“During a time of vulgarity, we changed the parameters of
Lollywood for good by making films like Maula Jatt,” says Bhatti, who aside
from having other businesses runs a beat-up distribution office in Lahore’s
film district Royal Park.
In a career that barely lasted 10 years, Bhatti has only
produced five films. He says that his films have promoted “Islamic culture” and
given Lollywood a new look.
“It was an unjust claim that Maula Jatt had promoted
violence,” says the conservative and proud producer. “You have to realise, it
rid Pakistani cinema of Indian or Hollywood influences which had corrupted the
films,” Bhatti adds about Maula Jatt, the sensation of the ‘80s. He feels that
the film represented the true culture of Pakistan.
Bhatti’s direct involvement as a producer did not last long,
but it was not due to any financial issues, he assures The Express Tribune. “I
had the complete capital to make a film and easily ensured that it was of
quality,” says Bhatti. He boasts about having a Mercedes when he entered the
film industry, and feels the only reason his career in Lollywood was
short-lived was due to the structure within the industry that never improved.
“During that time, cinemas were still being made and cinema
owners were taking the films’ earnings,” says Bhatti, with disappointment in
his voice. “And the government was profiting by putting 100% or 200% tax on a
single film.”
Bhatti explains the issue was the lack of profit for him;
film-makers were not fully earning a return on their projects. “After watching
successful films in cinemas, other people would be inspired to make films only
to realise that it just wasn’t profitable.”
He feels that if the right environment was provided in the
Pakistani film industry, old producers would be willing to return to
film-making.
Currently, Bhatti’s small office for distribution seems to be
simply the last figment of his connection to film. More importantly, his film
Maula Jatt, which is arguably the most screened and copied film in Pakistan,
has not given any profit to Bhatti. The illegality, which is prevalent, means
he lost millions of rupees in royalties.
“I have never sold my films to cable companies or video
rights,” says Bhatti. “I know the value of my property and I have never given
it to anyone. Everyone has used it [Maula Jatt] without any legal permission.”
“This illegality is rampant but that’s the case in our
society,” shares Bhatti. “I defend my rights through taking action against
those who used my film without my permission, but there are thousands of people
who have taken it illegally.”
Bhatti is a traditionalist and believes that the mindsets of
people in the Pakistani film industry will have to change for advancement. He
explains that the irony of Pakistani cinema is that censorship laws are only
limited to Pakistani films, while foreign films can be passed without any
questions.
With regard to the foreign content being aired on Pakistani
television these days, Bhatti says, “If a Pakistani film was to show the same
thing, it would be censored for being against national interest. Why are
Pakistani films held to a different law while television or foreign films get a
free hand in screening whatever they want?”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment