We’ve all heard stories about the glory days of Pakistani Cinema i.e. Lollywood. We’ve all heard about times when Pakistani cinema was in it’s “golden years” but then years of neglect and a lack of “family friendly” films led to the demise of what was once a vibrant industry.
There is a resurgence of late. With films being made by those who were once television stars and Pakistani movies trying to compete with Bollywood by offering better cinematography, decent stories and of course, the beloved item songs, Pakistani cinema is trying very hard to restore it’s lost glory.
One Pakistani filmmaker based in Silicon Valley decided to travel back to the hub of Lollywood to try and see how films were traditionally made
While movies, as the general public knows them, have been modernized, there still are those who make and watch those desi movies that are associated with the 90’s. Ali Kapadia decided to venture to Lahore and explore the way Lollywood operated during it’s peak and see how and what went wrong.
What came about from this expedition is “Lollywood Chalo“, a five-part documentary series that allows the viewers a glance into the very traditional Pakistani film-making world.
“I believe that to go anywhere new, one must reflect on where they’ve been. This is why I made Lollywood Chalo.”
Kapadia, in his note on social media says that this series is his attempt to explore the history of Pakistani cinema, as the industry stands on a new road with modern filmmakers having restored faith in the business and aspiring, young professionals showing an interest in wanting to revive what was once a popular entertainment in the country.
“Though anyone can enjoy it (English subtitles included), I made it especially for Pakistan’s aspiring filmmakers; to share what I believe is important to shape our future.”
The five episodes, all shorter than 6 minutes, are an engaging glimpse into the various aspects of the movie-making business in Pakistan
According to Kapadia, the synopsis of each of the episodes is:
Episode 1: Studios is a sights & sounds style walkthrough of our stage and sound studios with minimal dialogue.
Episode 2: Painter talks with an industry veteran about who we used to be. (Guest: Billa Painter)
Episode 3: Editor gets the perspective and aspirations of a current industry professional. (Guest: Z. A. Zulfi)
Episode 4: Extra looks at the passion that now fuels this industry. (Guest: M. Kiyani)
Episode 5: Epilogue is a summarized history of Lollywood.
Here’s the first episode, Studios:
To watch the rest of them, you can head over here.
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