Cinema in Karachi

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Cinema in Karachi or Kariwood had its golden days in 1960s when some of the prominent film studios were located in Karachi, making films for the viewership of a large and growing working-class population.

With a metropolitan area hosting the world's second most populated city, the film viewership is still popular in Karachi. However, the interest has shifted more towards the Hollywood and other international productions. One of the reasons for the shifting trends is attributed to the moving of film-making industry to Lahore, locally termed as Lollywood.

Contents 1 History of cinema in Karachi 2 Revitalization 3 List of Movie theaters in Karachi 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History of cinema in Karachi

In 1960s and 1970s Karachi was the centre of the Pakistani film industry with a host of cinemas and film studios located in this city. Watching movies at the cinemas were major pass-time and recreation activities. However, in 1980s two major changes came about:

• First, the film-industry moved to Lahore. Also there has been a notable growth of Pashto films industry in Peshawar.
• Second, the arrival of Videocassette recorder so that people could watch movies in the comfort of their homes.

These changes resulted in the closure of many movie theaters, and majority of them were converted into shopping malls or apartment blocks.

[edit] Revitalization

Amidst the growing concerns over the decline of the industry and viewership, and the need for revitalization, a number of initiatives have been taken at the cultural landscape of Karachi. Most effective of them all is the trend of the annual international Kara Film Festival since 2001.

[edit] List of Movie theaters in Karachi

Following is a list of old and new movie theaters in Karachi. Most of the cinema houses today present a variety of English, Pashto, Punjabi, and Urdu language films. Many of the cinemas built earlier than 1947 were called "Talkies" which was eventually dropped in favour of the word "Cinema".

• Afshan Cinema
• Atrium Cinema
• Bambino Cinema, at Garden Road
• Capitol Cinema
• Capri Cinema, at M.A. Jinnah Road
• Chaman Cinema
• Drive-In Cinema
• Eros Cinema
• Filmistan
• Godeon Kinema
• Gulistan Cinema
• Imperial Cinema M.A. Jinnah Road
• Jubilee Cinema
• Khayyam Cinema
• Kaiser Cinema
• Kumar Cinema
• Lalazar Cinema
• Light House Cinema M.A. Jinnah Road
• Lyric Cinema, at Garden Road
• Mayfair Cinema
• Mehtab Cinema
• Metro Cinema
• Musarrat Cinema
• Nafees Cinema
• Nairung Cinema
• Nargis Cinema
• Nigar Cinema
• Nishat Cinema, at M.A. Jinnah Road
• Naseem Cinema
• Nasheman Cinema
• Naz Cinema at M.A. Jinnah Road
• Noor Mahal Cinema
• Novelty Cinema
• Odeon Cinema
• Palace Cinema
• Paradise Cinema
• Picture House Cinema M.A. Jinnah Road
• Plaza Cinema at M.A. Jinnah Road
• Prince Cinema
• Regal Cinema
• Reno Cinema
• Rex Cinema
• Ritz Theatre M.A. Jinnah Road
• Roxy Cinema
• Saba Cinema
• Sangam Cinema
• Scala Cinema, at Garden Road
• Shabana Cinema
• Shahzad Cinema
• Star Cinema, at Garden Road
• Taj Mahal at M.A. Jinnah Road
• Universe Cineplex, Phase-VI, D.H.A.
• Venus Cinema

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Cinema of Pakistan
• List of Pakistani films
• List of Lollywood films
• List of Pakistani actors
• List of Pakistani actresses

[edit] External links

• Karachi in 1960s by Urban Resource Centre
• Official Site Kara Film Festival
• Unofficial Site Karachi Cineplex

v • d • e Cinema of Pakistan
Lollywood • Kariwood • Pollywood
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