Podcasts are where it’s at these days. In the last few years, we have seen countless headlines being generated from podcast interviews. The laidback vibe of these is probably why several writers, actors and directors are more comfortable speaking their minds and sharing opinions.

Many such interviewees have even gotten in trouble for their unorthodox way of thinking and have been on the receiving end of great vitriol online. Veterans like Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and Shabbir Jan are two names who angered a lot of people with their bluntness.

Vasay Chaudhry recently also appeared on a podcast, Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast. Here he was asked a variety of questions about the inner workings of our entertainment industry and his opinions on it. Chaudhry had some interesting thoughts to share in response to these questions. Let’s discuss.

An Overview

The host Ahmad Ali Butt had some great questions for the guest. Chaudhry was able to give a lot of insight into why the entertainment industry seems to be failing. How a government has a role to play and how our creatives are also to blame.

The Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer and actor explained how a lack of cinemas is also a huge if not the main factor in the slow death of our film industry. He mentioned the success of The Legend of Maula Jatt despite the low number of screens, which shows a thirst from the audience waiting to be quenched.

The Mazaaq Raat host also weighed in on the heated debate of if Bollywood films should be allowed to screen again in Pakistan, which he was in favour of. He mentioned the success of films like Sanju in 2018 and how our cinema houses were thriving because of them.

Award Shows

When asked about award shows, Vasay seemed to show an aversion to the “Viewer’s Choice Awards” which are becoming quite the norm these days.

“Viewer’s Choice Awards are “Bakwaas”. He added that it should be the right of peers and experts in the industry to award projects and everything should not become a race for ratings.”

He feels that award shows are not the elections and shouldn’t be a popularity contest. He used Daniel Day-Lewis and Tom Cruise to illustrate that the actor who’s more popular, Cruise in this scenario, is bound to win and not an actor like Daniel who’s more deserving.

He also added that the reward for the ones who are popular is the box office, ratings and love that they get but that award shows should be reserved for simply being about talent.

Does Pakistan Copy Bollywood?

Pakistani film industry has had criticisms and accusations hurled at it, by some in our own audience, of trying to copy Bollywood. Vasay seems to think differently, and he feels that saying we’re copying Indian films is a “stupid criticism”

“Pakistani film industry has been this. We were an extension of India in 1947”

He explained this point by saying that before partition, we were the same people with the same culture and entertainment industry. Classic films starring Nadeem Baig and songs from Noor Jehan were not dissimilar to the work being done in Bollywood and they weren’t copying Indians, we have always had this style.

The Main Hoon Shahid Afridi writer feels that just because our film industry took a break does not mean that our culture became something different to that of Indians. We still enjoy the same songs and films as they do.

What do you think of what Vasay had to say regarding these topics? Do you disagree with his opinions, or do you think he was correct in his assessment? Share your thoughts in the comments!