Lahore film industry 'finished'

Lahore's network of film studios used to produce hundreds of movies a year, filling cinemas in a country trying to develop its own cultural traditions and see off the overpowering influence of its giant neighbour.

But now many of the cinemas have closed and production almost halted as Bollywood sucks up Pakistani talent and deluges movie houses with Indian-made films, according to leading industry figures.

Today, Lahore produces only about 20 films a year - a fraction of the 1000 or so movies made in Mumbai's $1.3 billion industry.

Ghulam Mohiuddin, an actor and director, said Lollywood, the name for the Lahore-based, Holywood-influenced industry, was being swamped by hundreds of new movies from India, made with budgets way beyond the means of Pakistani movies.

In recent years some of Pakistan's hottest talent has moved to Mumbai. Ali Zafar, one of the country's biggest pop stars, made his Bollywood debut this year.

Qaisar Sanaullah Khan, secretary of the Cinema Owners Association said Bollywood had been draining talent from Lahore's studios for years. "It has always been one way. We just cannot afford to pay the sort of money that they do," he said. "The Pakistan film industry is finished."