Pakistani film industry ‘influenced by Hollywood and Bollywood’, needs new ideas: PM Imran

“Our industry has got obscenity from Bollywood and Hollywood,” the premier said while addressing the awards distribution ceremony in connection with the National Amature Short Film Festival Awards.

The event was held under the patronage of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in association with Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) to give awards to three winners each in different categories of short films. The jury consisted famed artists and international experts who had made nominations for the best films. Fifteen winners would get scholarships for studying in advance media techniques in the University of California, US.

He said the original but not coped content always has value, adding the world always adore the orginality.   

Mr Khan recalled how his Hollywood celebrity friends attended the Shaukat Khanum Hospital fundraisers and became absolute fans of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when Khan escorted him there for his ceremonies, due to the fact that how he pursued his unique and original talent instead of copying somebody else.

وزیراعظم عمران خان کا نیشنل امیچور شارٹ فلم فیسٹیول کی تقریب سے خطاب@PakPMO @fawadchaudhry @MoIB_Official https://t.co/HYWPXMElWl

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 26, 2021

"My other local celebrity friends, too, requested me to get them introduced to Hollywood people but unfortunately, they had nothing interesting and original to offer, the PM said.

The prime minister also lauded efforts of the ministry of information and ISPR for providing a platform to the young gifted new starters in the genre of short film making.

Youth urged to present true image of Pakistan

Expressing his confidence in the innate potential of country’s youth, the premier urged them to present true and real image of Pakistan, a country gifted with huge variety and diversity.

Mr Khan stressed upon the young film makers to concentrate upon production of original stuff as the world always bought the contents based upon reality.

“Those following the downtrodden path never excel in their fields,” he said, adding the new starters in the film making must explore the vast variety and diversity of climate, culture and civilization of the motherland.

The prime minister observed that over 60 per cent of the country’s population comprised of talented youth who could achieve marvels in different fields.

He said the soft image of the country came with self-esteem and self-belief as the world respected those who had faith in themselves.

He further said that they did not need to copy what the others had done in the world. “We don’t need to look like others to improve our perception.”

“You cannot achieve anything if you have fears of failure,” he maintained.

The ceremony was attended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, Director General ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar and other federal ministers and parliamentarians.

The prime minister laid emphasis upon following the thoughts of country’s founding fathers including Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

The prime minister noted that during 70s, the country was producing quality pictures but it went on to copy Indian films which resulted in the downfall of this industry.

Through this ‘copy and adoption of alien culture’ the films industry lost the originality, he regretted.

The prime minister sharing his experiences in the cricket career said that they had introduced to the world, the technique of reverse swing and opening of bowling with the spinners, the ideas which were later copied by the whole world.

Previously, there was mindset which thought that they could not win from the UK cricket team due to serious impacts of colonialism and they were contended in their defeats, he added.

The prime minister said, things started changing when they started in self belief with new playing techniques.

He further said that he had brought Ertugrul drama serial which was widely watched by the people in Pakistan.

The prime minster said late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who participated in the fund-raising of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hosptial, was adorned by the Western pop groups.

The prime minister said that tourism industry of the country possessed huge potential which remained unexplored in the past and cited the mountains and religious tourism which were being explored.