Today's topic is "Cinema and Our Childhood," but first let's take a quick look at the history of theaters, cinemas, and other forms of entertainment.
The history of theater dates back to ancient Greece and Rome and has always been present in one form or another until today. In the Roman Empire, large-scale dramas were staged by the government, including the bloody spectacle of gladiators. Similarly, in ancient Greek civilization, theaters presented mythological stories and characters of gods and goddesses.
From ancient times, besides theater, various forms of entertainment such as puppetry, puppet shows, farce, and traditional performances conveyed a lot to the public through witty and sophisticated dialogues, engaging them in storytelling or conveying their messages.
In the late 18th century, besides these forms of entertainment, cinema emerged in India, followed by television, and later in the modern era, social media played a significant role. The tradition of storytelling or conveying one's message to others continues, and will continue, only the form and means will change.
In Europe, during the industrial revolution and the counter-revolutionary backlash after the French Revolution, where the philosophers and authors of that era played an important role, theater also provided awareness to the public. During this period, besides Shakespeare, many playwrights such as Thomas Dekker, John Ford, and others also contributed to public enlightenment through entertainment, which became a catalyst for Europe's progress. Even today, theater and opera are very popular in America and Europe. Most of the great actors of Hollywood were theater actors before they entered films, where their acting skills were honed.
The history of storytelling, puppetry, and puppet shows is very ancient. Even today, in the central city of Peshawar, there exists the "Storytelling Bazaar." Its name itself denotes storytelling. In this bazaar, caravans and commercial convoys would often stop, and during the night, skilled storytellers would narrate their own and others' travel experiences and anecdotes, providing entertainment along with informative insights for weary travelers.
In Indian society, clowning, farce, jesting, and puppet shows play a significant role, where people from rural areas enjoy the portrayal of folk heritage and traditional characters such as Alha Udal, Ramayan, Shekh Chilli, Alif Laila, and other characters.
The theater arrived in India towards the end of the 18th century. The Parsi community played a significant role in its introduction; they established theatrical companies across the country and performed plays in various villages, mostly consisting of mythological stories. Agha Hashar Kashmiri holds a prominent position in Indian theater, known as the Shakespeare of India. His dramas like "Ankhein," "Yahudi Ki Ladki," "Safed Khoon," "Madhur Milan," and many others created quite a stir. Theater laid the foundation of Indian cinema and provided it with some of its finest actors, including Sohrab Modi, Prithviraj Kapoor, and in that era, Nasiruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Om Puri, and many others.
In the beginning of the 19th century, two English brothers screened a moving picture film in a hotel in Mumbai for the first time. Some time later, an Indian gentleman, Dada Saheb Phalke, presented the first Indian film, "Raja Harishchandra". During the era of silent films, moving images were shown, but until then, the sound was not recorded on the film's celluloid, rather behind the screen were voice actors who spoke the dialogues for the scenes and characters. Similarly, musicians played their instruments behind the scenes for the occasion.Dada Saheb Phalke is credited as the pioneer of Indian cinema. Winning an award named after him is an honor for any Indian artist today.
The first Indian spoken film, "Alam Ara", was made by a Parsi gentleman, Seth Ardeshir Irani, and then a series of film-making began. Indian cinema made films on topics of freedom and against British rule, playing an important role in engaging the public. The cinema industry flourished in India. Today, the Indian film industry is competing with Hollywood. Artists associated with Indian cinema are welcomed all over the world, and this industry is not only providing significant economic exchange to the country but has also given the world a soft image of India.
After the partition of India, high-quality films were made in Pakistan, and great artists, musicians, and singers emerged. Pakistani cinema was thriving until the seventies. Films were made and performed well in Lahore, Karachi, and Dhaka, competing with Indian films. Studios were flourishing, and new cinemas were being built. Karachi alone had more than fifteen cinema halls. Lahore was the hub of the film industry. Standard films were also being made in Karachi, and new artists were emerging, while Dhaka was producing films in Bengali as well as Urdu. Remarkable films like "Chanada", "Akhir-e-Shab", and "Chakori" were made. Bengali cinema was far ahead of us; their films were closer to reality.
During Bhutto's era, an institution called NAFDEC (National Film Development Corporation) was established for the development of film. This institution had its own cinema in Islamabad. Many high-quality and standard films were made with the cooperation of NAFDEC, such as "Jaag Utha Insaan", "Sikh Ka Sapna", and "Qasam". Unfortunately, this institution also ended due to politics and mismanagement.
Until the eighties, theater was also thriving along with cinema. In Karachi, the plays of Khwaja Moinuddin and other dramatists were performed at the Caterick Hall and Theosophical Hall. Similarly, Lahore's Al-Hamra Hall and other stages presented standard plays. Ajoka Theater not only presented excellent plays on stage but also established public theaters in villages and streets.
During the same period, radio also broadcasted excellent dramas. Studio Number Two and "Hamid Miyan Ke Haan" presented a beautiful picture of society and effectively disseminated everyday issues. The world's best voice actors emerged, whose art is still recognized today. Radio not only presented dramas but also religious programs and lamentations, which were exemplary.
In the sixties, cinema reached homes in the form of the small screen TV. All centers of Pakistan Television presented such historical, informative, and entertaining programs that cannot be forgotten.
With the popularity of television, Pakistani cinema was also alive, but due to various reasons, the Pakistani film industry suffered decline. Studios were abandoned, and cinemas turned into shopping plazas and apartments, which is a pity.
Now let's come to the topic related to cinema viewing and our childhood. I don't remember exactly when and how I watched my first movie, but I must have been about eight or ten years old. It was Eid day, and my elder brother, the late Iqbal Faisal, took me to watch a movie. It was Regal Cinema. An Indian black-and-white movie was playing. We arrived a little late, and the hall was dark. My brother held my hand and took me to our seats. It was very dark inside, and we got scared when the movie started. My brother grabbed my hand tightly. I don't remember when the movie started or ended, but during the interval, my brother bought peanuts and we also had a bottle of Pakola, which we liked better than the movie. So, this was our first movie experience.
Our childhood and adolescence passed near Liberty Cinema in Nazimabad Block Five. Watching movies was considered taboo during that time, but movies were still shown. We were still deprived of this pleasure. It was the era of Ayub Khan. Occasionally, films were shown by the Information Department for the entertainment of the public and for governmental propaganda. A few days prior, announcements were made that a movie would be shown in the neighborhood, and then a large screen was set up on a big wall where movies were shown for free. People from the neighborhood would bring chairs and mats, gather together, and enjoy the film.
I remember well that during that time, a documentary film called "Nayi Roshni" was shown, which was a propaganda film based on President Ayub's reforms and successes. But what did we know about these intricacies? We simply enjoyed the films. Mostly, there were cartoon films, sometimes Laurel and Hardy or Charlie Chaplin's comedies were also shown. We all watched the films and laughed, returning home in high spirits.
Our movie viewing began near our house at Liberty Cinema. Many memories of our childhood are associated with it; it felt like our own cinema. The staff and gatekeepers of Liberty knew the local boys, and many of the cinema staff were from the same neighborhood. They respected the locals and the women.
The opening ceremony of Liberty Cinema is still fresh in some corner of my mind. There was also a variety show on the stage of the cinema in the evening, where different skits and songs were performed. Daniel Sisters also sang several songs. They were quite popular at that time and performed on stage. One of them was named Suzie Daniel, later it became known that they were Jewish and went to settle in Israel. The dance of a girl named Tara Ghanshyam in that show is still etched in my memory. Tara Bulbul was a trained Kathak dancer from the Academy.
Me and many of my cousins and friends often went to see the posters of upcoming films at Liberty. We looked at the still photos of movies and sometimes, when there was not much crowd, we sat in the intervals on empty seats and watched the rest of the film for free. Liberty Cinema didn't have air conditioning, so sometimes during the night shows, one side of the doors would be left open, and the sound could be heard outside, and we would make excuses to reach there from our homes. Sometimes, if there were empty seats outside, we would sneak inside avoiding the gatekeeper's eyes and watch the film.
Our uncle and aunt's house was also nearby. We cousins were almost of the same age. There were also a few friends in our group. Mostly, when one of us was missing from home, the family wouldn't worry much, assuming they were at the uncle's or aunt's house. There was also a senior group from our group which included our elder brothers, our cousins, and some of their friends. The senior group used to visit cinemas all over the city, watch Indian and English movies, discuss the performances of Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, and Motilal, or comment on the melody, style, and lyrics of English films such as Gone with the Wind, Farewell to Arms, and Wuthering Heights, which were beyond our grasp. Our reach was limited to Liberty Cinema or sometimes, a little farther to Shalimar Cinema.
In Liberty Cinema, there used to be a special show for women maybe once or twice a month, which started at eleven in the morning, and the ticket might have been one rupee, half for children. Social domestic films were shown in these shows, which often made women cry. I watched films like "Saheli", "Kaneez", "Maan Ke Aansoo", "Naukar", "Ishq Habib", and "Bedari" with my mother and aunt in those shows. I remember the hall was filled with the aroma of agarbatti and loban during the film "Ishq Habib", creating an atmosphere similar to a religious gathering or a milad. There were several famous qawwalis in this film like "Mera Koi Nahin Hai Tere Siwa" and "Main Ban Ke Sawali Aaya Hoon", which felt strangely poignant. Apart from women's shows, our mothers, aunts, and other women from the neighborhood used to go to watch the matinee show from nine to twelve, leaving aside their household chores.
When Liberty is mentioned, how can one forget the cart of Mulla Ji in front of it, whose halim and biryani still taste delicious. Eating mong bhalli, pakola ice cream soda, and bun kabab in the hall was a luxury. Books containing stories and songs of memorable films were available outside the stalls, which people often bought.
In our neighborhood, there was the house of the famous comedian Lehri, whose younger brothers Fareed and Hasib were our friends. There was a berry tree in Lehri Sahib's house, whose berries were very big and sweet. We used to throw stones and pluck the berries and run away; we were very scared of his sister's scolding. The famous playback singer Masroor Anwar lived connected to my aunt's place. Often film actors and directors were also seen there. Shahid, the nephew of Masroor Anwar, was my friend.
Filmstar Nadeem also lived nearby; his uncle Dr. Baig had a clinic there. Nadeem, who was known as Nazir Baig at that time, was a close friend of my elder brother Iqbal Faisal alias El-N. They played cricket together and were classmates at Islamia College. During those days, Nadeem used to sing in stage shows in Karachi. He often sang songs of Mukesh. We heard him for the first time at a function. Nadeem was very handsome and well-dressed at that time.
When Nadeem's first film "Chakori" was released in the cinemas, there was no special reception. Nadeem had come from Dhaka and was staying at the Hotel Jubilee. The next day of the release of "Chakori," he invited my brother and watched the film together, but both returned disappointed. No one recognized Nadeem as the hero of the film, and then a few days later, the film was removed, and Nadeem became a star.
As we grew a little older, our cinema viewing circle widened, and we started going to Shalimar and Relax cinemas at some distance. Regent Cinema was quite far, beyond our reach. Moreover, mostly laborers went there, and the atmosphere was somewhat unfriendly, so we excluded it from our list. There was another cinema named Musarrat in Nazimabad, which didn't have a roof, and only night shows were held there. Often, my elder brothers took us along with their friends. Very old Indian films were shown there, which didn't interest us, but we enjoyed the open-air cinema experience.
When the evening shift started in our school, we switched to the afternoon shift. Perhaps after that, we started watching movies regularly. Some friends and cousins would often bunk half-day classes and reach Shalimar or Relax Cinema. We would watch three to six shows. Sometimes, we avoided going to Liberty Cinema so that we wouldn't bump into anyone and people would understand from the books in our hands that we had come to watch a movie after bunking school, and complaints would reach home. In this way, we watched countless movies without our family knowing. When there was a morning show from ten to one, we would leave home with a cricket bat, pretending to play a match, but instead return after watching the movie before evening. Everyone thought we were going to play cricket. Oh, those carefree days!
As we grew older, we developed a liking for English movies. We made friends with some Anglo-Indian boys and girls who spoke English, and we started speaking English like them. We read comics and fiction, watched English movies, and now we considered ourselves superior to those who watched Urdu movies.
Mabino, Lyric, Capital, Paradise, Rex, Rio, and Palace cinemas were our new destinations. We watched many films there. Palace Cinema was a cinema of a standard level. The film "Dr. The film "No" featuring Sean Connery was shown at Palace, generating a considerable amount of excitement. Getting tickets was impossible. In such a situation, an Anglo-Indian friend, Nobert, whom we called Nobby, somehow managed to get three tickets. He was accompanied by his friend. The three of us watched "Dr.In one memorable scene of the movie, Agent 007 James Bond lights a cigarette and introduces himself with the iconic line, "Bond, James Bond," a moment I still recall vividly.left a lasting impression on us, and we started imitating it too.
After watching a movie, we often went to the Panch Cool Ice Cream Parlor. Panch Cool was probably the first European-style ice cream parlor in Karachi. There was a machine there where you could insert a few coins and listen to your favorite English songs. Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, and Bobby Darin's songs would start playing, and we would start swaying to the beat. Even though we didn't fully understand the lyrics, we enjoyed the songs. During that time, the music of the film "Come September," with Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida, became very popular. Whenever I hear that tune even today, my mind goes back to those days.
During those days, cinema houses had their own culture. There would be long lines for tickets. When the rush was too much, the cinema's "Dada," who was often our Makrani brother, would hold a stick or cane, which was used to manage the line. If the rush was excessive, tickets would be sold in black. Sometimes, there would even be a commotion, and a seven-groove knife would come out. Watching the first show was a different thrill, and there was pride in saying whether we had watched the movie in the first show or had made an advance booking.
Sometimes, there used to be drive-in cinemas in Karachi too. People would come with their families without fear and watch movies sitting in their cars. If they wanted, they could also enjoy snacks in the car. What peace and tranquility there was and how many opportunities for entertainment there were. Now I don't even remember the last time I watched a movie in a cinema.
And then the decline of cinemas began. VCRR further exacerbated the destruction. Cinema halls first became deserted, then demolished, and in their place, shopping plazas were built. Our Liberty, Shalimar, and Relax cinemas were also demolished, and now flats stand there. When I pass by there sometimes, it hurts a lot. Many beautiful memories are associated with those cinemas.
Some time ago, I went to Javed Bhai's shop to buy a phone. There used to be Lyric Cinema in the building. Guns of Navarone and Heroes of Telemark were seen here. Javed Bhai moved to the building of the deceased Bambino Cinema, where there used to be a neon sign of a dancer on his signboard from afar. I felt a pang of sadness seeing his dilapidated condition. Sometimes, premieres of Culprit and Fall of the Roman Empire were held here. President Ayub watched this movie in the same theater, and now there is a mobile market there too.
Cinema has died and taken away with it a culture, many memories, and cheap entertainment. When a society loses games, entertainment, arts, and literature, apart from frustration, intolerance, irritability, and narrow-mindedness, nothing else remains. Whom to complain to? We ourselves have killed our traditions, culture, and civilization.
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