Photo: https://www.instagram.com/bilal_lashari/
KARACHI: After years of waiting, fans were ecstatic with the news that Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt was finally going to make it to the big screen. However, in a shocking turn of events, it seems Karachi cinema-goers might not be able to enjoy the movie quite as much as they planned. Nueplex announced that they will not be screening The Legend of Maula Jatt and here is why.
The first person to offer insight into why no shows were being uploaded on the cinema’s website was actor Syed Jibran. In a series of tweets, he explained that, “The distributor of the film asking to increase the ticket price and percentage share between cinemas and himself.” He went on to say, “This will badly damage the reputation as well as a chance to create a historic box office first day score for the film.”
3/ increasing the ticket price they are just decreasing the repeat customers. Its shortsightedness. Plain and simple. This will badly damage the reputation as well as a chance to create a historic box office first day score for the film. Now because of this … out of 122 odd
— Syed Jibran (@iSyedJibran) October 14, 2022
Nueplex cinemas also released a statement explaining their decisions regarding the screening of The Legend of Maula Jatt. “Over the years a number of Box Office records have also been set due to the business we have generated for local film,” they wrote “We feel it is highly unfortunate that the Distributor of the title, “The Legend of Maula Jatt” is asking for Exhibition Terms which are out of the industry norms.”
— NueplexCinemas (@NueplexCinemas) October 17, 2022
The statement explained, “Such rigid terms cannot be afforded by exhibitors, especially during times of economic instability.” However, Nueplex has not completely written the movie off and they ended their statement on a positive note, “We are hoping for a fairer approach in the future, as we are always here to welcome and screen any Pakistani film with open arms.”
Currently the only cinema screening the movie in Karachi is Atrium.
