PESHAWAR: Speakers at a ‘press show’ of a new Pashto movie here on Tuesday stressed the need for renovation of cinema theatres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to pave way for revival of Pashto cinema culture.

Senior artists, film producers, playback singers, directors and cine fans attended the event.

Talking to journalists, film director Shahid Usman said that his team would release a new Pashto flick titled ‘Qurban Da Janan’ featuring new cast with an objective to revive cinema culture and encourage young artists to showcase their talent on the silver screen.

The new Pashto movie promo was termed an encouraging attempt by the participants and journalists.

The new Pashto movie starring Asghar Cheema, Wiqar Jani, Asif Khan, Bisma Chohan, Salma Swati, Dilbar Munir, Khalida Yasmin, Imran Khan Khattak and Jan Rambo would be released on October 4 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi simultaneously. After long time, the cine-goers would watch a Pashto flick with new faces, subjects and music tracks.

The current situation for Pashto films was not favourable as condition of most cinema halls was not up to the mark and required steps to be renovated. If relevant authorities take proper measures, cinema culture would be revived as an effective medium of entertainment.

Veteran Pashto film actor Asif Khan said on the occasion that new faces were featured in the flick to bring about a substantive change in Pashto film industry. He added that it was a risk though but film producers, makers and financiers took a step with the intention to bring Pashto cinema culture back on the right track.

Saeed Tehkalai, script writer of the new Pashto movie, said that dialogue and screen play would engage cine-goers while the entire story would attract them with beautiful setting and landscape on the silver screen.

Zardad Bulbul, a noted midget actor, said that his role as comic actor added to the charm of the story.

Play back singers including Asfandyar Momand and Zaman Zaheer said that music as usual was the strength of the new release too but with a different style and tones and tunes.

“The new Pashto film is in fact a romantic story with underlying themes of unfolding social issues in a typical Pashtun society plagued by lawlessness, militancy and several other evils.” the duo said.

Qaiser Sanubar, another film director, said that Pashto film industry would hopefully revived if sincere steps were taken by the stakeholders. Such attempts should be encouraged, he added.

Later, a promo of the new Pashto flick was screened for review, followed by queries of journalists.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2024