A lot has been written about the early life of Lollywood too, but some of it is highly exaggerated or a distortion of the truth. While everyone seems to be going into raptures about how much advancement we have made in different fields, nobody or very few have hardly written about the wrong things we have done. After all it is from our mistakes and wrong move that we can mend our ways an make better provisions for the future. The first few films which starter off on the wrong footing and the vex people who pioneered them are met boned here. So read on to discover who were the personalities who ac to be blamed for starting practices c piracy and vulgarity be it in the realm of script, song or dialogue.

Naukar was a Pakistani fit whose theme was copied from a Indian film Aulad. The credit for the misdeed goes to the late S. Attaulla, Hashmi, the film's producer. The trend soon gained ground and Naukar was followed by Bedari which was again a blatant copy yet another Indian production Jagruti. Not only were the dialog and sequences lifted, the songs Bedari too were a shameless cart copy of Jagruti. The popular song, Quaid e Azam tera ahsan hai and Aao bachchoon sair karain, are two examples.

The film Sassi, made by the well-known film personality of yesteryear, J.C. Anand, father of Satish Anand of Eveready Pictures, had also `borrowed' a song Na yeh chand ho ga na taray raheen gae from the Indian movie Aabru for Sassi. What was deplorable about the fact was that J.C. Anand didn't even have the song recorded by a local singer, he blatantly included the original version by Hemant Kumar for Aabru. Starring Sudhir and Sabiha Khanum and directed by Daud Chand (who had the distinction of directing Pakistan’s first film Tere Yaad) Sassi incidentally was the first golden jubilee movie of Pakistan. The first film of Pakistan accompanied by an `adults only' tag was

The practice of putting an `for adults only' warning tag has been discontinued as many of today's films, such a Sangeeta's blockbuster Khilona an( Jan Mohammad's Kuryoon Ki Dalay Dana, though deserving the status, were released without it.

Having a startling resemblance to Raj Kapoor, Syed Kamal entered the film world as the first comic hero c the land. He readily cashed in on his striking resemblance to Raj Kapoor by copying the latter's style and mannerisms in Loafer, Awara, Zamana Kya Kahega, Hum Dono, etc. Kamal also went into production and gave a string of hits such as Joker, Honeymoon, Jat Kuryoon Toon Darda, Nai Laila, Naya Mujnoon, etc. Honeymoon had a dance sequence for which Husna donned a swimming costume the first time a Pakistani heroine did so in a locally produced flick. Kamal is also the first film maker to make movies with a strong political flavor Insan Aur Gadha, Kamal Ka Matka and Siyasat.

Nadeem crashed on the scene aping Dilip Kumar in blockbusters such as Chakori, Chote Saheb, Daag right up to Nadeem. Nadeem also appeared as a villain in the film Samaj which incidentally was the first Pakistani movie to be remade under the title Bharosa.

Jamil, the father of Bollywood heroines, Farah and Tabu, was the first Pakistani hero to go and work in the Bombay film industry. He did so without any formal permission. However, he failed to make his mark. Following suit was Nadeem who worked in Door Desh. Ali Zeb were next in toeing the line to Bollywood when they put in appearance in Manooj Kumar’s Clerk. Talat Hussain played an advocate in Sautan Ki Beti and did a good job, too.

Sabiha Khanum was the first actress to boldly portray the role of Mummy, a brothel owner in Eik Gunah Aur Sahi. The film had some really bold dialogue and Sabiha's brazen performance opened the door for others.

The role of a tawaif entered the film industry via Do Ansoo wherein the first heroine of the Pakistani film industry, the late Asha Posley who passed away recently, played the tawaif a character which has since then reigned supreme in our films. Shamim Ara was quite apt at playing the role but later on it was Rani who came to symbolize the woes and pains associated with a tawaif on the Pakistani silver screen.

The Pakistan film industry also ventured or should one say dared to step into English films as well. The first semi local English movie a Pak Canadian co production was Tiger Gang which in addition to Tony Canndale and Harrison from abroad had Mohammed Ali, Zeba, Nisho, Ali Eijaz and Qavi from Pakistan. But Tiger Gang failed to woo the film goers and was a high budget fiasco. However, undaunted by the failure of Tiger Gang, Javed Jabbar made the second English film of Pakistan, Beyond The Last Mountain which starred the then newcomer Usman Peerzada and Shamim Hilali. The film was also dubbed in Urdu and released under the title Musafir. But this English venture also failed dismally at the box office. Since then no one has dared to try and make English movies, locally.

Violence in Punjabi films started seeping in with Bashira and reached an even higher crescendo of mayhem and madness with the stupendous success of Maula Jut, which sealed Sultan Rahi's fate as the death defying gandasa wielding to and a later Kalashnikov toting hero lm of Punjabi flicks. For nearly two, decades Sultan Rahi reigned supreme as the venom spitting, to blood spilling leading man.

The sleazy elements in Punjabi movies came via '70s blockbusters red such as Khatarnak, Khaufnak, Khanzada to the box office burners of today like Jungle Da Qanon, Pardesi, etc.

From Yusuf Khan's Sher Bano to Darra Khyber, Pashto films were initially quite decent and sedate. But they began to change their the track towards sex and violence from the mid '70s. Mohammad Qavi and some others tried to salvage Pashto cinema from the cesspool of sleaziness but alas, their red efforts failed.

Omar Marvi was the first Sindhi film of the land. Rang Mahal and Ghunghat Lae Kunwar were good Sindhi movies and also did well on the circuit.. But later on it was Sindhi cinema which started trend of making movies on well known dacoits such as Phal Matchi, Jalal Chandio, Parou, Mohib Shidi and Darya Khan. Although these films didn't do good business, they paved the way for Punjabi cinema which followed the trend of making movies on dacoits but with added heights. And when such movies started succeeding at the box office there was no looking back.

Mehar cinema in Landhi is now defunct but it was the first movie house which began screening totay of erotic films during Ayub Khan’s era in the early '60s. the cinema did roaring business in those days right up to Zia's military rule. Mehar cinema might not be there today but what it started then, continues unabated all over the country today.

1947
September

Jubilee cinema (Karachi) becomes the first Pakistani cinema to be opened since Independence. The film Wamiq Azra, even though starring Pakistani actors Nazeer and Swaran Lata, was a pre-partition Bombay production.

1949
August 3

Phairay (Punjabi) released. It turned out to be the first Pakistani silver jubilee films (over 25 weeks). It was presented by Anis Pictures, produced and directed by Nazeer who also starred along with Swaran Lata, Nazar and Alaudin. The music was composed by Baba Chisti.

1950
April 7

Do Ansoo released, which turned out to be the first Pakistani Urdu silver jubilee. A Naubahar Film presentation, produced by Sheikh Lateef, directed by Anwer Kamal with music from Mubarak. Starring Sabiha, Santosh, Shamim, Ajmal and Alauddin.

1951 April 29 Chan way (Punjabi) released – the first Pakistani film to be directed by a woman, viz. Noor Jehan. A shahnoor Films presentation, produced by Shaukat Husain Rizvi with music from Feroze Nizami (famous song : Mundeya Sialkotiya). Starring Noor Jehan, Santoosh, Jahangir, Ghulam Muhammad).

1954 June 3 Sassi released, which became the first Pakistani Golden Jubilee (over 50 weeks). Everready production, produced by J. C. Anand, directed by Daud Chand, music by Baba Chisti. Starring Sabiha, Sudheer, Asha Posle, Nazar, Saleem Raza (not the singer).

1956
March 16

Umar Marvi, the first Sindhi film released, by Fazilani films. Produced by Fazilani, directed by Sheikh Hasan, this film had music a score by Ghulam Nabi Lateef and starred Nighat Sultana, Fazilani, Charlie.

1958

July 17 Film journalist Ilyas Rasheedi launches annual Nigar Awards for outstanding performance in various departments of filmmaking

1961
October 27

Gul Bakaoli released. It was the first Pakistani film with songs picturized in colour (filmed by M. Fazil and processed by Pyaray Khan). A zaman Art Production, produced by Q. Zaman, directed by Munshi Dil, music from Safdar. Starring Jameela Razzak, Sudheer, Ilyas Kashmiri.

1964 April 23 Sangam, a Dhaka based production from Sunay Circle becomes the first Pakistani full-length colour movie. Produced and directed by Zaheer Rehan with music from Ata-ur-Rehman, the movie featured Rosie, Haroon, Sita and Khalil.

November 11

The West follows in step with Eik Dil Do Diwane, the first full length colour from this side of the country. Produced by Q. Zaman, directed by Vazir Ali, the film had music by Tassaduq. It was filmed at screen and sound studios, processed at Evergreen Laboratories and featured Rani, Kamal, Zeenat and Saqi.

December 4
Caravan released a Dhaka based Labdhak Productions, it was the first Pakistani film to be shot in a foreign land, viz Nepal produced by M. Sadiq, directed by S. M. Pervez, the film had musical score by Robin Ghosh and starred Shabnam, Haroon, Tarana, Badruddin.

1965
April 16

Bahana becomes the first black & white cinemascope. From the same team which gave Sangam a year back, the film featured Kaburi, Rehman, Garaj Babu. Again, an East Pakistan feat.

December 3

Dhaka leads once again, this time with the first Pakistani colour cinemascope Mala. A Dossani-Leave films presentation directed by Mustafeez, who also co-produced with Dossani, music from Ata-ur-Rehman; starring Sultana Zaman, Azeem, Irfan and Khaleel.

1966 March 18 Arman, a Film Arts presentation released at Naz Cinema, Karachi. It turned out to be the first Pakistani Platinum Jubilee (over 75 weeks). Written and produced by Waheed Murad, with screenplay and direction by Pervez Malik, music by Sohail Rana, Lyrics by Masroor Anwer, the film featured Waheed Murad, Zeba, Nirala, Bibbo, Tarannum, Zahoor Ahmed, Rozina. (Famous songs: Kokokorina, akailay nah jana and virtually all other.

1967
September 8

Milan Films (Dhaka) present Darshan Basheer Ahmed becomes the first and the only Pakistani artiste to write, compose and sing the songs of a film all by himself (only one of the eight songs is a female one from Mala, while in the duet Basheer Ahmed is joined by Noor Jehan.) He is, however, accused of having taken inspiration from the songs of the Indian film, Jab jab Phool Khile, which has a similar storyline. Produced by Kumkum, the film is directed by Rehman who also stars along with Shabnam, Garaj Babu, Reshman. Many hit songs including Yeh mausam yeh must.

1969
December 12

Baharain Phir Bhi Ayengi released. Shamim Nazli (the singer Mala’s sister) becomes the first and the only female music director in Pakistan. Unfortunately, some of the songs are definitely copied (e.g. the most popular, Pyaar kay naghmay kis nay chhaire is a carbon-copy of the Indian song Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche har zuban par from Braham chari) a P. L. Films presentation, produced by Ashiq Butt, directed by S. Suleman, this film featured Zeba, Muhammad Ali, Rozina, Lehri and Ahmed Rushdi.

1970

The first Gujrati film Maa Tay Maa presented by Asian Movies produced by Qadeer Khan with musical score from the duo Lal Muhammad Iqbal and directed by Iqbal Akhtar. The cast included Shaista Qaisar, Agha Sajjad, Saira Bano.

December 1

The first Pushto Yousuf Khan Sher Bano presented by United Artists produced by Nazeer Husain with musical score from M. Ashraf and directed by Tasneem. The case included Badar Munir, Yasmeen Khan, Mahpara, Saqi.

1971
February 7

Dosti released to become the first Pakistani Diamond Jubilee (over 100 weeks). A Punjab films presentation, produced by Ejaz and directed by Sharif Nayyar, the film had memorable score from A. Hameed – Chitthi zara sayyanji ke naam likhde, and several other popular hits. The cast included shabnam, Husna, Ejaz, Rehman, Saqi.

1977 Aina released to become the most popular film of the country, running more than 400 weeks, and staying on screen for over 4 years. Directed by Nazrul Islam, starring Nadeem, Shabnam, Rehan and Qavi among others. The refreshing music from Robin Ghosh to the lyrics of Suroor Barabankvi sung by Alamgir, Mehnaz, Nayyara Noor and Mehdi Hassan is among the highpoints of the film.

1984
28 December

Film Awards announced by the Government of Pakistan for the first time.

1986

Film Directory compiled in Urdu by Yasin Gurija and published by Shehzad Comercial Corporation, 10 Asif building, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Rd, Lahore, was the first book on Pakistani film that may be called comprehensive in many ways. Apart from tracing the history of the Pakistani cinema from the pre-partition days and providing biographical account of many important personalities related with the trade, it also included for the first time a complete list of all films released until December 1985. The films were listed in chronological order with banner, producer, director, music composer, cast and the exact date of release (not just the year, but also the date and month). A separate index listed the films in alphabetical order with cross-referenced by the year to facilitate searching the films in the main list. The same alphabetical index also states the box-office status of each film on a scale of one to three. The directory is periodically updated by the editor after every few years and remains the most comprehensive document on the subject.

1989

SHANI was the first Pakistani movie to use special effects. Directed by Saeed Rizvi for the producer Rafiq Rizvi with music from Anjum and a cast inlcuding Babra Shareef, Sherry Malik, Muhammad Ali, Asif, Nayyar Sultana.

1990

INTERNATIONAL GORILLAY, based on the issue of Satanic Verses, was perhaps the first Pakistani film to depict a contemporary personality (Salman Rushdie played by Afzal Ahmad) as the main villain in the story. Directed by Jan Muhammad for producer Sajjad Gul with music from Arshad/Ashraf and a cast including Babra Shareef, Javed Sheikh, Ghulam Mohiuddin, Albela and Neeli.

1997

Pakistan Cinema by Mushtaq Gazdar is probably the first book on this subject to be printed in English by Oxford University Press. Although less user-friendly than Yasin Gurija’s Film Directory mentioned above, this is still a good chance for any one who is not comfortable with reading Urdu.

(by Anis Ahmed Shakur)

FIRST THINGS FIRST

1. Ahmed Rushdi's first song was "Bunder Road say Keamari" (1954) not recorded for movie.
2. Waheed Murad's first film was "Aulad" (1962)
3. Mohammed Ali's first film was " Chiragh Jalta Raha" (1962)
4. Deeba's first film was " - "
5. Kamal Irani's first film was " - "
6. Nadeem's (Nazeer Baig) first film was "Chakori" (1966)
7. Noor Jehan's first movie was "Zeenat" (1939)
8. Sohail Rana's music debut "Jabse Dekha Hai Tumhe" (1962)
9. Shamim Ara's first film was "Kunwari Bewa" (1956)
10. Mehdi Hasan's first song in film "Shikar" (1962)
11. Pakistan's first movie was "Teri yaad" (1948)
12. Karachi's first movie was "Hamari Zaban" which was followed by 'Inqilab', 'Bara Aadmi and 'Maska Palish'
NUMBER ONE
1. Ahmed Rushdi's number one song was 'Akele Na Jana'.
2. Waheed Murad's number one film was 'Armaan'
3. Sohail Rana's number one music was for 'Akele Na Jana'
4. Masroor Anwar's number one lyrics were 'Akele Na Jana'
5. Zeba's best movie was "Armaan"
6. Waheed Murad's best script was for "Armaan"
7. Waheed Murad's best production was "Armaan"
8. Mehdi Hasan's number one song was "Elahi Aansoo bhari".
9. S.B. John's number one song was "Too jo nahi hai .(Sawera)
10. Muneer Husain's best song was "Qaraar lootnay walay". (Saat Lakh)
11. M. Kaleem's number one na'at was "Saba Medinay agar ho jana"
12. Alamgir's number one song was "Shaam say pehlay ana"(Not recorded for film)
13. Number one qawwali "Meri tauba tauba (Saleem Raza and associates for "Tauba")
14. Mala's number one song was "Akele Na Jana"
15. Suraiya Hyderabadi's number one lori was "Chanda kay hindolay mein" (Lori)
16. Zubaida Khanum's number one song was "Laila, Laila, Laila"
17. Suraiya Multani Kar's number one song was "Baray bay murawwat hain".
18. Mehdi Zaheer's number one national song was "Hum ta ba abad" (1974)
19. Runa Laila's best ghazal was "Aziz itna he rakho" (Ubaid Ullah Aleem's)
20. Iqbal Banu's number one song was "Ulfat ki nai manzil" (Badnam)
21. Naseem Begum's number one song was "Aye raah-e- haq kay shaheedo" (National song)
22. Naseem Begum's number one song was " Hum ne jo phool chunay" (Saheli)
23. Bashir Ahmed's number one song was "Tumharay liye is dil mein" (Darshan)
24. Naheed Niazi's number one song was "Raat saloni aye"
25. Saleem shehzad's number one song was " Mohabbat kay diye jalalo" (Assalam Alaikum)
26. Akhlaq Ahmed's number one song was "Sona na chandi" (Bandish)
27. Saleem Raza's number one romantic song was "Jan-e- baharan (Azra)
28. Saleem Raza's number one sad song was "Zindagi mein aik pal (Hamsafar)
29. Saleem Raza's number one national song was "Aao baccho sair karaein.

Heer was an extremely beautiful woman born in a wealthy family "Sayyal". Ranjha (Teedo) was the youngest of four brothers, after a confrontation with his brothers, Ranjha left home and travels around and comes to Heer´s village, where he found his love, Heer, who offered him a job to take care of there cattle. Having met Ranjha, Heer became mesmerised by the way Ranjha played the flute (Wanjli) and eventually fell in love with him. They would meet each other secrectly for many years until they were caught by her jealous uncle "Kaido" and parents (Chuchak & Malki). Heer was forced to married to another man "Saida Khera", with the full permission of "Mullah" (priest), who was well-payed by Kaido. Ranjha was left broken hearted and left to walk the quiet villages on his own until eventually met a Jogi (devoted beleiver in God). Having entering Gorak's Tilla (Shrine) Ranjha could only see his departed lover and being emotionally scared he voluntarally became a Jogi. Reciting the name of the Lord "Allakh Naranjjan" on his travels around the Punjab he found the village, where he was reunited with Heer. They escaped (also with Saida Khera´s sister "Sehti", who was in love with "Murad Baluch" - an another famous love story of Punjabi Culture) but was caught by Maharajah´s police. Maharajah punshid him to jail but same night whole city was in flames. Maharajah freed Ranjha and permitted him to marry with Heer.

One hundred and one memorable songs in memory of our beloved
Ahmed Rushdi

by Anis Ahmed Shakur

1. Bunder Road Say Keamari : 1954. (Not recorded for film) 2. Chalak Rahi Hain Mustiyan: 1959. (Film: Raaz) 3. Chand Sa mukhra , gora badan : (Film : Saperan ) Nigar Award. 4. Kisi Chaman mein raho tum (Aanchal: 1964) 5. Masoom sa chehra hai (Rishta hai pyar ka: 1965) 6. Akele Na Jana (Armaan : 1965) 7. Bay taab ho 8. Jub pyar mein 9. Ko Ko Korina 10. Jan-e- Tamanna Khat hai (Chand Aur Chandni) 11. Tumhe Kaisay Bata Doon (Doraha ) 12. Kiya hai jo pyar ( Dil mera dharkan teri) 13. Kabhi tau tum ko (Chakori: 1966 )