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It's a bit surprising that this Eidul Fitr a single film Sultan has occupied the majority of screens in the city’s multiplexes and cinema houses.

Some would argue that it was expected because the film has the big Bollywood star Salman Khan playing the lead character of Sultan, a Haryanvi wrestler. Khan, for sure, has been the most successful box office draw in the last few years whose movies touch the 100-crore mark as if it’s a given. This means that when he comes out with a film, the rest become circumspect in releasing their projects in the fear of being commercially eclipsed.

But it is also surprising in another sense. In recent times, Pakistani producers have been pretty intrepid in making and showing films on important, festive occasions. We, as some believe, are experiencing the revival of Pakistani cinema. Where are they?

The one Pakistani film that will hit the screens, or has dared to hit the screens alongside Sultan, is Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka directed by Jamshed Jan Mohammad. The relatively more anticipated and well-marketed films, for example, Actor-in-Law and Janaan, are slated to be screened on Eidul Azha.

Sultan is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and has Anushka Sharma and Randeep Hooda as Khan’s co-stars. One of its songs ‘Jag Ghummiya’ sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is already a huge hit among audiophiles.

Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka introduces a new pair of actors — Ali Mohiuddin and Qurutulain. Veteran actor Ghulam Mohiuddin will also be seen in an important role in the film.

Apart from these two South Asian films, as it were, four Hollywood projects are going to compete for box office glory on Eidul Fitr. They are: The Legend of Tarzan, The Secret Life of Pets, Finding Dory and Ice Age: Collision Course. The last three are animated movies which means children, primarily, will have a whale of a time at the movies on Eid.

Talking to Dawn, Basit at Nueplex Cinema said: “Tickets for Sultan on the first day of Eid have been sold out, and also for 8th of July. Right now (Monday), limited seats for July 9 are available. The other films that are going to be released on Eid Day are Finding Dory, Ice Age, Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka, The Secret Life of Pets and The Legend of Tarzan.”

Answering the question why Sultan has the lion’s share of screen space at multiplexes, head of the marketing department at Atrium Cinemas, Anita Kenneth, used the phrase ‘due to public demand’. On local releases she said: “There’s just one Pakistan film this Eid (Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka). And the makers of the other one, Blind Love, decided to defer its screening because of Sultan’s ‘public demand’. The rest are the four Hollywood films.”

Wajahat at Cinepax said: “Sultan has been sold out till July 12. The rest of the films too have been sold out till July 10, but in their case, a few seats are available.”

Originally published in Dawn, July 6th, 2016