Cinema of Pakistan 5181815 225747070 2008-07-15T05:35:33Z OrphanBot 621721 Removing [[:Image:Murad.jpg|image]] with no source information. Such images that are older than seven days may be deleted at any time. {{South Asian cinema}} The '''Cinema of Pakistan''' refers to [[Pakistan]]'s film industry. Most of the feature films shot in Pakistan are in [[Urdu language]] but may also include films in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Balochi language|Balochi]] or [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] languages. Pakistan had three main film production centres in [[Lahore]], [[Karachi]] and [[Dhaka|Dacca]] before the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] and lost its Dacca leg after 1971. [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]]'s regime, introduction of [[Video cassette recorder|VCR]]s, [[film piracy]] and introduction of entertainment taxes and Islamic laws have proved as some of the many obstacles in the industry's growth. Once thriving, the cinema is Pakistan now ceases to exist.<ref>[http://www.bollywhat.com/beyond/pakistani.html The Beginner's Guide to Pakistani Cinema]</ref> Nonetheless, Pakistani film industry is attributed to have produced some of the most notable and recognised filmmakers, actors, writers and directors and is also given credit for introducing [[Pakistani pop music|pop music]] to [[South Asia]]. Competition from [[Bollywood]] has however left the cinema crippling. Of recent times, several Indo-Pakistan ventures however are promising to revive the industry back again. ==History== ===Birth of cinema (1896 &nbsp; 1910)=== {{main|Cinema of India|Hiralal Sen|H. S. Bhatavdekar|Jamshedji Framji Madan|l3=Harischandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar}} Cinema was introduced to India on [[7 July]] [[1896]] with [[Lumiere Brothers]]' ''Cinématographe'' unveiling six silent short films at the [[Watson's Hotel]] in [[Bombay]].<ref name="CITEREFIndiaHertiage1">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/cinema/history/inscene.htm|title=History of Cinema|publisher=India Hertiage|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> A few years later in 1898, [[Hiralal Sen]] started filming scenes of theatre productions in [[Calcutta]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victorian-cinema.net/sen.htm|title=Hiralal Sen|publisher=Who's who of Victorian cinema|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> inspired by English professor Stephenson who had brought to India the country's first [[bioscope]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cholochitro.com/content/view/33/49/|title=History of Bangladeshi Film|publisher=Cholo Chitro|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> [[H. S. Bhatavdekar|Harischandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar]] imported a camera from London at a price of 21 [[Guinea (British coin)|guineas]] and filmed the first Indian [[Documentary film|documentary]], a wrestling match in [[Hanging Gardens]], Bombay, in 1897.<ref name="CITEREFHSBhatavdekar">{{cite web|url=http://www.victorian-cinema.net/bhatvadekar.htm|title=Harischandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar|publisher=Who's who of Victorian cinema|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> He also filmed the first Indian news film, a record of [[R. P. Paranjpe|Ragunath P. Paranjpe]]'s return from [[Cambridge University]] upon securing a distinction in mathematics. Bhatavdekar is however best known for filming the Viceroy of India [[Lord Curzon]]'s [[Delhi Durbar]] that marked the enthronement of [[Edward VII]] in 1903.<ref name="CITEREFHSBhatavdekar"/> It was then that the commercial potential of the Indian cinema was realised. With F.B. Thanewala's ''Grand Kinetoscope Newsreels'' and [[Jamshedji Framji Madan]]'s ''[[Madan Theatre|Madan Theatres Limited]]'', India became counted amongst the largest distributors of American films after [[World War I]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/cinema/history/jamsetj.htm|title=Jamshetji Framji Madan|publisher=Indian Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> Madan also hired foreign directors Eugenio De Liguoro and Camille Legrand to compliment his productions with expertise, grand sets for popular mythological storylines and special effects<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upperstall.com/people/pcooper.html|title=Patience Cooper's profile|publisher=Upper Stall|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> which ensured good returns. Cinema houses were built in major cities in India. Newsreels of the [[Boer Wars]] were a regular show at make-shift theatres in Bombay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianfilmsociety.com/Movies/introduction.html|title=Introduction to Indian Cinema|publisher=Indian Film Society|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> Tents were placed in vast spaces or ''maidans'' to accommodate a larger audience, giving birth to the term ‘''maidan cinema''’.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upperstall.com/Bengali/bengalihistory1.html|title=Bengali Cinema: The Early Years|publisher=Upper Stall|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> French film company [[Pathé]] would later open an Indian office in 1907 rending it to be the first foreign film production company in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upperstall.com/hist1906.html|title=A choronology of indian cinema (1906 - 1915)|publisher=Upper Stall|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> It would in this year that a proper cinema theatre building was constructed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.terramedia.co.uk/Chronomedia/years/1907.htm|title=Chronomedia: 1907|publisher=TerraMedia|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> ===Silent era (1910 &ndash; 1930)=== {{main|Dadasaheb Torne|Raja Harishchandra|Dadasaheb Phalke|Abdur Rashid Kardar|Muhammad Ismail|l1=Ram Chandra Gopal Torne|l3=Dhundiraj Govind Phalke}} [[Image:Still from the silent film Raja Harishchandra (1913) - 1.jpg|thumb|280px|''Raja Harishchandra'', the first full-length silent feature film, released in 1913, had men playing roles for women.]] With interests developing in film on the Indian soils saw support from various foreign production establishments in later years. 1910s saw the release of the first feature film at 1,500-feet of film made in India, a narrative named ''Pundalik'', by N.G. Chitre and [[Dadasaheb Torne|Ram Chandra Gopal Torne]]. Later, ''[[Raja Harishchandra]]'' would be considered the first full-length Indian feature film<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra">{{cite web|url=http://thecinezine.com/Pak_Film_History_1.html|title=History of Lollywood: The Silent Era|publisher=Pakistani Film|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> at 3,700-feet of film. The latter was released, without sound or music,<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> in May 1913 by [[Dadasaheb Phalke|Dhundiraj Govind Phalke]] who was supposedly inspired by the screening of ''The Life of Christ''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/image/0,,1857620,00.html|title=Raja Harishchandra|publisher=[[Guardian Unlimited]]|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> at P.B. Mehta's American-Indian Cinema.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upperstall.com/people/phalke.html|title=Dadasaheb Phalke|publisher=Upper Stall|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> Phalke wanted to hire female actors but couldn't find any and instead resorted to using men dressed as women.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> He would later produce India's most successful [[Mythology|mythological film]]s. Prompted by the success of American films in India, [[Universal Pictures]] set up [[Hollywood]]'s first Indian agency in 1916.<ref name="CITEREFChronologyIndianCinema">{{cite web|url=http://www.upperstall.com/hist1916.html|title=Chronology of Indian cinema's history|publisher=Upper Stall|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> Year 1918 saw the introduction of the Indian Cinematograph Act modelled on that of Britain defining issues like censorship and cinema licensing,<ref name="CITEREFChronologyIndianCinema"/> and with the establishment of Phalke's Hindustan Film Company, the first Indian serial, Patankar's ''Ram Vanvas'', with a length of 20,000 feet is created.<ref name="CITEREFChronologyIndianCinema"/> In the same year, the first [[South India]]n feature, Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar's ''Keechaka Vadham'', is released followed by the film ''Draupadi Vastrapaharanam'', featuring [[Anglo-Indian]] actress Marian Hill playing the role of Draupadi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Memories/98/fna/fnadirs1.htm|title=Tamil filmakers who made a difference|publisher=Indolink|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> Following these successes, film operations started out in [[Lahore]], now in Pakistan. At the time, the first silent film, ''[[Daughters of Today|The Daughters of Today]]'', was released in 1924 in Lahore, the city had nine operational cinema houses.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> Movies shown at these cinemas were mostly local productions from Bombay and Calcutta, and seldom from Hollywood and London.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> ''The Daughters of Today'' was a brainchild of G.K. Mehta, a former officer with the [[North-Western Railway]]s who, much like Bhatavdekar, had imported a camera into the country. Mehta continued to produce newsreel coverage for companies abroad and delved into further film projects but his dedication gave way when he promptly left the film industry for more profitable ventures.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> But it was to be later in 1929&ndash;1930, when [[Abdur Rashid Kardar]]'s ''Husn Ka Daku''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231768/|title=Husn Ka Daku|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> was released that the film industry was established in essence in Lahore's [[Bhati Gate]] locality. This would later be called ''Lollywood'', a portmanteau of Lahore and Hollywood.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> Kardar, a professional [[calligraphist]], was accompanied by his fellow-artist and friend [[Muhammad Ismail]], who would make the posters for his films. ===Indigenous productions at Bhati Gate (1930s &ndash; 1946)=== {{main|Daughters of Today|Ardeshir Irani|Alam Ara|Lollywood|Partition of India}} Although Kardar had worked with G.K. Mehta on ''The Daughters of Today'', he felt he needed to do more to stay in the industry after there was no work left for him to do once the production had been done. Along with Ismail, he sold all his belongings to set up a studio and a production company under the name ''United Players Corporation'' in 1928.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> Set up at Ravi Road what is now the Timber Market, the duo hired actors to work with them on their projects. Shooting was mainly done in daylight and limited their productivity but the area they encompassed was enriched with locations including important landmarks.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> While the duo established their operations, director [[Ardeshir Irani]]'s ''[[Alam Ara]]'', aka ''The Light of the World'' released in 1931. The film would become the [[Firsts in India|first]] Indian [[sound film]]. The duo modelled their films on American and English films with influences not just prevalent in actors' attires but the titles of the films and expressed a desire to seek all means necessary to make a sound film of their own. Each film they produced was released under two separate names, one Urdu and the other English.{{fact|date=July 2008}} Actors that had worked for the studio included Hiralal, Gul Hameed, Nazeer, [[Pran Sikhand]], Kaushalya Devi, Gulzaar, Mumtaaz and Ahmed Deen. ''Husn Ka Daku'', also known as ''Mysterious Eagle'', Kardar's directorial début would firmly add him into the directors guild<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> but the film that would make him further known in the film industry came later in 1932. Produced by Hakim Ram Prasad, ''[[Heer Ranjha]]'' was the first sound film produced in Lahore at the ''United Players’'' studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231708/|title=Heer Ranjha (1932)|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> Prasad provided the studio with the equipment necessary to direct the sound film marked as the last film directed by Kardar in Lahore , starring M. Ismail while launching the careers of Rafiq Ghaznavi, Nazeer and Anwari. Kardar later moved to Calcutta and then to Bombay where he continued [[filmmaking]]. Till date, Bhati Gate is known to have produced some of most notable actors, writers and artists<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apnaorg.com/columns/ahameed/column-38.html|title=Bhati Gate - Lahore's Chelsea|publisher=Academy of Punjab|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> but with tensions running swift towards [[Partition of India|partition of the land]], most of the actors travelled into areas which are now a part of modern [[India]]. The industry left would later be termed as [[Lollywood]]. ===Partition, brain drain and recovery (1947 &ndash; 1958)=== {{main|Teri Yaad (film)|Do Ansoo|Chanwey|Sassi (film)|Umar Marvi (film)|Nigar Awards|l1=Teri Yaad|l4=Sassi|l5=Umar Marvi}} [[Image:Teri Yaad film.jpg|right|thumb|280px|Faced with shortages of filming equipment and limited resources, the film industry was able to produce its first feature film ''[[Teri Yaad (film)|Teri Yaad]]'' in 1948. The methods used were crude but ensured swift recovery of the pre-mature Pakistani film industry.]] Immediately following the [[Partition of India|partition]], the newly found [[Pakistan]] faced a [[brain drain]] where all its highly talented and skilled workers migrated to India, including most actors and directors. Shortage of filming equipment further paralysed the nation's film industry. With much hardships faced, the new film industry was able to produce its first feature film, ''[[Teri Yaad (film)|Teri Yaad]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\05\06\story_6-5-2008_pg7_40|title=Lollywood turns 60 on 27th|publisher=Daily Times|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> on [[7 August]],<ref name="CITEREFTeriYaad">{{cite web|url=http://www.mazhar.dk/film/history/40s/1948.htm|title=Pakistani films in 1948|publisher=Mazhar.dk|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> [[1948]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/weekly/images/archive/040418/images13.htm|title=Into the great beyond|publisher=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN Newspaper]]|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> premièring at the Parbhat Theatre in Lahore.<ref name="CITEREFTeriYaad"/> The following year, Evernew Studios established a studio in the country which would later become the largest film company of the time. Over the next few years, films that were released reached mediocre success until the release of ''[[Do Ansoo]]'' on [[Pakistani films of 1950|7 April 1950]]. ''Do Ansoo'' became the first film to attain a 25-week viewing making it the first film to reach [[silver jubilee]] status. Recovery was evident with [[Noor Jehan]]'s directorial debut ''Chanwey'' releasing on [[Pakistani films of 1951|29 April 1951]]. The film became the first film to be directed by a female director. As cinema viewership increased, ''Sassi'' released on [[Pakistani films of 1954|3 June 1954]] reached [[golden jubilee]] status staying on screens for 50-weeks. ''Umar Marvi'' released on [[Pakistani films of 1956|12 March 1956]] became the first ever Pakistani film made in the [[Sindhi language]]. To celebrate the success of these endeavours, film journalist Ilyas Rashidi launched an annual awarding event on [[July 17]], [[1958]].{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Named ''[[Nigar Awards]]'', the event is since then considered Pakistan's premier awarding event celebrating outstanding performance in various categories of [[filmmaking]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pakistaniat.com/2007/05/27/aina-pakistans-greatest-blockbuster-movie/|title=Aina - Pakistan's greatest blockbuster movie|publisher=All Things Pakistan|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> ===Golden age of Pakistani cinema (1959 &ndash; 1969)=== {{main|Syed Kamal|Waheed Murad|Sohail Rana|Ahmed Rushdi|Nadeem|}} The '60s decade is often cited as being the golden age of cinema in Pakistan. Many-a-stars were introduced in this period in time and became legends on the [[silver screen]]. As black-and-white became obsolete, Pakistan saw the introduction of first colour films. Some that share the status of being firsts are Munshi Dil's ''[[Azra]]'' in early 1960s, [[Zahir Rehan]]'s ''[[Sangam (film)|Sangam]]'' (first full-length coloured film) released on [[Pakistani films of 1964|23 April 1964]], and ''[[Mala]]'' (first coloured cinemascope film). Although it seemed that the industry had stabilised to a certain extent, the relations between the two neighbouring countries were not. On [[Pakistani films of 1961|26 May 1961]], Kay Productions released a film titled ''Bombay Wallah'', which did not came under scrutiny from the censor board for having a name that represented a city in India in the wake of the growing tension between the region. Later, the censor board was blamed for irresponsibility.<ref name="CITEREFScriptnet">{{cite web|url=http://www.scriptnet.org.uk/_charity/Pages/Pakistan/Pakistan_film-background.php|title=History of Lollywood|publisher=Scripnet Charity|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> It was the first time that a Pakistani film delved into the realms of politics, but it wouldn't be the last. In 1962, film ''[[Shaheed (1962 film)|Shaheed]]'' aka ''Martyr'', pronounced the [[Palestine]] issue on the silver screen and became an instant hit. With the changing tide in the attitude of filmmakers, actress [[Mussarat Nazir]] who had reigned the industry for a while left for [[Canada]] and settled with her family. Her much anticipated film ''[[Bahadur]]'' was left unfinished and never released giving alternative films like [[Syed Kamal]]'s debutant acting role in film ''[[Tauba]]'' to be admired and fill the void. <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Murad.jpg|frame|right|thumb|Waheed Murad became Pakistan's equivalent of Marlon Brando and Elvis.]] --> In September 1965, following an armed conflict between India and Pakistan, all Indian films were taken off the screen from cinemas in Pakistan and a complete ban was imposed on the Indian films. The ban existed since 1952 in [[West Pakistan]] and since 1962 in [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/exhibition/CIC/history.asp|title=Select Timeline of Key Events in Indian Cinema|publisher=National Media Museum, UK|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> but was exercised rigourously after the conflict. Pakistani cinemas didn't suffer much with the decision to remove the films and instead received better viewership for their films. Realising the potential, [[Waheed Murad]] stepped into the industry. His persona led people to call him the ''chocolate hero'' and in essence, he became the [[Marlon Brando]] and [[Elvis Presley]] of Pakistan.<ref name="CITEREFCubaNow">{{cite web|url=http://www.cubanow.net/global/loader.php?&secc=8&item=4596&c=2|title=Lollywood: A Cuban Approach|publisher=Cuba Now|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> In 1966, film ''[[Armaan (1966 film)|Armaan]]'' was released and became one of the most cherished accomplishments of the industry.<ref name="CITEREFScriptnet"/> The film is said to have given birth to [[Pakistani pop music]] introducing playback singing legends &ndash; composer [[Sohail Rana]] and singer [[Ahmed Rushdi]]. The film became the first to complete 75-weeks screenings at cinema houses throughout the country attaining a [[platinum jubilee]].<ref name="CITEREFScriptnet"/> Another rising star Nazeer Beg with th stage-name [[Nadeem]] received instant success with his debut film ''[[Chakori]]'' in 1967. The same year, he would act in another film of a different genre altogether. Horror films were introduced with the release of ''[[Zinda Laash]]'' aka ''The Living Corpse'' making it the first film to display an [[Motion picture rating system|R rating]] tag on its posters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/bolly/reviews/xyz/zindalaash.htm|title=Zinda Laash|publisher=HotSpot Online|accessdate=2008-07-04}}</ref> Meanwhile Eastern Films Magazine, a film tabloid edited by Said Haroon, became the most popular magazine for film buffs in Pakistan. The magazine had a questions and answers section titled ''Yours Impishly'', which the sub-editor [[Asif Noorani]] took inspiration for from [[I. S. Johar]]'s page in India's [[Filmfare]] magazine.<ref name="CITEREFScriptnet"/> Tabloid like these got their first controversial covers with the release of ''[[Neela Parbat]]'' on [[Pakistani films of 1969|3 January 1969]], which became Pakistan's first feature-film with an adults-only tag.<ref name="CITEREFCubaNow"/> The film ran for only three-to-four days at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khalidhasan.net/fridaytimes/2003-10-17.htm|title=Private view: Believing the unbelievable|publisher=Khalid Hassan's official website|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> More controversial yet would be the offering of distribution rights in the [[Middle East]] to the Palestinian guerrilla organisation, [[Al Fatah]] by the writer, producer, and director Riaz Shahid for his film ''[[Zarqa]]'' released on [[Pakistani films of 1969|17 October 1969]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/contemporary/pakistani.html|title=Pakistani Cinema|publisher=British Film Institute|accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> The film also depicted the activities of the organisation. ===Age of the VCR (1970 &ndash; 1977)=== <!-- removed content until image is perfected [[Image:Nadeem and Shabnum.jpg|right|thumb|Nadeem and Shabnum]] --> Following the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], Pakistani film industry lost its [[Dhaka|Dacca]] wing and number of cinema decreased rapidly. The period saw the exodus of more influential workers in the industry leave for the newly found [[Bangladesh]]. This caused another serious brain drain since the partition of India. Veterans like [[Runa Laila]] departed for Bangladesh and the Pakistani industry was at the brink of disaster yet again. Amidst concerns of a collapse, the film ''Dosti'', released on [[Pakistani films of 1971|7 February 1971]], turned out to be the first indigenous Urdu film to complete 101-weeks of success at the box office<ref name="CITEREFDosti">{{cite web|url=http://mazhar.dk/film/history/70s/1971.htm|title=Pakistani films in 1971|publisher=Mazhar.dk|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> dubbing it the first receipient of a [[Diamond Jubilee|diamond jubilee]],<ref name="CITEREFDosti"/> however it is reported that the first diamond jubilee status was celebrated by the Punjabi film ''Yakke Wali'' in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicpakistan.net/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=268|title=First super-star action film|publisher=Music Pakistan|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> As political uncertainty took charge of the entertainment industry, filmmakers were asked to consider socio-political impacts of their films as evident by the fact that the makers of ''[[Tehzeeb]]'', released on [[Pakistani films of 1971|20 November 1971]], were asked to change the lyrics with a reference to ‘''Misr''’, Urdu for Egypt, that might prove detrimental to diplomatic relations of Eygypt and Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mazhar.dk/film/musicians/nisarbazmi.htm|title=Nisar Bazmi's profile|publisher=Mazhar.dk|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> So vulnerable was the film industry to the changing political landscape that in 1976, an angry mob set fire to cinema in [[Quetta]] just before the release of the first [[Balochi language|Balochi]] film, ''Hamalo Mah Gunj'', which was to be filmed in the same cinema. The mid-[[1970s]] saw the introduction of [[video cassette recorder]]s in Pakistan and instantly films from all over the world were copied onto tape, and attendance at cinemas decreased when people preferred to watch films in the comfort of their homes. This ushered the birth of the [[film piracy]] industry films began to be copied on tapes on the day they premiered in cinemas. Javed Jabbar's ''[[Beyond the Last Mountain]]'', released on [[Pakistani films of 1976|2 December 1976]] became Pakistan’s first venture into [[English language|English]] film-making. The film's Urdu version ''[[Beyond the Last Mountain|Musafir]]'' did not do well at the box-office. While the industry was revolutionising, Pakistan's government was in a state of turmoil. ''[[Aina (film)|Aina]]'', released on [[Pakistani films of 1977|18 March 1977]], marked a distinct symbolic break between the liberal [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] years and the increasingly conservative [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] regime.<ref name="CITEREFAaina">{{cite web|url=http://mazhar.dk/film/history/70s/1977.htm|title=Pakistani films in 1977|publisher=Mazhar.dk|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> The film stayed in cinemas for over 400-weeks at the box office,<ref name="CITEREFAaina"/> with its last screening at 'Scala' in [[Karachi]] where it ran for more than four years. It is considered the most popular film in the country's history to date.<ref name="CITEREFAaina"/> ===Gandasa culture and the downfall (1979 &ndash; 1987)=== Following [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]]'s [[military coup]], he began to Islamicise the country and one of the very first victims of this socio-political change included the film industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,1146453,00.html|title='My film is part of the peace process'|publisher=[[Guardian Unlimited]]|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> Imposition of new registration laws for film producers requiring filmmakers to be degree holders,{{Fact|date=December 2007}} where not many were, led to a steep decline in the workings of the industry. The government forced shut most of the cinemas in Lahore.<ref name="CITEREFOnTheMedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.onthemedia.org/yore/transcripts/transcripts_082004_lolly.html|title=Lollywood goes pop|publisher=On The Media|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> New [[tax rate]]s were introduced further decreasing the attendance at cinemas. {{quotation|Before India's partition in 1947, both Bombay and Lahore were centres of Indian cinema. After Pakistan's creation, Lahore's film industry struggled to distinguish itself from Bombay's, but in the '60s and '70s, Pakistan's Islamist leaders began actively discouraging cinema. Military dictator Zia ul Haq forced most Lahore studios to close down. [L]ollywood has never recovered.|Miranda Kennedy<ref name="CITEREFOnTheMedia"/>}} Films dropped from a total output of 98 films in 1979, of which 42 were in Urdu, to only 58 films (26 in Urdu) in 1980.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The filmmakers that remained employed flaccid story-lines to present [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] cult classics like ''[[Maula Jatt]]'' in 1979, telling the story of a [[gandasa]]-carrying protagonist waging a blood-feud with a local gangster. Growing censorship policies against displays of affection, rather than violence, came as a blow to the industry<ref name="CITEREFChronicles1984">{{cite web|url=http://pakistanspace.tripod.com/84.htm|title=1984|publisher=The Chronicles of Pakistan|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> and as a result violence-ridden Punjabi films prevailed and overshadowed the Urdu cinema.<ref name="CITEREFChronicles1984"/> The [[middle class]] neglected the 'increasingly dilapidated and rowdy cinemas'.<ref name="CITEREFChronicles1984"/> This film sub-culture came to be known as the ‘''gandasa culture''’ in the local industry. <!--comment out the images at they were inappropriate here -- [[Image:Lollywood Billboards - Terror (the movie) Billboard-2.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Terror and Gundasa Culture in Lollywood]] [[Image:Lollywood Billboards - Terror (the movie) Billboard.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Billboard of a Lollywood Movie called "Dehshut" which in Urdu means Extreme Fear]] [[Image:Lollywood Billboards - Tigers of Asia & Guns Billboards.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Tigers of Asia and Guns Movies Billboards]] --> Where veterans of this culture [[Sultan Rahi]] and [[Anjuman (actor)|Anjuman]], became iconic figure in the Punjabi films, [[Pashto language|Pashto]] cinema took on a contrasting façade. Backed by powerful politicians, Pashto filmmakers were able to get around the censor policies and filled their films with soft-core [[pornography]] to increase viewership.<ref name="CITEREFChronicles1984"/> This threw away the romantic and loveable image of Pakistani cinema and less people were attracted to the prospect of going to a cinema. Being a female actor associated with film productions became a understandable taboo.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Nevertheless influx of refugees from across the Afghani border, who were denied the entertainment in their country, kept the industry strongly active.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khyber.org/articles/2003/PashtoCinema-Craziness.shtml|title=Pashto cinema|publisher=Khyber.org|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> When it seemed the industry could not be further deteriorated, following years saw yet another blow to the fatal collapse. Waheed Murad, oft termed the ''chocolate hero''<ref name="CITEREFWaheedMuradDeath">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-8-2004_pg7_15|title=Waheed Murad film festival in city from September 3|publisher=The Daily Times|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> died in 1983 due to alcohol abuse and stomach cancer, some however say he committed suicide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chowk.com/articles/4492|title=Rise and fall of a silver screen hero|publisher=Chowk|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> Media attributes the filmstar's death to his disheartened view in the wake of Pakistani cinema's collapse.<ref name="CITEREFWaheedMuradDeath"/> Director of his unfinished film ''Hero'', employed ''cheat shots''<ref name="CITEREFChronicles1984"/> to complete the last of this legend's memorable films to a packed audience. This enthusiasm soon disappeared and not even Pakistan's first [[science fiction]] film ''[[Shaani]]'' in 1987,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punjabilok.com/misc/movies/landmarks_pak_cinema.htm|title=Landmarks in Pakistani cinema|publisher=Punjabi Lok|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> directed by [[Saeed Rizvi]] employing elaborate special effects could save the industry from failing. The sci-fi film received an award at the [[Moscow Film Festival]] <ref name="CITEREFShaani">{{cite web|url=http://education.kalpoint.com/pow/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9|title=Saeed Rizvi's interview|publisher=Kalpoint|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> and even in Egypt and Korea,<ref name="CITEREFShaani"/> but sadly was shelved in its country of origin.<ref name="CITEREFShaani"/> ===Utter collapse (1988 &ndash; 2002)=== {{seealso|#Decline of cinema theatres|l1=Decline of cinema theatres}} <!-- image not needed - not clean enough for article[[Image:shaangnr.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Shaan in Guns and Roses: ''Ik Junoon'', released in 1999]] --> At the starts of the 1990s, Pakistan's film industry was gripped with certain doom. Of the several studios only 11 were operational in the '70s and '80s producing around 100 films annually.<ref name="CITEREFHomeBoy">{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/723177.lollywoods_newest_star_is_home_boy/|title=Lollywood's newest star is home boy|publisher=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|accessdate=2008-07-04}}</ref> This number would lower further as studio went towards producing short-plays and television commercials<ref name="CITEREFOnTheMedia"/> and let the industry astray in the wake of cable television.<ref name="CITEREFHomeBoy"/> By the early '90s, the annual output dropped to around 40 films, all produced by a single studio.<ref name="CITEREFHomeBoy"/> Other productions would be independent of any studio usually financed by the filmmakers themselves. The local industry succeeded to gain audience attention however in the mid- and late-1990s. With [[Syed Noor]]'s ''[[Jeeva (film)|Jeeva]]'' and [[Samina Peerzada]]'s ''[[Inteha (1999 film)|Inteha]]'', it seemed the cinema of Pakistan was headed towards a much needed revival but naught attendance recorded at the box-office for later ventures ushered a complete and utter collapse of the industry. Notable productions of the time include ''[[Deewane Tere Pyar Ke]]'', ''[[Mujhe Chand Chahiye]]'', ''[[Sangam]]'', ''[[Tere Pyar Mein]]'', and ''[[Ghar Kab Aao Gay]]'', which tried hard to get away from the formulaic and violent story-lines but were not accepted fully amongst the [[lower middle class]] cinema audience. Controversy raged over the filming of ''[[Jinnah (film)|Jinnah]]'' in the late 1990s, a film produced by [[Akbar S. Ahmed|Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed]] and directed by [[Jamil Dehlavi]]. Objections were raised over the choice of actor [[Christopher Lee]] as the protagonist<ref name="CITEREFJinnah1">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/180736.stm|title=Trouble Jinnah movie opens|publisher=BBC World|accessdate=2008-07-04}}</ref> depicting [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] and inclusion of Indian [[Shashi Kapoor]] as archangel Gabriel<ref name="CITEREFJinnah2">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/may/03jinnah.htm|title=Pakistan governments halts funds for Jinnah film|publisher=Rediff|accessdate=2008-07-04}}</ref> in the cast combined with the experimental nature of the script.<ref name="CITEREFJinnah2"/> Imran Aslam, editor of [[The News International]], said the author wrote the script in a ‘''haze of [[hashish]]''’.<ref name="CITEREFJinnah2"/> Of all the controversies and hearsay, the film proved a point that Indian and Pakistani filmmakers and actors can collaborate together on any such cinematic ventures without the ban being lifted. Later years would see more actors travels traveling in and across the border on further cross-border ventures. Late '80s had seen the death of Murad and towards 1989, [[Anjuman (actor)|Anjuman]] got married to Mobeen Malik, quitting from playback signing and finally [[Sultan Rahi]] was murdered in 1996. The already reeling industry lost viewership not just for its Urdu but Punjabi films following Rahi's death. Director [[Sangeeta]] attended to her family life and [[Nazrul Islam]] died during the time. The industry was pronounced dead by the start of the new millennium. Syed Noor depressed at the sudden decline of cinema gathered investors for what was considered the only Pakistani film to have survived this chaos. The year 1998 saw the release of Noor's ''[[Choorian]]'', a Punjabi film that grossed 180 million [[Pakistani rupee|rupees]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/bolly/reviews/c/Choorian.htm|title=Review: Choorian|publisher=HotSpot|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> Directors realised there was still hope and [[Javed Sheikh]]'s ''[[Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geofunkar.com/lollywood/ydreview.htm|title=Review:Yeh Dil|publisher=Geo Funkar|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> released in 2002 grossing over 200 million rupees (US $3.4 million) across [[Pakistan]]. The monetary prospects were then realised fully and for the first time in twelve years, investors starting taking keen interest in Pakistani films. However, the short period of successes in the industry could not keep the cinemas afloat, and the same industry that at one time produced more than a 100 films annually a decade ago was now reduced to merely 32 per year, in the year 2003,{{Fact|date=December 2007}} with only one partial success called ''[[Larki Panjaban]]]'' (A Punjabi Girl)<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3224548.stm] Filming across the divide</ref>. In August, 2007, a new film titled [[Khuda Ke Liye]] was released. It became popular due to its controversial theme of the current problems faced in Pakistan. It was also released internationally, including in India, where it became the first Pakistani film released after four decades <ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200804041550.htm] Pak. film 'Khuda Ke Liye' released in India</ref> ===Revival of Cinema (2003 &ndash; present)=== {{main|Filmazia|Kara Film Festival|Khuda Ke Liye|Zibahkhana|Ramchand Pakistani|Freedom Sound (film)|l6=Freedom Sound}} In early 2003, young [[filmmaker]]s took on a stance to demonstrate that high quality content could be produced by the local film industry using he limited resources available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2701853.stm|title=Lolywood's Happy Ending|publisher=BBC World|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> Cinema was declining in all major cities of the nation and a need for revival was echoed in the media. With privatisation of television stations in full swing, a new channel ''[[Filmazia]]'' was broadcast, primarily to broadcast films and productions made indigenously in the country. It was during this time that [[Mahesh Bhatt]], a celebrated Indian director visited Pakistan looking for talent, particularly singers who could lend their voices to his upcoming films in India. His visit to Pakistan was to attend the third [[Kara Film Festival]], for the screenings of his film ''[[Paap]]'' in [[Karachi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/interviews/20050108-0.html|title=I'm India's ambassador|publisher=ApunKaChoice|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> Bhatt would later hire [[Atif Aslam]] for the soundtrack of his film ''[[Zeher]]'' and Pakistani actress [[Meera (actress)|Meera]] to play a lead-role in one of his films. Later in 2005, industry officials realised that the government needed to lift the ban for the screening of Bollywood films in Pakistan. The issue was voiced by the Film Producers Association (FPA) and the Cinema Owners Association (CAO) of Pakistan after the release of the [[Film colorization|colourised]] remastering of the 1960 classic ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]''.<ref name="CITEREFBorB">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4617447.stm|title=Pakistan's dilemma - Bollywood or bust?|publisher=BBC World|accessdate=2008-06-02}}</ref> When the government turned down the request,<ref name="CITEREFBorB"/> ''Geo Films'', a subsidary of [[Geo TV]] took on itself to invest in upcoming Pakistani directorial ventures and dubbed their efforts “''Revival of Pakistani Cinema''” and on [[2007 in Pakistan|20 July 2007]] released [[Shoaib Mansoor]]'s cinematic directorial début ''[[Khuda Ke Liye]]'' aka ''In The Name of God''. The film would later become the first ever Pakistani film since the imposition of the ban in 1965 to be released simultaneously in India and Pakistan. With its general release in India, the four decade ban was finally lifted. The film was released in more than a 100 cinemas in 20 cities in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=346506d5-e553-4378-8c7c-c21a6e91da20&ParentID=e2a4775d-e139-4f04-8dce-ffc30cc472e1&&Headline=Pak+film+EMKhuda+Ke+Liye%2fEM+released+in+India|title=Pakistani film Khuda Ke Liye released in India|publisher=Hindustan Times|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> Unbeknown to the local media scene, a Pakistani horror and gore film was already doing rounds in International film festivals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=da&tl=en&u=http://www.natfilm.dk/n/index.lasso%3Ftt%3Df%26s%3D2007004%26ser%3D404&usg=ALkJrhhDrrGcBg5epNcBXLKHuON-rFEajA|title=Hell's Ground|publisher=NatFilm|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://phillyfests.bside.com/2007/?_view=_filmdetails&filmId=15659416|title=Hell's Ground aka Zibahkhana|publisher=[[Piladelphia Film Festival]]|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> Another directorial début by director [[Omar Ali Khan]], ''[[Zibahkhana]]'' aka ''Hell's Ground'' premièred at festivals throughout the world gaining repute as the ‘first extreme-horror gore flick’ and received accolade wherever it screened. The film ushered a revival in the horror genre for Pakistani films. The film would also be the first Pakistani film shot on [[High-definition video|HD]]. Where the horror genre seems to have been reincarnated in the industry, ''[[Freedom Sound (film)|Freedom Sound]]'', a [[science fiction]] film would use the computer-generated [[special effect]]s for the first time since 1989's ''[[Shaani]]''. The recent successes of Pakistani films prompted director [[Mehreen Jabbar]] to come forth with her instalment with the release of ''[[Ramchand Pakistani]]'' which will mark the first true efforts of Indo-Pakistani collaboration towards the revival of cinema in Pakistan. {{Seealso|List of Pakistani films}} <!--==Issues== ===Rivalry instead of Competition=== A few years later, a rivalry began between [[Lahore]] and [[Karachi]] film production centers and the healthy environment started to fade out. Lahore had some sort of an edge over Karachi and soon film people began to move to Lahore. Although the best film processing lab of Pakistan was located at the International Studios in Karachi{{Fact|date=December 2007}}. The Karachi centre began to lose its colour.--> ==Decline of cinema theatres== Since the year 1995, the government of Pakistan has kept a close eye on the decrease of cinema halls and theatres in the country. Below is a chronological index of cinemas in Pakistan from 1995 to 2002.<ref name="CITEREFCinemaThreatreDecline">{{cite web|url=http://mazhar.dk/film/database/cinemas/|title=Cinemas in Pakistan|publisher=Mazhar.dk (courtesy of Daily Khabrain Online|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> Where the country boasted 750 cinema theatres in 1990 (even more before that), the number decreased to 175 in 2002.<ref name="CITEREFCinemaThreatreDecline"/> Cinemas left standing are reported to be in a desolate state of ruin and that they may collapse upon themselves if not attended to.<ref name="CITEREFCinemaThreatreDecline"/> Numbers below do not include cinemas in [[Azad Kashmir]] and the [[Northern Areas]]. [[Image:Lollywood Billboards - Terror (the movie) Billboard-2.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A billboard for a movie in [[Lahore]]. Much like this billboard's surroundings, cinemas in Pakistan are in a desperate need of repair.]] {| class="wikitable" ! style="width:180px;text-align:left;" | Province/Division/District ! style="width:40px;" | 1995 ! style="width:40px;" | 1996 ! style="width:40px;" | 1997 ! style="width:40px;" | 1998 ! style="width:40px;" | 1999 ! style="width:40px;" | 2000 ! style="width:40px;" | 2001 ! style="width:40px;" | 2002 |- ! colspan="9" | [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Lahore District]] | 67 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 62 | 62 | 56 | 56 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Faisalabad District]] | 42 | 42 | 38 | 38 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 34 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Rawalpindi District]] | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 18 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Multan District]] | 56 | 56 | 53 | 50 | 50 | 47 | 46 | 39 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Gujranwala District]] | 61 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 64 | 66 | 69 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Sargodha District]] | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Bahawalpur District]] | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Dera Ghazi Khan District]] | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 11 |- ! colspan="9" | [[Sindh]] |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Karachi|Karachi District]] | 57 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 53 | 46 | 45 | 43 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Hyderabad District (Pakistan)|Hyderabad District]] | 35 | 35 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 13 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Sukkur District]] | 27 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 9 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Larkana District]] | 21 | 21 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Mirpur Khas District]] | 25 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 19 |- ! colspan="9" | [[North-West Frontier Province]] |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Peshawar District]] | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Mardan District]] | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Kohat District]] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Dera Ismail Khan District]] | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Bannu District]] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Hazara District]] | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Mansehra District]] | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Malakand District]] | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |- ! colspan="9" | [[Baluchistan]] |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Quetta District]] | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Zhob District]] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Sibi District]] | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Kalat District]] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Makran Division|Makran District]] | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Nasirabad District]] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |- ! colspan="9" | [[Islamabad Capital Territory]] |- ! style="text-align:left;font-weight:normal;" | [[Islamabad|Islamabad District]] | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |} ==Pakistan's First Cineplex== {{main|Cinepax}} As a city, [[Karachi]] began to grow at a fast pace in the late 60's, and the price of the property shot up significantly.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} At the peak of Pakistani cinema industry in the mid 1970s, Karachi alone had more than 100 cinema halls and more than 200 films were produced and released each year. Now, fewer than ten of these houses remain. The same happened a little later in [[Lahore]] as well. This caused the film industry to loose a lot of revenue, making the industry even less attractive for investment. Many professional financiers left the cinema industry of Pakistan. {{Fact|date=December 2007}} The Universal Multiplex in Karachi opened in 2002. The future viability of film-making business in Pakistan is evidenced by the fact that now many global companies are interested in investing in the theater business in the country{Fact|date=December 2007}}. [[Cinepax]] is the first dedicated [[cineplex]] company in Pakistan. They are building the country’s first nationally branded cineplex chain.<ref>[http://www.cinepax.com/about.asp] Pakistan's first cineplex chain</ref> The firm says that it is dedicated to introduce a world-class, film-going experience to the people of Pakistan by building state of the art film theaters in the urban areas. Cinepax will have multiple cinemas in each location and is committed to screening premium content in a family-friendly environment. Eventually, they intend to bring families back into the theaters by providing a quality experience, and assert that the multiplex culture can only help.<ref>[http://www.cinepax.com/corporatinfo.asp] Cinepax goals</ref> Cinepax is targeting the larger cities of Pakistan: [[Karachi]], [[Lahore]], [[Islamabad]], [[Faisalabad]], [[Gujranwala]], [[Multan]], and [[Hyderabad, Pakistan|Hyderabad]]. Cinepax’s has an initial five-year build-out plan for the development of 120 screens. <ref>[http://www.cinepax.com/corporatinfo.asp] Cinepax goals</ref> Cinepax will screen [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] films within a month of their international release dates. Cinepax will also screen the best of international and Pakistani cinema. Before the first cineplex opening, Cineplex’s sister distribution company will screen Hollywood content in the existing cinemas around Pakistan.<Ref>[http://www.cinepax.com/about.asp] The Cinemas</ref> ==Films industries in Pakistan== * [[Lollywood|Lahore Film Industry]] * [[Kariwood|Karachi Film Industry]] * [[Pollywood|Pashto Film Industry]] ==Notable figures in the industry== ===Significant Pakistani [[actor]]s and [[actress]]es=== {| | valign="top" | * [[Adeeb]] * [[Afzal Khan (actor)|Afzal Khan]] * [[Ajab Gul]] * [[Akmal Khan]] * [[Ali Haider]] * [[Mohammad Ali (actor)|Mohammad Ali]] * [[Somy Ali]] * [[Anjuman (actor)|Anjuman]] * [[Arbaaz Khan (Pakistani actor)|Arbaaz Khan]] * [[Babar Ali]] * [[Zeba Bakhtiar]] * [[Behroze Sabzwari]] * [[Inayat Hussain Bhatti]] * [[Darpan (actor)|Darpan]] | valign="top" | * [[Ghulam Mohiuddin]] * [[Sajid Hasan]] * [[Naeem Hashmi]] * [[Husna]] * [[Ilyas Kashmiri]] * [[Iman Ali]] * [[Noor Jehan]] * [[Sonya Jehan]] * [[Jia Ali]] * [[Syed Kamal]] * [[Shamil Khan]] * [[Sabiha Khanum]] * [[Rafi Khawar]] * [[Veena Malik]] | valign="top" | * [[Meera (actress)|Meera]] * [[Moammar Rana]] * [[Mohsin Khan]] * [[Moin Akhter]] * [[Mustafa Qureshi]] * [[Nadeem]] * [[Nargis (actress)|Nargis]] * [[Neeli]] * [[Nirala]] * [[Noor (actress)|Noor]] * [[Atiqa Odho]] * [[Samina Peerzada]] * [[Asha Posley]] * [[Sultan Rahi]] | valign="top" | * [[Saeed Khan Rangeela]] * [[Rani (actress)|Rani]] * [[Rasheed Naz]] * [[Rauf Khalid]] * [[Reema Khan]] * [[Resham]] * [[Humayun Saeed]] * [[Saima]] * [[Sajjad Ali]] * [[Saleem Sheikh]] * [[Salim Nasir]] * [[Salman Shahid]] * [[Sana (Lollywood)|Sana]] * [[Sangeeta]] | valign="top" | * [[Santosh Kumar]] * [[Saud (actor)|Saud]] * [[Shaan (actor)|Shaan]] * [[Shabnam]] * [[Shafi Muhammad Shah]] * [[Shahid (actor)|Shahid]] * [[Babra Sharif]] * [[Javed Sheikh]] * [[Talat Hussain (actor)|Talat Hussain]] * [[Talish]] * [[Waheed Murad]] * [[Zara Sheikh]] * [[Zeba]] |} ==See also== * [[Nigar Awards]] - Pakistan's oldest film awards * [[Kara Film Festival]] - International Film Festival held annually in [[Karachi]] * [[Cinema in Karachi]] * [[List of Pakistani films]] * [[List of Pakistani actors]] * [[List of Pakistani actresses]] * [[Billboards of Lahore]] * [[Shahnoor Studios]] - One of the oldest film studios in [[Lahore]] ==External links== * [http://www.lollybolly.com/ Latest Lollywood News, Music Downloads and Movie Reviews] * [http://www.lollywood.t35.com/ Unofficial web site of Lollywood] * [http://www.kariwood.co.cc/ Official web site of Karachi film industry] * [http://www.musk.ueuo.com/lollywoodnews News about Lollywood] * [http://www.cbfc.gov.pk/about.html The Central Film Censor Board of Pakistan - Official Site] * [http://www.thepakvision.com/ Pak Vision (Lollyood Movies)] * [http://www.punjabilok.com/misc/movies/landmarks_pak_cinema.htm Landmarks in Pakistani Cinema] * [http://www.filmazia.com/ FILMAZIA - TV Channel showing Lollywood movies] * [http://www.bittercinema.com/2005/03/lollywood-billboard-art.html Images of Lollywood through the ages] *[http://www.himalmag.com/96mar/urdufilm.htm The comeback of urdu cinema...Not] ;News articles (Web Based) *[http://www.voanews.com/english/Entertainment/2007-02-08-voa10.cfm Pakistani Film Industry Fights for Survival] , Voice of America---2007 *[http://www.dhartipakistan.com/2007/08/01/zibahkhana-pakistan-horror-movie/ First modern Pakistani horror movie] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2701853.stm BBC report on Pakistani Cinema 2003] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4617447.stm Pakistan's dilemma - Bollywood or bust? 2005] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3783337.stm Cinema's taboo on partition] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3421505.stm Reema In India] *[http://www.dhartipakistan.com/2007/10/15/pakistani-multiplex-theatre/ First multiplex theatre inagurated in Pakistan] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} {{CinemaofPakistan}} {{Worldcinema}} {{Pakistan topics}} [[Category:Cinema of Pakistan]] [[Category:Lahore District]] [[Category:Lollywood]] [[fr:Cinéma pakistanais]] [[no:Lollywood]] [[simple:Lollywood]]