Bisma Ansari - Lollywood inspired from Bollywood

Subject: Creative writing
Practical work carried out under supervision of Siddique Soomro Sb

Lollywood inspired from Bollywood

Bisma Ansari

In the past a country’s recognition used to be its hospitality, its tourism, its food etc. These things still do matter but a huge addition in the list has been the country's cinema. Today developed countries try to produce movies and promote content that portray a positive image of their country and people. Promotion of any culture or image building of any nation can not be done without cinema. Cinema is one of the most important thing to represent ideas of one’s land but in Pakistan there is dearth of cinema industry.

Pakistan has a great deal of content to make good movies. But, alas, we are too inspired by Bollywood that we only try to copy their movies. The content produced in Pakistan seems like a cheap copy of Indian movies. And that’s why Pakistani cinema has not been able to produce good content in the past couple of decades.  

Let’s do a quick comparison of Bollywood and Lollywood.  

Bollywood movies have a lot of songs and now lollywood are doing the same. Bollywood movies are mostly glamour-based with a physically appealing heroine and a six-pack hero. Lollywood is trying to copy that trend as well. Now days almost every lollywood movie has an item song and ale leads who have good bodies.

As we know Pakistani industry stopped producing films and cinemas remained empty for a long time. But then finally it revived itself with movies like "khuda ke liye’ which was released on 20^th July 2007. The film subsequently won a number of awards for its acting, notably three Lux Style Awards, one Silver Pyramid Award at Cairo International Film Festival, one Roberto Rossellini Award, Italy and one Fukuoka Audience Award at Fukuoka International Film Festival, Japan. The release of the film was historic for two reasons: it was the first Pakistani film to be released in India in almost half a century, and secondly it was the first ever Pakistani film to be included in the official selection of the International Film Festival.

After this comes ‘BOL’ which was produced in Lahore. And it was box office hit because of its theme, plot, story, actors, songs and location. In these two movies everything was representing Pakistan and its culture. Pakistani people started taking interest in lollywood movies and they wanted more. And once again lollywood made a movie ‘WAAR’ and people were so happy to watch that movie.

Later on, lollywood produced “Jawani Phir Naheen Aani”, “Lahore sy agey” and many more. These movies did not look like movies and the audience were disappointed. Because “jawani phir nhi aani” copied the name from Bollywood movie “ye jawani ha dewani”. Initially, people’s expectations were so high on that movie. Unfortunately, after watching this movie viewer turned to bollywood movies because after release of this film most of the Lollywood movies offered a very weak storyline.

This is a tragedy that lollywood never offers a chance to new talented actors like Bilal Abbas Khan, Imran Ashraf and so many more in movies. They always select old famous stars and think movie will be hit because of stars. They have no trust in new talented actors. Even though the new talent proves themselves in dramas. On the other hand, Bollywood always select actors on the basis of power, looks and most importantly their acting skills. Recently Ayushman Khurana’s all movies are famous and earn a lot of money even he is new in Bollywood and does not belong to a film industry’s family.

DIRECTORS/ PRODUCERS

Hardly five to six directors/ producer are producing movies in lollywood. And these directors are already engaged in producing dramas simultaneously which clearly blurs the line between drama and movies. Much of the time, they present content in the movies which has already been shown in dramas. Some actors are also playing role in dramas as well as in films which lowers the value of film stars. Their remains no difference in films and dramas as they are produced and directed by same producers. And even same cast is seen in both. And Bollywood has a greater number of directors/producers who work in movies. And dramas are produced by other producers. 

STORY LINE

Before making any film lollywood directors will have to think a lot of time because their movies have same weak dialogues and storyline. Bollywood comes every time with a strong and new story and good dialogues which makes Bollywood movies better.

SONGS

A lot of Pakistani songs also have been ’inspired’ by Bollywood songs. Many times even lyrics are almost found same. For example, a song from recently released Pakistani movie “Superstar” Dharak dharak is carbon copy of the song “tattar tattar” from the movie RamLeela. Specially costumes, dance and music too.

DANCE

The latest trend of item songs is taking up the Pakistani media by storm. We see so many movies trying to forcefully ‘sell themselves’ to the general audience in hopes of making big profits by adding cheap item songs in the movies. Lollywood movies will be hit without item songs and dance if their story is good.

CUTLURE AND BEAUTY

One may witness a diversity of culture in Bollywood movies. They represent Gujrati, Telugu, Punjabi and other dominant Indian cultures. Additionally, bollywood movies promote their country and culture by showing strength of their country by showing their ‘efficient’ police officers, friendly good-hearted Indian.

Lollywood always comes up with same story and weak dialogues with dominant Punjabi culture almost in every movie. Lollywood need to make something new. They have to work on the content which conveys some meaningful message. Otherwise all movies will look alike. Lollywood seriously needs to produce movies which represent our diverse culture, our generosity and beautiful sides of Pakistan. But lollywood always shows Punjabi culture and represent their colours, accent almost in every movie Iike Chalawa, Punjab naheen jaun gi, Lahore sy agy, Karachi sy Lahore. In this sense one can assume that lollywood movies are culturally bound and not diverse.

 GLAMOUR

Lollywood only focus in glamour rather than story. Recently in movie “Baaji”, Meera dressed like bollywood actresses. Recently released movies ‘superstar’ and ‘Baaji’ offer nothing to audience but glamour. Lollywood is so much inspired by Bollywood, their style and clothes that the producers have forgotten that we live in Pakistan. We, in Pakistan, have some limits to wear any clothes because we represent Pakistan on big screen and people get inspired from their clothes.

We think it’s cool or great to copy Bollywood in their clothes and style. Lollywood producers now days’ focus more on glamour than storyline. Even though everyone knows lollywood movies have not that much budget but still they waste half of their money on clothes. In lollywood every actor is a singer, designer and possess a salon. But Bollywood stars always seem to be focused on their acting only. They do not work in a series or dramas.

Pakistani actors and producers direly need to improve their quality not quantity. They have to portray the best on the big screen such as the cinematic colours, choreography, actors, and the main thing which attracts the audience is name of the movie. Producers need to work on it. They should choose the name that makes sensible storyline and should choose actors on the basis of acting skills not because of their fame and good looks. They should also enhance budget of the movie in order to produce a worth watching movie which may, finally, attract audience towards itself. This will produce quality content and portray a better image of Pakistan.

Subject: Creative writing
Practical work carried out under supervision of Siddique Soomro Sb