Kariwood

Cinema in Karachi, Kariwood (Urdu: کاری وڈ‎) had its golden days in the 1960s when some of the prominent film studios were in Karachi] making films for the viewership of a large and growing middle class as well a working-class population.

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 but since 2000 The film industry again shifted its base in Karachi & by 2007 Karachi has permanently become the Pakistani film and showbiz industry's headquarters.

History

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

• The film industry moved to Lahore. Also there was a notable growth of Pashto films in Peshawar.
• The arrival of VCRss so that people could watch movies in their homes.

These changes resulted in the closure of many cinemas. A majority of them were converted into shopping malls or apartment blocks & after almost 20 years Karachi cinema again revived & now become country's main hub.

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 & by 2007 Karachi is the main headquarters to Pakistan's showbiz, fashion, film & media industry.

Movie theaters

Main article: List of cinemas in Karachi

There are numerous cinemas in Karachi. Most of the cinema houses present English, Hindi, and Urdu language films. Karachi's Nueplex, Cineplex, Atrium, Cinepax, Ocean Mall & Capri are the biggest cinemas of Pakistan with Nueplex being the first ever 3D & 4D cinema of the country.

See also

• Cinema of the world
• Bollywood
• Lollywood
• Hollywood
• Somaliwood
• Cinema of Pakistan
• List of Pakistani films
• List of Lollywood films
• List of Pakistani actors & actresses