In an interview, three filmmakers — Jampshed Mahmood (Jami), Asim Raza and Hassan Waqas Rana — discuss Pakistani cinema’s new shortcomings: the lack of good writers, source material and big ideas.

Jamshed Mahmood

Jamshed Mahmood discussed about the lack of direction, “We were in a state of coma for the last 30 years, and we’ve just opened our eyes. Our hands aren’t working yet.”

“What’s happening isn’t landmark work — there is no big achievement. Everyone is simply happy that they made a film — I get happy after I make a movie. But when you compare Moor to Shawshank Redemption, it’s nothing.”

Hassan Waqas Rana

The writer-producer of Waar and just-about-everything of the upcoming Yalghaar, believes that very few have a grip on the concept.

“High-concept stories require a lot of work and unfortunately, most of our directors and producers do not have that great an opinion of our audience, which is completely wrong.” 

“Even if the filmmakers do, they don’t actually believe in themselves enough to pull the concept off.”

Asim Raza

Asim Raza, producer and director of Ho Mann Jahaan believes stories come from society.

“To me they are like a lullaby — where you go ‘oh-so-sweet, so-nice, so pretty’ — but then your audience should feel that this story is talking to them. In a subtle way, it should tell of my faults which I am making as an individual — to society, my children, my parents, my friends. You give them something to think about, something that is not just entertainment,” he says.

“High-concept stories require a lot of work and unfortunately, most of our directors and producers do not have that great an opinion of our audience.” – Hassan Waqas Rana

I believe in Pakistan, even success stories struggle for appreciation and that some basic conceptions about ‘the formula’ need to change.

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