The statement has been raised by veteran Pakistani film and television actor Nadeem Baig who is lamenting about the deteriorating condition of local cinema and drama. He observed that modern-day Pakistani movies are becoming more and more akin to television dramas, and he attributes this change to the fact that legendary directors who once characterized the movie industry have died.
Baig says that the filmmakers of today are primarily television people. Although it is good that the production of movies continues, the movie industry has become a victim–theatres are shut, film studios are shut and the entire movie atmosphere has been diluted. He also pointed at the lack of resources, facilities, and opportunities to work as an aspiring artist.
When considering the historical factors that led to the decline, Baig noted that the partition devastated the audience base by cutting off the market in East Pakistan. Also there are very limited film academies in Pakistan and increased ticket prices have rendered cinema unaffordable to the lower-middle-class population, who used to be the key viewers.
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Irrespective of these hurdles, Baig highlighted that we must be thankful of anyone who is working tirelessly to keep Pakistani cinema afloat on whatever resources they have. He emphasized the need to revamp the cinemas in order to make them cheap and appealing to their main target audience.
Veteran Nadeem Baig is sure that after investing, training, and involving people in watching the film, Pakistani films will be able to be reinstated to their previous glory and be able to entertain the masses once again.
