New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has spoken out against the Hindi cinema and the Hollywood of West for negatively influencing the Pakistani film industry.
In the same breath, the Pak PM has also urged the country’s filmmakers to focus on creating original content rather than ‘copying’ Bollywood.
Speaking at a film festival event in Islamabad, Khan said that the Pakistani film industry has been “impressed” by Bollywood since beginning and it has adversely affected us.
“We must think of new ways of expanding our culture, rather than adopting another culture,” he said.
“So the most important thing I want to say to young filmmakers is that according to my experience of the world, only originality sells — the copy has no value,” he said, as quoted by Dawn newspaper.
While stressing on the importance of originality, Imran Khan urged the Pakistani film industry to bring a new way of thinking.
Create original content, don’t imitate: Pak PM’s advice to filmmakers
Pak PM also reportedly blamed the Hollywood and Bollywood for ‘spreading obscenity’ in Pakistani films. He asked Pak filmmakers to refrain from copying such content and rather rely on their originality.
“So my (advice) to young filmmakers is to bring your own original thinking and don’t fear failure. It is my life’s experience that the one who is afraid of defeat can never win.”
The Pakistani PM also hit out against the need to promote the country’s soft image. He said that the soft image was based on a sense of inferiority and defensiveness when Pakistan used to be mischaracterized during the “war on terror”.
“The world respects the one who respects themselves,” he said, adding that Pakistaniyat should be promoted.
