears on their screens. Narratives about extra-marital affairs may not be perceived as wildly transgressive by a more open-minded viewership.

The shift in the sentiments of viewers is of essence when it comes to assessing the response to the new adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover. Lawrence's novel has often been understood

through a reductionist lens that doesn't do justice to the author's intentions. The novel stands out as a biting critique of Britain's rigid class structure and the rapid industrialisation of the country’s rural hinterlands. These facets of the novels have usually been glossed over by readers and filmmakers who have dramatised the novel. Instead, the focus remains on Lady Chatterley's torrid affair with the gamekeeper.

It is, therefore, justifiable that sceptics would be wary of the Netflix adaptation. Viewers are likely to be even more concerned after the streaming service relegated Jane Austen's Persuasion, a mature commentary on the dynamics of social class in

19th-century Britain, into a stereotypical chickflick devoid of substance.

The film's detractors have good reason to be concerned. Netflix's reimagining of Lawrence's novel makes a tepid attempt to balance the romantic elements of the story with the strong socialist undertones. Viewers familiar with the novel's genesis will understand that the story is rooted in Lawrence's cynicism over the complacent attitude toward class in Britain.

After the Great War, the government had called for cuts in the salaries of miners and the decision had triggered numerous protests. The decision was taken to secure the profits of the elite as coal

seams had been severely depleted. At the same time, mechanisation was being suggested as a suitable antidote to the crisis as it would boost the rate of production. Under these circumstances, Lawrence foresaw a class war brewing in England. Lady Chatterley's Lover channelled his concerns about a possible clash in society.

The Netflix adaptation views these issues through a rather myopic lens. The realities of rural industrialisation comes through as the backdrop of the story, albeit in a subdued sense. The public and private domains seem to exist in isolation and only intersect in a superficial manner. At times, events of a relatively personal nature that unfold in the Chatterley's palatial manor find an equivalent in developments within the public domain. For instance, Clifford's willingness to mechanise the mines enables Connie to recognise his indifference toward the plight of the miners. Apart from these occasional references to the troubled mood of the times, the socio-political milieu often takes a backseat to the romance that brews between Oliver and Connie.

Lawrence's novel also engages deeply with nature -- a motif that isn't explored in great depth in the Netflix adaptation. In fact, Lady Chatterley's Lover relied heavily on the contrast between nature's exquisite beauty and the ruinous effects of industrialisation on the environment to provide a counterpoint to the characters' inner turmoil. While the film makes a tangential reference to Connie's admiration for nature, it struggles to make effective use of this motif.

It is tough for a film adaptation to do justice to a book. In an essay titled 'The Cinema', acclaimed novelist Virginia Woolf likened films to parasitic endeavours that need to develop a life of their own. The 2022 adaptation essentially comes through as a love story rather than a striking indictment of class struggles.

It is refreshing to see that the Netflix adaptation doesn't fall victim to a scandalous portrayal of the affair. Characters aren't chastised for the choices they make. Instead, they come through as well-intentioned figures on a quest for happiness and individual regeneration. Lawrence has also been censured for providing a masculinist view of Connie and Oliver's relationship and the Netflix adaptation seeks to rectify this perception. Depictions of sex are far from gratuitous and become a doorway to explore female sexuality in a bygone era.

Viewers who are discovering Lady Chatterley's Lover for the first time through this Netflix adaptation might enjoy the film for its compelling performances, dramatic twists and depiction on what loneliness can do to our hearts and minds.

Those of us who subscribe to the claim that a film cannot use the novel it is based on as a crutch, might also be fairly generous in their assessment of the Netflix adaptation. Nevertheless, it would be somewhat dishonest to consider the film a period drama if it struggles to evoke the turbulence of the era it seeks to depict on screen. Netflix's Lady Chatterley's Lover highlights partial truths about Lawrence's novel and conceals realities that might seem unpalatable.

Faysal Quraishi Actor

BY Bold Desk Merritt Patterson, a model and actress hailed from Whistler, Canada, began her showbiz career at the age of 15. She is globally known for playing Olivia in Ravenswood, an American supernatural teen drama mystery-thriller television series, as well as for her leading role as Ophelia Pryce in ‘The Royals on E!’

Merritt Patterson landed her first TV role on the ABC Family show Kyle XY and since then, she has starred in many television shows, including Crackle's The Art Of More as Olivia Brukner opposite Kate Bosworth and Dennis Quaid, and in the Pretty Little Liars spin-off Ravenswood for ABC Family. Following her acting debut on television, she has also appeared in different film roles including the female lead in ‘Wolves’ opposite Jason Momoa.

In 2018, Merritt Patterson played the leading role of Cynthia Applewhite in the film ‘Unbroken: Path to Redemption for Universal.’ The role won her the award for Best Supporting Actress at Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF). In recent times, she starred opposite Darrel Hannah, Bill Murray and Dave Franco in the Farrelly Brothers dark comedy ‘The Now’ that will premiere in 2023.

A hit exhibition showcasing Christian Dior's work opens in Tokyo with a focus on the French designer's fascination with Japan and the country's influence on his pieces

AFP

"Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" arrives in Japan after drawing huge crowds in Paris, London and New York.

The exhibition features 350 haute couture dresses -- including Japaninspired gowns displayed in settings intended to pay tribute to Japanese culture.

Architect Shohei Shigematsu created structures including a room covered with an undulating three-dimensional facade constructed from translucent traditional washi paper pasted over wooden frames.

"When Dior makes a skirt, there is a structure and then the fabric is laid on top of it," he told.

"I was asked to create a Japanese traditional structure, so I thought about shoji screens, for example, which have a wooden structure and are covered with paper."

Each section features a different interior design intended to show various parts of Japanese culture.

"There is a section inspired by an orderly tatami room separated by sliding doors. But not everything in Japan is simple and minimal," he said.

"We have different designs like Japanese gardens and flashy kimonos. I wanted to show the sides of Japan people don't know."

The Dior house first presented a show in Japan in 1953, and the designer had a well-known fascination with the country.

"Dior had a lot of respect for traditional

Japanese culture and he wrote about it in his memoir," curator Florence Muller said.

"I think there is a mutual fascination between France and Japan."

Starting in the 1950s, Dior also collaborated with Japanese companies, giving them the rights to adapt and reproduce Dior looks to cater to local tastes.

In a sign of the brand's popularity, Japan's former empress Michiko chose a Dior gown made from Japanese textiles when she married then-prince Akihito in 1959. The Tokyo show, which runs until May 28, includes archive pieces as well as works by more recent creative directors, and showcases several items inspired by Japan.

Among them is a John Galliano coat with "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" print emblazoned on the base of its full

skirt, and robes cinched with Japanese obi-style belts created by Raf Simons. Dior's austere jacket dress named "Rashomon" -- the name of a Japanese novel and film directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa -- is also on display.

"This exhibition shows the mutual respect between Japan and France in their approach to crafts, fashion, design and art," said Shigematsu.

Oona Chaplin Trinity Bliss

Nicque Marina

Auli'i Cravalho

By Bold Desk Pakistani artistes have had a great 2022, especially the female singers who have delivered hits all year round. Spotify

EQUAL Pakistan recognized one of these singers - Shae Gill - in their trademark style by making her picture appear in one of the most popular spots in the world, before the end of the year.

The singer behind Pasoori, who was Spotify EQUAL Pakistan's Ambassador for the month of December, lit up a digital billboard at Times Square NYC, and was celebrated for being the most streamed Pakistani female artiste on the platform this year.

Besides Pasoori, the singer dropped two successive tracks later in the year, the traditional wedding song Lathay Di Chadar and Sukoon, her collaboration with fellow music composers Hassan and Roshaan.

Grammy, Spotify, Coke Studio, Karachi Eat – Are you ready to make the most of the music in 2023?

By Danya Ali KARACHI

some predictions for the New Year, but what's the purpose if you don't go big?

From Pasoori topping the charts to Arooj Fatima winning the Grammy, Pakistan had an incredible year for music in 2022.

The year 2022 taught us that if things get rough, music is our only escape, and though we may have gravitated towards international artistes in previous years, 2022 reminded us that Pakistani artistes were more than ready to take over our playlists. I may be going out on a limb with

Save this page and check back in 2023 to see whether any of these come through in 2023.

Another Grammy for Pakistan

Well, this is for sure!

Arooj Fatima, who made history by becoming the first Pakistani ever to win a Grammy last year, has received a second nomination for 2023 in the Best Global Music Performance category for her duet with Anoushka Shankar, "Udhero Na."

By Kamran Khamiso Khowaja SUJAWAL

Music is a universal language that speaks to our hearts, gives an infinite solace to the minds and brings a much-needed peace to our restless souls. Intrinsically imbued with the power to heal the unseen wounds and throbbing anguish lurking underneath the human soul, the making of a piece of soothing music is such a unique art that only a few people can master it with practice, precision and perfection. Nafees Khalfan, who hails from Karachi, is an emerging young musician and drummer and is eager to shine in the world of music, akin to his city of dazzling lights and of a wide-awake nocturnal gaiety.

Khalfan’s heartfelt affiliation with music started in his early childhood, but he had to go through the throes of making his relentless efforts count throughout his music journey. Yes, he is as determined to strut his stuff and go places as he used to be in the phase of anonymity and non-recognition at the beginning of his music career.

Nafees Khalfan, now 30-year old, received his early education from the St. Lawrence School in Karachi. Since his father and elder brother were part of a well-known Shia Ismaili Pipe Band of the city, they used to play musical instruments at home, which fuelled Khalfan’s latent ambition of becoming a musician in the future. Following in the footsteps of his father and elder brother, Nafees Khalfan joined the community orchestra group where he learned to play a range of musical instruments. However, his special focus was on playing drums.

"My unfettered attachment to musical instruments took me to the St. Lawrence School Band. The band offered me a chance to shape and polish my skills under the supervision of skilled musicians who worked really hard with me on making me an accomplished musician," says Nafees Khalfan.

That was in 2011, when he started playing drums professionally for a community-based orchestra group. The year 2015 was a watershed in his life when he caught a break and got the golden opportunity to work with Pakistan’s leading music artiste and drummer John Louis pinto, popularly known as Gumbi, who helped Nafees playing all kinds of orchestra drums with rhythmic perfection, including bass, snare, bodhran and many others.

As a lead drummer, Nafees Khalfan has so far per-

We all wish her luck in winning again and introducing the rest of the world to the beautiful musical heritage of Pakistan.

Live Music Concert will reemerge even better than before As we enter the fourth year of the pandemic in 2023, booster doses provided excellent protection, allowing the concert industry to quickly complete the recovery that began in 2021. Even music lovers who had previously been reluctant to attend live music concerts will be willing to do so as they become weary of spending Saturday nights at home. It has almost begun with Faisal Kapadia, Bilal Maqsood doing solo concerts as the year 2022 came to an end.

Millennials will be passing on the musical legacy to Gen Z To be honest, it has already started

– when was the last time your heard ‘Sayonee’ by Junoon in the car while driving? Not too soon, right? 2023 will be the era of Gen Z stars who are all set to go big. Shamoon Ismail was one of the first artistes to make Pakistani pop music seem like Taylor Swift and the Chainsmokers performing together in Punjabi. And now the boy launched his first album, ‘Strawberry’. We guess it’s the beginning of more to come.

Among the numerous, incredibly gifted singers who have cemented their places as inspiring musicians of this generation are Hasan Raheem, Maanu, Zahra Paracha, Natasha Noorani, Arooj Aftab, and Natasha Baig. The tough local rappers making waves include Faris Shafi, Young Stunners, and Lyari Underground, while several local bands, like Takatak, Karakoram, Poor Rich Boy, Bayaan, and Khumariyaan, are gradually gaining

the respect they deserve.

Karachi Eat’s 10th Anniversary will be memorable

The biggest food festival in Pakistan will mark its tenth year in January, 2023. This year's Eat Festival includes an online edition, which promises to be the biggest online food festival of its sort in the Asian belt. What makes you think there won't be any music, then?

According to the news, Asim Azhar, Young Stunners, Bilal Maqsood, Zeb Bangash, Kaifi Khalil, Rafay Israr, and Ali Tariq will be among the main performers.

Expect something even bigger then Pasoori

Well, when 2022 can give us hits like Pasoori, Peechey hut, and Jhoom, don’t you dare to think Coke Studio 15 will be any less. So keep your hopes high because it will be even bigger and better.

formed in many TV shows and concerts both nationally and internationally with such renowned singers as Natasha Baig, Umair Jaswal, Saif Samejo, Zoheb Hassan and Atif Aslam.

He did his Bachelor’s in Business Administration, but then decided to do his Masters in Media and Mass Communication because of his innate inclination towards music.

Talking about his journey he said that initially it seemed a hard task. "When I started people would ask me about the scope of this field but today after 7 years I have achieved more than my expectations. Adding that challenges were countless but with the support of his parents he had achieved something.

In an answer to a question about his favourite drummer and music composer he said that Greek Composer Chyrssomalis Yanni and AR Rahman were his favourite music composers while Gumby is probably one of the finest drummers he had ever seen in his lifetime.

Launching of drum circles across the country and giving a musical therapy to people suffering from different psychological disorders are among his major contributions, besides he has trained 2500 musicians across the country including northern areas. "I always keep searching for new tunes, rhythms and beats and it helps me create an atmosphere that attracts music enthusiasts. Nafees has introduced a series of sessions named "Motivating through Music" through which he has conducted sessions for Habib Bank Limited, Careem, Group M, Hashoo Foundation and different educational institutes. Apart from that he has appeared on several television shows to highlight importance of music and performing arts. In lieu of his services he was bestowed with Battle of Bands Award by IQRA University Karachi and became founder and president of University’s first Ever Music Society. When asked about his future aims he said that he wanted to bring innovations in the current Pakistani music and put himself in the ranks of illustrious musicians of South Asia.

Answering a query about making a career in music in a country like Pakistan, he said that compared to past decades, now things have changed, especially when it comes to making a career in a field like music, but when I started my journey things were quite different.

“Considering the thriving media industry, now music can be opted as a career choice provided you are an expert in creating and composing the music listeners want to hear. With regards to becoming a drummer, one should have basic knowledge of music and must be able to understand tempo, the beat that one is going to play along with other musician,” Nafees Khalfan said.

“Life is all about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood as we are a kind of a rhythm machine and we should enjoy our life by keep the excessive stress aside,” Khalfan concludes.

Nafees Khalfan, a 30-yearold young drummer from Karachi, is eager to shine in the world of music

Muhammad Ali

KARACHI

Travelling alone is fun. Better to say, solo travelling is magical. Nothing compares to having a conversation with a total stranger on the other side of the world and hearing about their life experiences. And if one is able to listen with both ears, they might even open one’s eyes to a completely different way of thinking. Personally speaking, one can always experience what it feels like to be a Pakistani in America, as this scribe landed in Chicago and after a couple of days moved to Knoxville and Houston to complete the tour.

First things first: No one hates you in America

Contrary to popular belief, Americans are actually friendly. Pakistanis are the ones who attempt to maintain their distance when traveling in the US, because either they are not too confident in speaking in English or don't want to make locals feel uncomfortable for any reason.

Honestly speaking, one finds everyone in American amiable, and they make

one feel at ease. Yes, they do ask a lot of questions because they seem to understand that most of what they've seen on TV (all those films negatively portraying Pakistanis) can't be true. And that's when you realize neither the American people nor the American government hates you.

Life is fast, and you are amazed every day

Just like Dubai and Turkey, their transportation and processes are no doubt excellent, and it is quite easier to commute here every single day. Most people have a transit card, which they can tap on or insert into a machine to pay for bus fares electronically. It was fascinating to observe how Americans utilized technology everywhere and automated every process they could. The American way of life left me speechless.

We do speak a different language

You might be thinking what's new in that but here, I mean, we have different

Pakistani actress Ushna Shah took to social media to announce that she recently got engaged to AustrianPakistani golfer Hamza Amin. The Balaa star wrote on Instagram, “Meet my missing puzzle piece, Hamza Amin,” alongside a dialogue from the film The Legend of Maula Jatt, “Munda Sohna Vee Eh Teh Changa Vee (The man is both handsome and has a great personality)”. Shah posted pictures of her intimate engagement ceremony online, in which she can be seen donning a light-coloured dress with silver embellishments while Amin opted for a cream-coloured sherwani coupled with a shawl. Amin had been featured occasionally on Shah’s Instagram feed prior to the announcement of their engagement, which is why many fans of the Bewafa actor already suspected that such an announcement was on the cards. Now that Shah has publicly shared the news, all those rumours can finally be put to rest. Amin is the son of Taimur Hassan Amin, chairman of the Asia Pacific Golf Federation, and the talented golfer has played at some reputable international golf tournaments. As expected, the news of their engagement garnered a bevy of congratulatory messages, with many actors and actresses commenting under Shah’s Instagram post. Aima Baig, Minal Khan, Ali Rehman Khan, Saboor Aly, Sana Javed, Ayeza Khan, Usman Mukhtar, Ramsha Khan, Kinza Hashmi, Sarah Khan and Zara Noor Abbas were some of the celebrities who extended their prayers and good wishes to the happy couple.

versions of English. You might not hear people asking 'How are you' or 'How are you feeling' – Instead, people say 'What's up' or "What's going on, man?"

If you greet someone, they will respond, "I am very well, or I am good. Thanks. How are you doing?"

Did you notice the word "Thank you"? Here in the US, thanks and thank you are frequently used. Saying ’thanks’ to someone is a common etiquette.

Americans are very courteous

Some people claim Americans are not very affectionate, but the fact is quite the opposite as Americans are incredibly polite and affectionate.

In fact, accepting and appreciating diversity is more important. One must always be aware of the cultural and racial disparities between Americans and other people, but for a traveler it is better not to have expectations or make cultural comparisons, which makes meeting new individuals much simpler.

Americans love to hold doors for others and they always smile and say hello on the streets, except for downtown, of course, when work stress takes over. However, in residential areas, everyone smiles and greets one another good morning. And one cannot leave without appreciating it!

British-Pakistan journalist and film producer Reham Khan has married US-based Pakistani actor and satirist Mirza Bilal in a simple nikah ceremony in the American city of Seattle. Khan, who is 49 years-old, was married to Imran Khan from 2014 and 2015, and according to reports, this is Bilal’s third marriage too. Initially a corporate professional, Bilal is a former model and has also been a part of The 4 Man Show, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar! and the National Alien Broadcast. The pictures shared by the couple on their social media platforms showed Reham dressed in a white wedding gown while her 36 year-old husband was dressed in a mauve suit. Netizens were surprised to learn about this news since there had been no hint that this romance was on the cards. Many followers were quick to extend their well-wishes to the newlyweds, with some commenting on how good the two looked together as a pair. Netizens also reacted to the viral videos of Reham’s children from her first marriage dancing and singing at their mother’s wedding. However, it was also inevitable that Reham’s previous relationship with Imran once again became the centre of discussion. After posting what looked like a veiled dig at Imran on his Twitter account, Bilal received some flak from many netizens, including actors like Harron Shahid and Ghana Ali, with the latter calling both Reham and Bilal “attention seekers.”

Regensburg Cathedral School in Germany breaks with 1,000 years of tradition by opening its doors to girls

AFP

For over a millennium, Germany's imposing Regensburg Cathedral has swelled with the sound of choirboys singing Mass. But this Christmas, for the first time, girls' voices are ringing out too.

It has been an unusual few months for the Regensburg cathedral school in Bavaria, home to the world-renowned Domspatzen boys' choir.

In September, the school broke with 1,000 years of tradition and opened its doors to girls, setting up a separate girls' choir.

After weeks of rehearsing traditional Christmas songs, the girls gave their first performance on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

Wearing sweaters and gloves against the winter chill, the girls were greeted with warm applause when they made their debut in front a packed cathedral.

"History is being written here," said 17-year-old Nepomuk Dillitzer, who came to watch his sister sing, and was himself once a member of the boys' choir.

His grandmother, Margaretta Dillitzer, said she had enjoyed her granddaughter's maiden concert and praised the choir school for opening up.

"It's important because it's a matter of equality," she said.

Among the new crop of students at the school is Dorothea Krakowsky, 11, who enrolled alongside her twin brother, Johannes.

"It always annoyed me that the boys were favoured. That's why I think it's really great that there are girls here too now," she said, speaking to the media ahead of the concert.

Founded in 975, the Regensburger Domspatzen -- which translates as "cathedral sparrows" -- is one of the world's oldest and most famous boys' choirs.

The school created alongside the choir offers pupils a standard German education, but with a heavy focus on music and at least one hour of choir practice every day.

Members of the Regensburger Domspatzen girls' choir sing during their first appearance during a service at the Regensburg Cathedral on December 18, 2022. Every year at Christmas, the corridors of the famous Regensburg cathedral school come alive with the bustle of students clutching sheet music and humming festive tunes. But this year will be different for the more than 1,000-year-old Bavarian choir school, home to the world-renowned Regensburger Domspatzen boys' choir. In September, the school broke with tradition and opened its doors to girls for the first time, founding a separate girls' choir.. PHOTOS: FILE

There are a total of 305 students aged between 10 and 19, around two-thirds of whom are boarders.

Full tuition and board costs 570 euros ($600) a month and students must pass a gruelling audition before being offered a place.

As well as providing the music for services at Regensburg Cathedral, the boys' choir regularly embarks on prestigious international concert tours.

However, the school has not been spared from the Catholic Church's child abuse scandal and a 2017 report found that more than 500 choirboys suffered sexual or physical abuse at the institute between 1945 and the early 1990s.

The report criticised senior Church figures for failing to do enough to prevent the abuse.

They include Georg Ratzinger, brother of former pope Benedict, who led the choir from 1964 to 1994.

The scandal "probably" contributed to a decline in applications in 2016 and 2017, accord-

ing to Christian Heiss, the current conductor of the Regensburger Domspatzen.

Then, having completed extensive renovations in 2020, the school also found itself receiving fewer applications as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The extra capacity meant "the time was ripe... to start a new pathway, a girls' choir pathway", Heiss said.

A total of 33 girls joined the school in September, 15 of them in the reception year and the others in older year groups.

The girls' choir rehearses separately from the boys' choir but otherwise all lessons are now mixed.

For 16-year-old Jakob Bauer, in his fifth year at the school, it's been a positive development.

"It's definitely different," he said. "At first I thought it was going to be a major change... but now it's actually pretty normal and quite cool too."

AFP

The girls' choir made its debut in December under conductor Elena Szuczies.

The initial plan was for the choir to perform for the first time in 2023 but the girls had exceeded her expectations, Szuczies said.

There are currently no plans for the school to start a mixed choir, partly because the girls have their own "different sound", according to Szuczies.

"I personally love this bright, radiant sound," she said.

To begin with, the girls' choir will stick to singing at Sunday services in Regensburg cathedral.

But Heiss hopes they will eventually reach the same heights as their male counterparts.

"Boys' choirs are famous and have a certain reputation musically, but the girls' choir scene is not yet as established," he said.

"I think that by offering this pathway we will also help to make the girls' choir scene better known and raise its profile."

The Oscar-winning US star has worked with UNHCR since 2001 and became a special envoy in 2012.

Angelina Jolie is stepping down from her role as the UNHCR's special envoy after more than 20 years of working with the United Nations' refugee agency.

The Hollywood actress, 47, has carried out more than 60 field missions with UNHCR, shining a spotlight on the plight of millions of people displaced from their homes over the past two decades.

"After 20 years working within the UN system I feel it is time for me to work differently, engaging directly with refugees and local organisations, and supporting their advocacy for solutions," Jolie said.

"I will continue to do everything in my power in the years to come to support refugees and other displaced people."

UNHCR called her one of the most influential proponents of refugee rights. The Oscar-winning US star has

worked with UNHCR since 2001 and became a special envoy in 2012.

In this expanded role, she built awareness and support for refugees and called for urgent solutions for people forced to flee, UNHCR said.

Jolie has "worked tirelessly... to bear witness to stories of suffering as well as hope and resilience", the Geneva-based agency said.

Most recently, she travelled with UNHCR to Yemen and Burkina Faso to meet displaced people enduring two of the most underfunded emergencies in the world.

"We are grateful for her decades of service, her commitment, and the difference she has made for refugees and people forced to flee," said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

"After a long and successful time with UNHCR, I appreciate her desire to shift her engagement and support her decision," he said.

"I know the refugee cause will remain close to her heart, and I am certain she will bring the same passion and attention to a wider humanitarian portfolio."

Contrary to popular belief, the people in America are incredibly polite and affectionate

As the whole country welcomes the new year 2023, so does the cinema industry which is currently riding high on the success of The Legend of Maula Jatt, which is on a record-breaking box office spree across the world.

However, with no big-budget film in sight except maybe Aasmaan Bolay Ga, and Money Back Guarantee, it will be back to square one once the Maula Jatt wave settles down.

One more aspect that not many people are talking about is the lack of under-production films in Pakistan. At the moment, most of the films that are slated for a release in the next 12 months are either films that have been under production for multiple years or those which halted their shoot or production due to COVID. Add to that the lack of big-budget films, the extremely high prices of tickets and refreshments, and the ridiculous decisions to restrict business hours in the evening, and cinema has more negatives than positives to carry forward in the new year.

What steps should the cinema industry take to reclaim its lost glory and how can the exhibitors make cinema accessible again, that remains a million-dollar question for those who want Pakistan to produce more films like The Legend of Maula Jatt and fewer like the ones that came before or after that. Neither the cinemas nor the audience wants to wait for one year to see Humayun Saeed produce a potential blockbuster or Fahad Mustafa herald a new kind of film, others will have to step forward to do their bit. Otherwise, the good work of 2022 will yield no result in the next year, and we might be back to the battle of survival that has become synonymous with the Pakistan film industry.

The Films of 2023

Unlike 2022, when cinemas were on their way back to normalcy, 2023 has more potential, considering Pakistan’s biggest blockbuster The Legend of Maula Jatt is still being screened all across the country. However, the new year doesn’t seem to have an impressive lineup of upcoming films, which makes it difficult to predict how the next 12 months will fare for the cinema and the film industry. Yes, there is veteran director Shoaib Mansoor’s Aasmaan Bolay Ga all set for a release but his last film Verna was nothing short of a disaster and this Indo-Pak love story will have to be a lot better to make the audience pay for the ticket, and watch the film. Maya

Ali’s popularity as an actress and handsome Emmad Irfani’s good looks might be able to create some magic but that remains to be seen.

Then there are two Fawad Khan films that the audience is waiting for – his home production Neelofar and director Faisal Qureshi’s Money Back Guarantee. In the former, he will be paired with Mahira Khan who plays a blind girl, whereas, in the latter, he is part of an ensemble cast that also features Mikaal Zulfiqar, Kiran Malik, Wasim Akram and his wife Shaniera, Gohar Rasheed, Marhoom Ahmad Bilal, and Shayan Khan. Considering his last film did the unthinkable and changed the dynamics of the Pakistan film industry, these two films will surely be on top of the cinegoers’ list in the coming days.

And then there are the smaller films that might or might not create any kind of tremor at the box office. There is director Abu Aleeha’s Shot Cut which also features an alumnus of The Legend of Maula Jatt Gohar Rasheed in the lead, alongside regular Punjabi actors like Naseem Vicky and Iftikhar Thakur. The same director has two more films – Daadal and Super Punjabi – slated for a 2023 release. While the former is about the boxing culture in Lyari and features Sonya Hussyn in the lead, the latter has Mohsin Abbas Haider and Saima Baloch playing the lead couple, breaking the tradition of going for tried and tested faces, especially in Punjabi language films.

And then there is Syra Yousuf and Shahroz Sabzwari’s Babylicious, a romantic flick they did when they were married. Even if the film manages to release in February as expected, it will be too odd to see a former couple romancing on the screen, something that hasn’t happened in Pakistani cinema. Since it hasn't happened yet, it might in fact work for the film which has been shot abroad, in extravagant sets and locations not common for the cinegoers. Also slated for a 2023 release are Shamoon Abbasi starrers Dhai Chaal ¬¬and Delhi Gate which were also expected to release in 2022. Let’s hope that all these films manage to do well at the box office and save our industry but that seems far-fetched since it looks like the industry doesn’t want to be saved.

Why do Industry veterans believe cinema is at a make-or-break juncture?

Veteran film producer and trade analyst Rashid Khawaja feels that Pakistan’s film industry is at a make-or-break juncture at the moment. It is riding high on the success of films like Ghabrana Nahi Hai, Kamli, The Legend of Maula Jatt, and Joyland which released in 2022, but sadly, no such film is lined up at the moment in the next year, which is nothing short of scary.

2023 will likely be the election year in Pakistan, which means that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to invoke what the country is

to be

resulting in the increase of prices of everything related to cinema, including the ticket, electricity, etc.

Satish Anand

Speaking to BOLD, he raised the important point that most of the films set for release in 2023 are either those flicks that were hit by COVID or were incomplete for some reason. After The Legend of Maula Jatt, cinegoers know that Pakistani filmmakers are capable of making a good film, and until and unless they are impressed by a film’s trailer, they will not go to the cinema and spend their money on it. They have enough options to entertain themselves at home, with products that are on a high budget, high quality, and guaranteed to give them what they want.

‘If you are an experienced cinegoer, you can predict the box office results of nearly all the films that are slated for a release this year. Some might surprise the audience and do better than expected but not every film has the potential to last beyond 2 weeks. Cinemas need films every other week which is why we need content from all around the world, not just Hollywood, which has its own set audiences. Some might not agree with the release of across-the-border films, but unless and until our producers come up with regular films, there seems to be no other option for the survival of the cinema industry as well as the film industry.’

Rashid Khawaja also lambasted those cinema chains which didn’t screen the biggest Pakistani film of all time The Legend of Maula Jatt during its first month of release, and claims that had they been less rigid and more visionary, things might have been different for the Pakistani cinema industry. He hopes that 2023 turns out to be better than 2022 but at the moment that seems like a tough task, considering films slated for release don’t seem to carry the kind of firepower required to set the box office on fire.

The coming year will be very challenging for film trade in Pakistan Veteran filmmaker, producer and distributor Satish Anand, who has seen the highs and lows of this industry, feels that 2023 is going to be a tough year for Pakistani cinema, because of not one but many factors. Speaking to BOLD, he said that since it will likely be an election year, things will change

drastically in the country, resulting in an increase in everything related to cinema.

‘2023 will likely be the election year in Pakistan, which means that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to invoke what the country is supposed to be doing, resulting in the increase of prices of everything related to cinema, including the ticket, electricity etc. Considering these factors, and the threat of possible layoffs because of these factors, the mood will be challenging, and not very conducive to spending money on entertainment other than food.’

Satish Anand also added that it is time exhibitors should act smart and review their model to keep cinema business running, even if it means inviting the audience by lowering the ticket price for selected films.

‘I respect the cost of operation of modern multiplexes, but the model needs to be redefined and reworked because low-budget films like Joyland and Kamli which don’t have the power to attract large number of crowds, should be treated differently than mainstream cinema films. Audience can pay Rs1200 for a mainstream film because of the star power but usually low-budgeted films don’t have that advantage, so why not help them through elasticity of pricing, so that they also have a chance of viewership.’

He claimed that it was an unfair situation out there for all the stakeholders because neither it is fair for cinema owners to cancel their shows for low attendance, nor is it fair for them to not be able to reduce ticket prices to invite the audience. These things should be looked at if things are to improve in the coming years. He added that making a film is now considered a business which is why the quality of films isn’t what it used to be. If the motive is to make money instead of making a good film, it will not help the industry at all.

‘With all this happening, it is not conducive and viable for a filmmaker to engage into a making a feature film because the economics don't support the filmmaker. It's still a dysfunctional trade where the model needs revision for viability. In the past producers used to invest money and the director had the list of demands whereas today, the producer has a list of demands and the director has to make sure that they are met. The approach to engage the acumen into a creative venture, the spirit of that is missing which isn’t good for the business.’

He also highlighted the fact that not being able to generate quality content regularly is also one of the reasons why cinema industry in Pakistan isn’t moving forward, and stated that only a handful of films screened in Pakistan since cinema resumption have been post-Covid projects.

‘Other than the backlog that has been carried forward since November last year, not many new products have taken off which is something I have been harping in front of the authorities. In such a scenario, taking films to festivals may be good for the producers but sets a bad precedent for cinema, because first these films will not be released in Pakistan, and when they will eventually get released, it will be a limited release at the most.’ There seems to be nothing positive to come out in the next 12 months!

Leading film distributor and owner of Atrium Cinemas in Karachi and Centaurus Cinema in Islamabad Nadeem Mandviwalla also agree with Satish Anand’s lack of content, which is one of the reasons why the cinema industry in the country isn’t progressing. The man behind the successful formula that ensured that the producers of The Legend of Maula Jatt recovered their money, feels that right now, 2023 is just a change of calendar because there seems to be nothing positive to come out in the next 12 months.

Talking to BOLD, he wanted to highlight the importance of the one factor that’s missing which is the issue of screening Bollywood films in Pakistan. On the eve of The Legend of Maula Jatt’s premiere in the Indian Punjab, he feels that there can be no better time than today to allow films from India to screen in Pakistan, as it will help the local cinemas fill their schedule and survive, instead of waiting for the two Eids for potential hit films.

‘‘Since India has censored and endorsed Maula Jatt, we need to open up Indian Films on this side of the border because that’s the only way we can fulfill the requirements of our cinemas. We need more content – whether it is Pakistani or Indian –but right now we are not coming up with films as regularly as we should. In the absence of Pakistani productions, we need to bend towards the import of Indian Films supply and 2023 can be a game changer if that happens.’

As the entertainment industry moves in the new year, let’s revisit upcoming films as well as cinema issues

KARACHI By Omair Alavi

supposed

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