The Rise and Falls of Lollywood a story on Pakistani Film Industry from the view of a dance training institute. The dancers here come with the hopes of becoming stage stars who if unsuccessful are forced to entertain not the public audience but private parties in the Red Light area of Lahore.
With hopes to find interesting stories in growing gay culture of Lahore I accidentally ended up at Khawar’s Dance School located in an alleyway around the film hub of Lahore.
Entering into a small green gate I find a big poster of Nadeem plastered high on the wall looking down at floor below which staged the dances and acts as their practice floor.
Sisters Nausheen and Amber moved to Lahore to become two of the best dancers of Pakistan. Their inspiration is non other than the famous Stage performer Deedar who has played in numerous stage roles and is famous for her sexy Mujra (vulgar stage dance) moves. Though her moves have earned her a huge male following but those staring eyes, when she moves her legs, show no respect or admiration of her talent.
Nausheen and Amber told their parents about the life in Lahore, their studies, room mates but skipped the part of the hardships they are facing during their stay in Lahore. They cant support their education or the fee’s of this institute but hope one day if given a chance they will repay all their debts and support their ageing father.
Pakistani film-industry, often referred to as Lollywood has been in a steady decline. With shrinking budgets, increasing popularity of cable television, modern cinema complexes and an onslaught of Bollywood movies from India and an increase in threats from Islamic militants to actors, directors and producers has forced many productions to re-locate to Pakistan’s cultural capital Lahore and it’s last two remaining studios. Bari Studios and Evernew studios. While the performers, technicians are forced to either change their profession or rely on the inadequate methods of earning livelihood.
