Hamza Ali Abbasi, known for his controversial and blunt Facebook statuses, has yet again expressed his views on the invasion of Bollywood films in the cinemas of his own country and he feels that our film industry is losing its differentiating factor in an attempt to become ‘a cheap copy of Bollywood.’
According to the Indian Express, Hamza Ali Abbasi asserted that the Indian film industry has made a huge impact on Pakistan as Bollywood films were our only option to fill the barren, when Pakistani film industry was making nothing of value to entertain its audience. “Pakistan’s film industry should make its own identity. I don’t want our film industry to be some wannabe film industry,” said the heartthrob.
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Hamza has made his breakthrough in the Indian film industry through his drama, Pyare Afzal, which airs on Zindagi TV.
Hamza, who has done his bachelor’s in international relations and development from the US and is also the former cultural secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, sees hope in the new wave of Pakistani cinema.
With Mazhar Zaidi’s ‘Zinda Bhag’ which was sent as prospective Oscar nomination and the recent animated movie, ‘3 Bahadur’ by Pakistan’s first Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, we are all very positive that our cinema is finally moving in the right direction.
“Our film industry is still in a process of emerging. With this new film industry, we have a chance to make it a distinct medium of representation instead of trying to be a cheap copy of Bollywood,” he added.
The actor, who has worked in Pakistani movies like Waar and Mai Hun Shahid Afridi and was seen in theatrical collection including local productions of Bombay Dreams, Phantom of the Opera and Home is Where Your Clothes Are, said that our Film Industry should learn a thing or two from our TV Industry.
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“TV dramas are our only representation across the globe. Our identity is brilliantly represented in TV dramas. I think our film industry need not learn from Bollywood ‘masala’ films, but from our drama industry,” said Hamza, who notes that Pakistani TV dramas stay true to the country’s culture.
The actor further added, “I have not seen an item song in Pakistani dramas. Whether we agree or not, Pakistan does not approve of such things. Item number is a phenomenon which is creeping into Pakistani films and is not being appreciated by our people.”
Hamza also believes that our directors are not adapting quality films from India like 3 Idiots, and are only considering ‘Masala’ films like Grand Masti and Houseful.
On whether he’d like to feature in a Bollywood film, Hamza stated, “I don’t see myself in Bollywood for a while because I think I’m more useful in Pakistan.” He said if there’s ever a joint venture, where Pakistan also has a stake in the project, then he’d probably consider it. Hamza had previously turned down an offer to feature in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Baby.
He said that he has nothing against actors like Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar, who has already left their mark on the B-Town and won millions of hearts. “Our actors become really big in Bollywood and then they become a bit inaccessible and a delicacy for Pakistan,” said Hamza.
What do you think Hamza Ali Abbasi’s statements? Let us know in the comments below.
