The Fall of Peshawar's Cinema Legacy: Naz Cinema Demolished

The historic Naz Cinema in Peshawar, built by a Sikh entrepreneur in 1936, has been demolished due to declining movie culture. Once a cultural beacon, its last owner, Jawad Raza, cited poor film production and reduced audiences as reasons. Peshawar’s cinema scene suffers from fading Pashto film industry and security issues.

Peshawar's Naz Cinema, a cultural institution for decades, has been demolished, marking a blow to the city's cinematic heritage. Built in 1936 by a Sikh entrepreneur, the cinema faced an unfortunate decline, as cinema-goers diminished and the quality of film productions took a nosedive.

Jawad Raza, the third-generation owner of Naz Cinema, expressed regret over this outcome, attributing the closure to dwindling audiences and limited high-quality films. The city's once-vibrant cinema culture is now overshadowed by commercial interests as more historic theatres share the same fate.

Security concerns, poor storytelling, and economic factors have further driven the decline. Peshawar, once a thriving hub for artists and filmmakers, is witnessing a cultural transformation spurred by external pressures and a struggling Pashto film industry.

(With inputs from agencies.)