For the uninitiated, a film studio (aka a movie studio or just studio) is a major entertainment company or motion picture company that has its own privately owned studio facility used for making films, which is handled by the production company. A majority of firms in the entertainment industry have never owned their own studios, and have instead rented out space from other companies.

After Partition, Lahore was the only film production centre in West Pakistan and while still in its infancy, released its first film on August 7, 1948, title Teri Yaad. Film studios have always remained the focal point of showbiz activities and the hub of entertainment with inbuilt makeshift bridges, waterfalls, rural settlements, graveyards, lawns, lakes, etc, to cater to the needs of film-makers, while costly indoor and outdoor sets can also be erected according to the script requirements. To avoid swelling of film budgets due to travel and transportation of the entire cast and crew, even artificial hilly areas have been known to be created within studio premises.

Before Partition, six fully-functional film studios existed in Lahore but the number has since dwindled to only three at present — Bari, Evernew and Shabab. There was time when these studios witnessed a great hustle and bustle with the floors and offices constantly booked and shootings taking place at various shifts round the clock.

A few years ago, I was dumbstruck to find out that the shooting of two different films were underway on the same floor. At one corner was a Pushto movie set while renowned film-maker Javed Fazil occupied another corner for the making of his film, Meri Awaz Hi Pehchaan Hai. I can still recall the crowd that would gather at the film studio gate during the ’80s to catch a glimpse of their favourite film stars. They took immense pride in being able to shake hands even with the screen villains who would step outside the studio premises for paan, cigarette or a refreshing soft drink between shooting spells.

But now everything has become a cherished memory and on a recent visit to the desolate and barren studios in Lahore, my eyes welled up with tears at the darkness all around me and a few unfamiliar faces roaming around. I hardly saw any familiar face during my trip there. Evernew Studios used to be the hub of film-makers with shooting details pasted on the notice board, but all that was during its glory days and this time the emptiness that greeted me also seemed to mock me.

The imposing and spacious Bari Studio was established in 1952 and its owner, Bari Malik, produced a number of films which were super-hits of those days. Due to its sheer size, it is still considered Asia’s largest studio with 10 floors, recording halls, countless lawns and even an inhouse village that was the prime need of Punjabi films. The usually jam-packed Bari Studios this time gave a rather disappointed look and rather than artists, stray dogs and cats were seen wandering about inside and outside the premises.

I approached an office bearer of the studio, Muhammad Latif, with questions regarding its pathetic condition. What he narrated was a sorrowful tale of pathos and neglect, saying that only a miracle can now re-cultivate activity and bring back the lost glory. “It’s been a long, long time since any kind of shooting has taken place here. You can assess the magnitude of the prevailing horrible conditions that only this room remains lit up while the rest of the facility remains plunged in pitch darkness much like the fate of Lollywood. These few people that you see about you will leave after 9pm as they have no business here anymore.”

Evernew Studio always attracted the educated class and most Urdu movies were produced there. If Bari and Shahnoor studios were the hub of filmstars Sudhir, Naghma, Akmal, Sultan Rahi and Firdous, Evernew boasted of the charms of stars like Waheed Murad, Nadeem, Babra, Muhammad Ali and Zeba. During several studio visits in the past, I hardly came across any Urdu film star at Bari.

Evernew Studio also housed the latest machinery, building and above all, environment. Within the studio premises there is a fountain where most stars used to hang around and frequent discussions were held about recently released and forthcoming movies. On my recent trip there, it was dark and a handful of people were found discussing the downfall of the film industry and the country.

One of them was film director Hanif Joyia who has films like Gustakh Akhiaan and Parai Dhee to his credit. According to him, the studios didn’t update their equipment when films converted to high definition (HD), “Our film studios and a majority of the cinema houses didn’t pay much attention to upgrading their systems. Thus we started to lag behind and Bollywood and Hollywood filled the vacuum.” He lamented the fact that Evernew is now used only for dubbing. The floors only cater to sets that depict a tawaif’s (nautch girl) kotha (brothel) or a judicial court. Only the low-profile producers have rented the studio offices while the affluent ones have all shifted to the upscale Defence/Gulberg areas, further worsening a hopeless situation. I don’t see any tangible improvement in the near future either,” said Joyia.

Currently Pakistan has 40-plus multiplex and Cinepax cinemas, and the number is expected to rise to 200 in 2014. “Outdated cinemas now have no value for cinema audiences since they don’t want to go to dingy cinema houses with filthy toilets,” said Nasir Ismail, the exhibitor and owner of Prince Cinepax in Gujranwala. “My father Chaudhary Ismail produced high-quality films like Naukar Vohti Da, Dhee Rani, etc. “These were shot in Lahore’s film studios. For good films you don’t need a huge budget, location, etc. but a strong script. Only this formula can work in the current scenario to save our films, cinemas and studios,” he added.

Shabab Studio was established at Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, by Shabab Kiranwi and produced high-quality socio-romantic films. It had a small artificial lake, a beautiful lawn, a mini jungle, etc. With Kiranwi departure, the studio lost it worth. Later, Syed Noor came to own it and established a film academy there as well as mostly shooting his personal films at the premises. The studio now remains active only when Shahji is shooting his film there.

According to Ahsan Khan (model, TV, film actor) sprawling mansions have now started attracting producers which offer lakes, lush green lawns, fountains, rockeries, waterfalls, classic bedrooms settings, etc. Thus studios have started losing their worth. But I dare say that only film studios can create a conducive environment for filmmaking.

Film costume designer Bee Gee said that once her home was the hub of film actresses trying out fancy costumes for dress rehersals and fittings for films. “The situation is still the same but now it’s mostly for TV dramas and music shows.”

Renowned choreographer Papu Samrat is optimistic about the rehabilitation of film studios. “I admit film studios have become barren wastelands but we have decided kay iss ki ronaqain dobara wapis lain gay!” (We have pledged to rehabilitate them).

Punjabi film director Pervaiz Rana has a rather unique version about the downfall. “It’s the media which is responsible for the decline and making our film studios barren as it never supported Pakistani films but Indian ones,” he said. Then why was Sharabi shot outside the studios, I counter-questioned. “Errr, well we are also part-responsible but let us now make a collective effort to bring back its glory,” Rana replied somewhat confused and caught off guard by the counter-offense.

In nutshell, to improve the quality of our films a more refined and educated approach is now imperative. The new generation is exposed to the latest releases in English and Indian movies, so it’s not going to be easy to turn things around.

Film producers need to remember that the present film-production scenario is fast-changing in terms of technology, storyline and environment. On the contrary, our film studios still remain stationary and the powers that be seem more interested in renting out the studio floors to factory owners to be used as godowns.