2017 has been a huge year for the film industry in Pakistan and the whopping business some filmmakers have done is a testament to that. However, amongst all the highs the films have seen, there are some definite lows too; things, which have made the connoisseurs of Pakistani cinema question the future of the craft.
From some OTT scenes to underwhelming acting skills, here are 5 things we don’t want to see in Pakistani films in 2018!
SlapsÂ
Can we all please uniformly accept that slaps should be out of the film narrative ASAP? From Chain Aye Na’s infamous slapgate to Punjab Nahi Jaungi using it as a tool to move the film forward, we think we’ve had enough of physical abuse against women being a part of films. Although we’re all for the classic style of filmmaking and storytelling, let’s forget violence, please!
Art vs Masala Films
Excuse us, if we sound uncultured at the moment but we say what the common folk also say, and we’re frankly done with the term art and masala films! There can be a middle-ground between the two types of films and Pakistani filmmakers desperately need to find it! Yes, we love films like Verna and Na Maloom Afraad, but maybe there’s a way not everything needs to be so black and white!
Sponsors
How many sponsors can you find in a film?
We wouldn’t be lying if we say we still remember the 50 gazillion times Bank Alfalah, McDonald’s and Oye Hoye! came on the screen between some serious dialogues in our films. Apart from being traumatic, it also proves that subtlety is an art Pakistani filmmakers, or rather advertisers (since that’s where the pressure comes from) have not learned! Please, no more cheesy dialogues to impress your sponsors!
Melodrama
Loose-ends, too many delusional moments, and a weak story made half of the films that released this year an eyesore. We loved the stronger moments in Verna, but it has to be one of the weakest films by Shoaib Mansoor. It made us realize that while we’re all for great narratives, we’re not going to be a party to lackluster melodrama!
Stereotypical Roles
If we’ve learned one thing this year in films, it has to be that stereotypes are still a big seller in Pakistani cinema. Whether it’s the item girl or the angry young hero/heroine, we saw it all this year. That being said, props to Humayun Saeed and Punjab Nahi Jaungi for changing the Punjabi feudal lord image as much as they could!
So, what else do you think needs to go from Pakistani films? Musician turned actors who can’t act? We’re waiting for your suggestions…
