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PESHAWAR – In a tit-for-tat response to the Taliban’s disdain for music and art, local producers have started making films that depict the militancy as a social ill and urge the public to stand up against militants.
“The hot-selling topic for our films is the militancy these days," said Feroz Khan, a Buner-based director. "People want to watch what they have endured in the shape of the Taliban’s follies of damaging schools and CD shops and carrying out bomb and suicide attacks."
The 50-minute telefilms, which sell for less than US $1, offer the working class affordable entertainment. They have done a roaring business and boosted the morale of citizens weary of the militancy. Made in the Compact Disc (CD) format, they are less expensive to produce and duplicate than DVD format films.
The first edition of “Qalam Au Topak” (“Pen and Gun”), released in June, was well-received in Buner. It hit CD stalls across the province.
CD film business picked up after theatre was closed
Telefilms gained popularity after 2002, when the Mutahida Majli-e-Amal government, a coalition of Islamic political parties, closed down the city’s lone theatre – Nishtar Hall – depriving actors of their earnings and audiences of live shows. The CDs offer an alternate outlet.
Khan is upbeat about his new venture, scheduled for release later this month. “It’s about the Taliban’s foray into Buner from the neighbouring Swat in April this year, which sent chills down the spines of the hapless dwellers,” he told Central Asia Online. The story showcases the importance of education and the destruction of schools, Khan said.
The drama revolves around a six-year-old girl who quits studying when militants bomb her school. Later, after marrying, she realises the significance of education. To campaign against the militancy, she builds a two-room school on an inherited piece of land and offers free education to all the girls in the neighbourhood.
“We are making films against militancy because there is a trend now even in Pakistani television where peace through art has taken a front seat,” said Zahirzada Armani, an actor. Armani recalls the Taliban’s prohibition of film-making a year ago in Mardan. Now, filmmakers crank out about 30 CD films in Mardan every month and distribute them to more than 20,000 CD shops across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Swat, which produced telefilms before the militancy, has also resumed production. Residents angry about the devastation wrought by the Taliban are now enjoying movies that spread love and condemn the Taliban, Rafiq Ahmed, 48, a local comedian, said.
Films emphasize education, working with soldiers
The coming telefilm “Razai Che School Abad Kro” (“Let’s Build the School”) emphasises co-operating with soldiers to rebuild schools destroyed by the Taliban, said Rafiq, who plays a character in the film.
“Education is the only ray of hope now. Enough is enough. The people need peace at any cost," Rafiq said.
Peace, education and the campaign against terrorism have become the most popular subjects, supplanting the traditional themes of love and smuggling, said Sher Dil Khan, president of the Music and CD Shops Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The booming CD films industry churns out about 500 films every month,” he said. “Most of them advocate peace and shun terrorism and militancy.”
“We have to inform the people on how to put the brakes on militancy," award-winning actor Javaid Babar, who plays a lead role in a PTV series on terrorism, said. "The people worst affected by militancy are the poor, who are killed and injured and lose their schools. We need to take it upon ourselves to spread the message of peace and love in these trying times.” Jaffar Ali, a CD shop owner, praised the showbiz people. “I salute the people who remained steadfast during the Taliban’s campaign against art, music and films,” he said.
“More than 800 CD, audio and video shops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been attacked in the past five years, but all those outlets were rebuilt with structural improvements and more investment," Ali said. "This shows the traditional link among music, films and Pashtuns."
Telefilms are a good way to communicate with the public, Ismail Shahid, a comedian and recipient of the Pride of Performance Presidential Award, said. “Families watched telefilms together in their homes," he recalled. "At the moment, the people want films on peace. We are avoiding usage of guns because we cannot afford the harm that weapons cause anymore.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture Minister Syed Aqil Shah approved of the new trend.
“At last, sense has prevailed," said Shah, who has survived two assassination attempts. "We are planning to establish a censor board to review these films before their release."
“We encourage the anti-militancy campaign from any forum," he said. Films are the most appropriate medium for conveying a message of peace and love, he argued.
Link: http://www.centralasiaonline.com/coc.../16/feature-01
“The hot-selling topic for our films is the militancy these days," said Feroz Khan, a Buner-based director. "People want to watch what they have endured in the shape of the Taliban’s follies of damaging schools and CD shops and carrying out bomb and suicide attacks."
The 50-minute telefilms, which sell for less than US $1, offer the working class affordable entertainment. They have done a roaring business and boosted the morale of citizens weary of the militancy. Made in the Compact Disc (CD) format, they are less expensive to produce and duplicate than DVD format films.
The first edition of “Qalam Au Topak” (“Pen and Gun”), released in June, was well-received in Buner. It hit CD stalls across the province.
CD film business picked up after theatre was closed
Telefilms gained popularity after 2002, when the Mutahida Majli-e-Amal government, a coalition of Islamic political parties, closed down the city’s lone theatre – Nishtar Hall – depriving actors of their earnings and audiences of live shows. The CDs offer an alternate outlet.
Khan is upbeat about his new venture, scheduled for release later this month. “It’s about the Taliban’s foray into Buner from the neighbouring Swat in April this year, which sent chills down the spines of the hapless dwellers,” he told Central Asia Online. The story showcases the importance of education and the destruction of schools, Khan said.
The drama revolves around a six-year-old girl who quits studying when militants bomb her school. Later, after marrying, she realises the significance of education. To campaign against the militancy, she builds a two-room school on an inherited piece of land and offers free education to all the girls in the neighbourhood.
“We are making films against militancy because there is a trend now even in Pakistani television where peace through art has taken a front seat,” said Zahirzada Armani, an actor. Armani recalls the Taliban’s prohibition of film-making a year ago in Mardan. Now, filmmakers crank out about 30 CD films in Mardan every month and distribute them to more than 20,000 CD shops across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Swat, which produced telefilms before the militancy, has also resumed production. Residents angry about the devastation wrought by the Taliban are now enjoying movies that spread love and condemn the Taliban, Rafiq Ahmed, 48, a local comedian, said.
Films emphasize education, working with soldiers
The coming telefilm “Razai Che School Abad Kro” (“Let’s Build the School”) emphasises co-operating with soldiers to rebuild schools destroyed by the Taliban, said Rafiq, who plays a character in the film.
“Education is the only ray of hope now. Enough is enough. The people need peace at any cost," Rafiq said.
Peace, education and the campaign against terrorism have become the most popular subjects, supplanting the traditional themes of love and smuggling, said Sher Dil Khan, president of the Music and CD Shops Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The booming CD films industry churns out about 500 films every month,” he said. “Most of them advocate peace and shun terrorism and militancy.”
“We have to inform the people on how to put the brakes on militancy," award-winning actor Javaid Babar, who plays a lead role in a PTV series on terrorism, said. "The people worst affected by militancy are the poor, who are killed and injured and lose their schools. We need to take it upon ourselves to spread the message of peace and love in these trying times.” Jaffar Ali, a CD shop owner, praised the showbiz people. “I salute the people who remained steadfast during the Taliban’s campaign against art, music and films,” he said.
“More than 800 CD, audio and video shops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been attacked in the past five years, but all those outlets were rebuilt with structural improvements and more investment," Ali said. "This shows the traditional link among music, films and Pashtuns."
Telefilms are a good way to communicate with the public, Ismail Shahid, a comedian and recipient of the Pride of Performance Presidential Award, said. “Families watched telefilms together in their homes," he recalled. "At the moment, the people want films on peace. We are avoiding usage of guns because we cannot afford the harm that weapons cause anymore.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture Minister Syed Aqil Shah approved of the new trend.
“At last, sense has prevailed," said Shah, who has survived two assassination attempts. "We are planning to establish a censor board to review these films before their release."
“We encourage the anti-militancy campaign from any forum," he said. Films are the most appropriate medium for conveying a message of peace and love, he argued.
Link: http://www.centralasiaonline.com/coc.../16/feature-01