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If this ban continues, we can say goodbye to our nascent film industry: Adnan Sarwar

If this ban continues, we can say goodbye to our nascent film industry: Adnan Sarwar

Riding BMWs in northern Pakistan, producing his own films and landing in a hospital Adnan Sarwar dishes all
Updated 22 Nov, 2016

Adnan Sarwar is nothing short of an all-rounder; earlier he was an internationally acclaimed auto car racer, and now he's currently juggling his new jobs; an actor, writer and director.

After proving his mettle with biopic Shah, which traces the life of Pakistani Olympic boxer Hussain Shah, Sarwar has been out of sight after the release of his debut film. However, the actor was recently seen driving flashy BMWs in the north of Pakistan shooting for a campaign titled #100HoursOfJoy.

In a candid tête-à-tête with Images, the dynamic artist opens up about his latest venture and all things cinema.

Images: After the success of 'Shah', what have you been up to for the past one year?

AS: Shah was a challenge to create. Physically – to go through the rigours of training, and the dozens of fights, and then psychologically – to play that role and get broken in the process. Not many people know this, but I ended up in a hospital the day after the premiere. It takes time to recover from something so intense.

So after that I've just been doing adverts and writing new material, discussing ideas with some producers and basically trying to lineup a three to four year plan.

Adnan Sarwar played the titular role of boxer Syed Hussain Shah in biopic Shah.
Adnan Sarwar played the titular role of boxer Syed Hussain Shah in biopic Shah.

Images: What sort of characters would you like to portray as an actor or narrate as a filmmaker?

AS: I'm a storyteller and I want to tell good, memorable stories. Also, being an actor I want to play characters that excite me. The kind of roles I've been offered to portray are not something I would want to do, they didn't challenge me and hence, I declined a couple. Life is too short to be spent doing mediocre work. It is unfortunate how great characters for actors are not being written.

The stories that I believe should be on screen are not being told. So I have no choice but to do it all myself and focus on our independent films for now.

Images: What, according to you, is the definition of commercial cinema?

AS: To me, Shah was a commercial film. The definition of 'commercialism' to me is whether a film is able to generate enough money at the box office or not. If I say I'm making a non-commercial movie, then I'm saying I don't care if it makes money or not. And that's not true, I do care. Shah made money for everyone involved and it was a success story.

But not every film needs to go and break the box office record. I think there is a place for films like Shah. We have received unbelievable feedback for Shah. I still get emails and messages from the craziest of places telling me that they loved the film. Such cinema must be allowed to exist if our industry is to grow over the next five years.

Images: How do you think the kind of cinema that you tend to experiment with, will contribute to the revival of our film fraternity?

AS: I never sit and think what people would like to see, and let that dictate my artistic direction. I am not someone who sits in a boardroom and takes creative decisions based on what will appeals to the lowest common denominator. I am someone who comes from amongst the people. Until very recently, I was the guy hanging from a bus, or hailing rickshaw on a good day. I know the stories because I have lived the stories. I know what I like will eventually be liked by the general audience. Because I am the people.

The actor, director is also part of BMW Pakistan's campaign #100HoursOfJoy to promote tourism in northern Pakistan.
The actor, director is also part of BMW Pakistan's campaign #100HoursOfJoy to promote tourism in northern Pakistan.

Images: Tell us a bit about your campaign with BMW Pakistan and how your experience was working on it?

Adnan Sarwar: I have travelled the world looking for the best roads to drive on and to experience this kind of scenery in my own country, in the kind of cars that I was given to drive; I think somebody like me couldn't have asked for anything more. I've only come till Naran and that too when I was a kid, so in this process I've gotten to discover the beauty of our country.

Images: What has been the purpose of this campaign?

AS: The campaign called #100HoursOfJoy is actually a campaign that's been planned to celebrate 100 years of Dewan Group and BMW. It's about showing the world how gorgeous and safe Pakistan is. People like us are travelling openly and freely, and hopefully through this campaign, we will be able to get some tourism into the country.

It's also an initiative to let international car manufacturers know that they have a market here as well. With all the Chinese investment and the launch of CPEC, I think this is the right time for companies to come to Pakistan and recognize it as an investment hotspot that it actually is.

Adnan Sarwar poses next to a BMW as part of the campaign. Photo: Publicity
Adnan Sarwar poses next to a BMW as part of the campaign. Photo: Publicity

Images: Lastly, tell us what you think of art being pushed into the Indo-Pak conflict post Uri?

AS: First of all, art and artistic exchange should be above politics and war -- that is my core belief, and it pains me to see what is going on, on both sides of the border. Artists should be a voice for peace and a bridge between our two countries.

Secondly, if this ban continues, we should all be ready to say goodbye to our nascent film industry. The cinemas will not be able to absorb current level of losses for very long and Pakistan is years, if not decades, away from producing quality films in enough numbers to sustain the local cinema houses.

These are indeed troubling times for those who make a living from the Pakistani film industry and want to see it flourish.

Comments

Aamer Nov 22, 2016 01:07pm
Pakistan does not need a large number of movies to sustain the local cinema. 2 to 4 movies in a month are enough.
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Dr Riffat Jabeen Nov 22, 2016 01:15pm
Interesting character! Keep it up.
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S. A. M. Nov 22, 2016 01:30pm
he is too much about me and not really that much into people as he claims to be from amongst the masses. one thing he said appears to precisely describe him that he is there to make money.
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Adil Nov 22, 2016 02:06pm
The cinemas will not be able to absorb current level of losses for very long and Pakistan is years, if not decades, away from producing quality films in enough numbers to sustain the local cinema houses. Rights
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Bashir kashmiri Nov 22, 2016 02:29pm
@Aamer 2to 4 movies takes 300to 400 crores and 4 years of production ..you have this?
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Asif Nov 22, 2016 02:47pm
Every other person who have lived abroad without being recognised suddenly becomes a superstar in Pakistsn through a few dollar investment. Who is this guy by the way?
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SR Nov 22, 2016 03:07pm
In fact the Ban should be taken as a positive step to encourage the local talent available in abundance in the country and remaining untapped due to lack of opportunities. I feel the future is bright.
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Mustafa Riaz Nov 22, 2016 03:12pm
@Bashir kashmiri well a cheaper camera can be used and we have so many people willing to work in films . Why dont we use our own people?
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Ahmad Nov 22, 2016 03:28pm
@Aamer And how many are we making? How many cinemas (Under Construction Cinemas) have stopped their work if you have any idea? We can't survive with this Number Admit it or not it doesn't matter.
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FA Nov 22, 2016 03:29pm
@AAMER - how do you know 2-4 movie would be enough? it would be really interesting to know which data have you used to come up with this conclusion? I don't agree with the ban as it is definitely effecting our cinemas, people some time don't think how many jobs will have to go if this ban continues
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IFTI Nov 22, 2016 04:29pm
Adnan is on point. Here in Karachi, Nueplex has already shut down one of its screens due to lack of content. I think more will follow since cinema halls are running empty shows. Keyboard warriors rant from the comfort of their homes but still prefer Bollywood over local films when it comes down to spending money. We have learned nothing from history. This will take us back to the 80s when cinemas shut down or were converted to shopping plazas.
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curious mind Nov 22, 2016 05:19pm
Shah was one of the best ever film I've seen in recent years, Adnan Server did a great job in it,He is a proper actor. 5star to the film and Adnan Server.
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ali302 Nov 22, 2016 05:33pm
Best wishes for Adnan,keep it up buddy,we need people like you to carry on putting best name of our country.
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Imtiaz Nov 22, 2016 05:34pm
Either you have your own film industry or not. You can't ride your way to success on someone else's coat tails.
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Mrityunjay Tripathi Nov 22, 2016 05:37pm
Guys take the case of India. Marathi fims owe much to Hindi films. In Maharashtra State, theaters earn mainly from Hindi movies and then show Marathi movies too. This is how Marathi movies get help. This is all about business. You earn and then you invest. Hollywood movies have grand sets and SFX made by the same Indians or SE Asians which you cannot find in Hindi movies, simply because the whole world pays to see their movies, so they can afford to invest.
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RAj Patel Nov 22, 2016 05:59pm
It is said in USA that if it would be easy it would have been done years ago.. Same analogy one can apply here. Should do reality check and think about future.
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Kamran Nov 22, 2016 07:00pm
This guy talks a lot of sense. His film was brilliant too despite the technical issues although I read somewhere that the budget for Shah was a joke. Wonder why we havent seen another film from him yet??
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Ehsan Nov 22, 2016 07:09pm
No one is indispensable, learn to stand on your own feet, unfortunately it has been ingrained in our minds that always need someone's help.
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An Indian Nov 22, 2016 08:19pm
Help me understand one thing. Why are you guys dependent on Indian Film Industry? Go build your own and stand on your own feet.
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javid hao chow, western china Nov 23, 2016 12:43am
Why not see Chinese movies.Chinese movies are nice story and kinky
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Adnan Nov 23, 2016 01:16am
i don't think this guy has experience to back him up. He is a filmaker or model or advertiser. Besides never heard of this campaign as BMW is doing worst in Pakistan out of all german makes. indian movies in Pakistan are more of a 30 year old addiction. Soon addiction will be over. Cinema owners can play old hollywood films and other movies. Besides cinema owners are seldom single - business owners they are doing other stuff too from which they earn. So they will divert their investments
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asif Nov 23, 2016 02:47am
Best film I have seen after a very long time by this guy. I was waiting from him another one but he started something else. What are you doing man come up with something interesting.
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abdul Nov 23, 2016 10:18am
@Mustafa Riaz cheaper camera=cheap films, poor in quality and content.
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Sajid Nov 23, 2016 10:22am
As part of CPEC, China should be given the opportunity to produce Pakistani films with Pakistani talent. These movies can then be dubbed in Chinese and released in China too, thus making money in China too.
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ghaznavi Nov 23, 2016 12:03pm
@Sajid yeah right. And the Chinese will want to watch Pakistani storyline and characters. Care to elaborate? Chinese and Pakistani cultures are different. There is nothing that China shares with Pakistan culturally. And what is the benefit for china to invest in Pakistani cinema. Chinese are capitalistic folk. If at all they will invest in Bollywood as its movies are better technically and have a global audience. Three idiots and pk grossed record numbers in china. People want to see good cinema and investors invest for profit motivet for charity.
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Human Nov 23, 2016 03:11pm
@Sajid China allowed only 10 foreign film in a year. That's their rule.
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Human Nov 23, 2016 03:16pm
To run a theatre one needs lots of money. Which cannot be sustained without house full. It's included costs of electricity and payments of its employees etc. also to made a film is not an easy job too. It's needs lots of initial investment and if it not success then next time distribution company will not invest again.
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