PESHAWAR: The posters are up and the word is out. Hopeful publicity campaigns have been kicked off in Peshawar to draw in large crowds for four new movies screening this Eid.
“It is during these holidays that most people will come to watch films,” said one of the producers, Muzafar Khan. “Our work has been severely affected during the past year due to terrorism and militancy, but it is going to be business as usual now.”
Although there has been a steady decline in releases during the past decade — with six in 2012 and five in 2013 — this year has seen seven releases already, causing filmmakers like Muzafar to sound hopeful enough for the future of their industry. Besides cinema, a dozen Pashto dramas are also scheduled for release this Eid.
Multiple attacks on cinema houses killed dozens and installed fear amongst cinema goers. Time will tell if the industry will recover or not.
