Scores of film-starved Pakistanis have been showing up at the Indian High Commission auditorium to watch acclaimed Bollywood movies, including Deepa Mehta's Oscar-nominated 'Water'.
ISLAMABAD: Scores of film-starved Pakistanis have been showing up at the Indian High Commission auditorium to watch acclaimed Bollywood movies, including Deepa Mehta's Oscar-nominated 'Water'.
The screenings by the newly formed Cine Club of the High Commission are like an oasis in a desert for film-crazy Pakistanis, who are keen followers of the latest trends in Bollywood and Indian stars.
At one time, the national capital had three cinema halls, Nafdec I, Nafdec II and Melody but it has none now though nearby Rawalpindi recently became home to Pakistan's first five-screen cinplex. So the film-going experience at the Cine Club, complete with popcorn, is nothing short of a treat for the Pakistanis.
"There are no movie halls in Islamabad. We miss watching movies in 70mm. My children and I loved the film and we are going to come here more often," beamed Iram, a homemaker who came with her two children to watch 'Water'.
Her school-going teenaged daughter Sadiqa agreed. "The film was a little heavy for me. But I enjoyed the outing."
The Cine Club, launched in October, has lined up five films for its first season. The screenings, which are held once every fortnight, began with 'Arth' starring Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.
'Mirch Masala', 'Chandni Bar' and 'Andhi' will be shown in the next few weeks.
Sanjay Mathur, the High Commission's First Secretary (press and information), said, "Just as in India, people here are crazy about Bollywood movies but have little scope to watch them on the big screen. They can only watch them on the small screen on VCDs or DVDs. So this is a great opportunity for them to sample some of the best movies made by Indian directors."
"I love Bollywood films. Shah Rukh, of course, is my favourite. But I loved Deepa's film too. Our Pakistani movies are not as good," Nudrat, another homemaker, said.
"We watch movies all the time. But this is an experience which we miss."
Earlier, there were some cinema halls here and we used to frequent them. Now the closest hall is in Rawalpindi, and it is not always feasible just to watch a movie," she added.
Till some years ago, the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi had about 20 cinema halls. However, most of them have now made way for commercial plazas.
The famous Sangeet Cinema, owned by melody queen Noor Jehan, was razed to make way for a commercial plaza off Murree Chowk. Some other halls like Naz Cinema, Shabistan, Gulistan, Moti Mahal and Rialto have been converted into commercial hubs.
The closing down of about 2,000 cinema theatres across Pakistan in the past decade has been blamed on the failure of the local film industry to produce quality movies.
Qurratulain, who also came to watch 'Water', is eager to see more Indian movies. "I am looking forward to seeing 'Mirch Masala' and 'Chandni Bar'," she said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}