Screening of most awaited films

Screening of most-awaited films on same day stirs debate

THE two most-awaited films will have their premiere on August 12 and this has resulted in a heated debate about the success of the films. Reema will make her debut as a director whereas a director from television, Mubasher Lucman will compete with her to attract more audience.

Syed Noor's 'Majajan' was also scheduled on the same date but he delayed the screening till Eidul Fitr. However, Mubasher and Reema-once known as friends- have refused to delay the screening of their films.

On the other hand some distributors consider it a bad practice. 'Indeed it is a bad omen for the film industry', says an exhibitor. 'We are already short of good films and now screening of two films on the same day will create problems for us,' says a distributor of Royal Park.

Reema camp is very optimistic about the response the film will receive and her rival is also upbeat about the success of his film. They have started comprehensive advertising campaigns with Reema giving advertisements in the print media and Mubasher has gone further by releasing theatrical and television promos. At this point, all is set for a big clash of the big names. The entire industry is watching the developments and different predictions are being made about them in the studio corridors.

A race to secure contracts with the best cinemas, for the screening of the films, is underway and the cinemas of some major cities have been booked by the two rivals. This also means that cinemagoers will be naturally happy as it gives them a chance to have a choice.

Meanwhile Mubasher Lucman has launched his audio album which had a very good response as the entire copies of the first production were sold in three hours. Lucman has been making arrangements to meet the demand of the audio tapes of 'Pehla Pehla Pyar' in the market. The formal launch of the music is scheduled during a press conference which would also be covered by the foreign press.

One good thing about the war is that both of them have not engaged in a war of allegations or mud-slinging. Instead, they are both reacting very maturely to each other and this is definitely a new development in the Lollywood. 'I wish Mubasher Lucman all the best, I wish his film does really well,' said Reema in a recent interview. 'Reema is very intelligent and only good work is expected from her,' remarked Mubasher.

Meanwhile, some other directors have also delayed the screening of their films. Irfan Malik's 'Teray Bin Jiya Na Jaye', has been delayed due to unavoidable reasons. An exhibitor from Karachi expects the two films would have negative impact on other films. 'Daku Haseena' may have little response from cinemagoers as people would be attracted by the two films,' he said. As both films of Mubasher and Reema are expected to have a huge box-office success, the films scheduled on Eid will have a neck and neck competition.