Like every other industry, television itself has undergone the evolution from a medium that broadcasts just one government-owned channel to one that broadcasts more than 300 national and regional channels. There have long been various forms of entertainment such as movies, music, comedy, cultural shows and sports. The Indian and Pakistani Entertainment Industries have been doing their best since their inception. This article shows a brief picture of their standings.
Indian Entertainment Industry
The Indian Entertainment Industry is vast that includes music, dance, comedy, movies, sports, etc. Music is a universal pastime. You’ll find a lot of people hooked to their radio or television, humming along with their favourite music.
In India, music consists of popular, folk, classical, rock and pop. Singing and music is an integral part of the socio-religious culture in India. Most of the parents send their children to learn and practice “sur-taal” (tone and rhythm) from a very young age. Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India in 1952. The latest products of the Indian music industry which have increased the industry’s revenue generation are the non-physical formats like electronic downloads and ringtones.
Since the early 2000s, Bollywood began influencing musical films in the Western world. The dances are generally classified as classical or folk. Bollywood dance for hindi films is an example of an Indian film dance that is often praised for its freeform dance expression and have a huge impact on popular culture in the Indian subcontinent. The dancer acts out a story almost exclusively through gestures. Most Indians look forward to at least one day out to watch the enthralling dance performances, either live or on the television. Sangeet Natak Akademi, which is the national academy of music, dance and drama), organizes dance festivals around India which people enjoy gazing at. Moreover, although stand-up comedy became popular ten years ago, in India, it is still in its infancy.
There are a number of stand-up comedians who make people laugh from their humour which is also very necessary at present when people are stressed out and they just need an excuse to laugh their problems out. Therefore, comedy is a perfect way to do so.
In 2005, a show called “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” went on air which garnered huge popularity. In addition, “The Kapil Sharma Show” is very popular not only just among the Indians, but also internationally as well as in Pakistan. Other than this, a huge percentage of Indians spend money on films. Some spend to produce a film and some spend to watch it. Famous for escapist musicals and epic love tales, but the Indian film industry is also known for its vibrancy, exuberance and innovation.
The so-called Golden Age of Bollywood was soon introduced after the silent era of Indian cinema in the 1930s. Formulaic plotlines, skillfully choreographed fight scenes, spectacular song-and-dance routines, emotion-filled melodrama, and larger-than-life heroes remained to be trademarks of Bollywood movies. The historical epic Mughal-e-Azam (1960), the curry western Sholay (1975), and the courtesan movie Pakeeza (1972), which highlights breathtaking cinematography and sensual dance choreography, are some of the iconic genres that Bollywood has developed over the years. The viewers enjoy the entertainment in the form of music, dances, comedy, and even fighting scenes, in these movies.
Lastly, some people are also interested in sports and gaming. They watch cricket, football, tennis, basketball and many other sports. Also, they are entertained by various video games either of their PC, mobile phones or PlayStation. Mostly teenagers are fond of videogames. The Media and Entertainment Sector in India is growing rapidly and is a sunrise industry for the economy. Indian M&E industry supported by increasing consumer demand and increasing advertising revenue, is on the verge of a robust phase of expansion, demonstrating its resilience to the world.
Pakistani Entertainment Industry
The Pakistani entertainment industry has been doing good in different sectors such as film making, theatre, music, comedy, etc. Pakistan’s film industry, also referenced as the Pakistani cinema or Lollywood, is the nation’s industry for making movies. Pakistan has got numerous film studios. Since its inception, the Pakistani film industry has been a crucial element of the Pakistani culture; it has lately started to flourish once more after years of decline, providing entertainment to people in Pakistan and around the world.
Apart from Lollywood, there are several film industries in Pakistan, most of which are regional and focus on characters. Pakistani films are adopting the realism shown in TV dramas. Most of the time, the religion takes a backseat and women’s issues are prominent in a number of movies and TV shows. Over 10,000 Urdu feature films have been produced in Pakistan since 1948, as well as over 8,000 Punjabi, 6,000 Pashto and 2,000 Sindhi feature-length films. The Pakistani dramas are of greater likeness for the people of Pakistan as well as other countries as compared to the films. Although, the movies are being improved in their storylines and productions, TV dramas are gaining popularity because of the emotion-filled melodramas and the interesting and eye-catching storylines.
Another sort of entertainment in Pakistan is theatre. Actors innovate their dialogues on the spot and it is their quick wit that people come to see. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the theatres are packed. A stage play usually run for sixteen days, with a 16-day gross of about 2 million rupees. These theatres’ comedic arts, which are adored by the audience, provide a new and invigorating outlook on life. Some of the most liked theatre plays include Baqra Kisto Pay and Yes Sir Eid, No Sir Eid (both stage dramas were the master piece of Umer Sharif comedy) in late 80s gained immense popularity in the region, including the Middle East and India. Then in this century, Heer Ranjha (2012), Kahaniyan (2015), Scream (2015), Kamra No.9 (2014), and many more.
Music has long been a part of the Pakistani culture. Ghazal, a type of romantic poem, is very popular among the people of Pakistan. Ghazal singers such as Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali have developed a broad following at home and abroad.
Also, the frequent form of devotional singing known as qawwali, which is associated with Sufism, is also very common. One of its most notable adherents, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan rose to fame in Pakistan as well as throughout the world. The music is liked by people all over the country. Some prefer the classical type of music, the others like pop or rock, some people like old music, some are obsessed with the modern music. They listen the songs either on radio, television, or on apps like Spotify. The people vibe on these songs on their weddings, birthday parties, get togethers, etc. Some of the bands/singers which are well-known in Pakistan are Nazia Hasan, Alamgir, Junaind Jamsheed, Strings, Noori, Junoon, and several others.
Moreover, comedy shows and dramas are preferred and enjoyed more. They help a person in becoming light-hearted and laughing their stresses out. Some of the recent comedy dramas which are mostly liked by the Pakistani people are Bulbulay, Suno Chanda, Guest House, Sona Chandi, and Dolly ki Ayegi Barat. The Pakistani entertainment industry has registered an extensive growth in the last two decades, making it one of the fastest emerging sectors in Pakistan.
Conclusion of Indian and Pakistani Entertainment Industries
The Indian and Pakistani entertainment industries have a long and tumultuous history starting from the pre-independence era and continuing through the socialist and post-independence eras as well as the post-liberalization age and the subsequent rise in the number of entertainment sources. The Pakistani film industry started its journey after the partition. However, the Indian and Pakistani entertainment industries are rising and flourishing every year even more which is resulting in the growth of the entertainment sector and consequently, in the rise of both countries economies.