• Shaukat Hussain Rizvi

The pioneer of Pakistan film industry, one of the first filmmakers of independent Pakistan. His Gul Bakaoli is still revered as the best fairy tale Pakistani film. However, Chanway, Jaan-e-Bahar and Aashiq remain his trademark movies, since they were light romantic cum social stories, a genre that Shaukat sahib specialized in.

  • Noor Jehan

What can one say about her? The world might never lend its ears to the voice that warmed the hearts and souls of millions and millions of music lovers all around the world. What she was able to sing for the films Koel, Intezar and Heer Ranjha (to cite a few examples), was something that no other female vocalist can even imagine to achieve.

  • Muhammad Ali

The first superstar of Lollywood. He was, without a job of doubt, the first hero who had a massive fan-following. Mohammad Ali was no mean actor either. To gauge the verity of the claim one look at his performance in the movies Insaan Aur Aadmi, Saiqa and Khamosh Raho would suffice.

  • Khwaja Khurshid Anwar

The music director who had a master’s degree in philosophy and a host of great musical scores to his credit. Who can forget the mellifluous, memorable tunes of Intezar, Koel, ghoongat and Heer Ranjha? Someone once complimented Faiz Ahmed Faiz on being a great man, to which he replied that it’s not he but Khwaja Khurshid Anwar that fell into the category of great men.

  • Riaz Shahid

The director who began making purposeful films in Pakistan. Apart from that he also experienced with technique and dialogue-writing. Bahisht, Khamosh Raho and ye Amn are his masterpieces. He also dabbled in historic movies, something that Pakistani filmmakers gladly refrain from. Shaheed and Zarqa are two examples of the same.

  • Waheed Murad

The man who introduced glamour into the film industry. This ‘chocolate hero’ was the first one to break the shackles of conventional, stern-looking male protagonist and danced and joked with complete abandon. Apart from that, Waheed Murad also boasted a hairdo that became a rage amongst youngsters at the time. Masterpieces: Arman, Insaniyat and Hira Pathar.

  • Mehdi Hassan

No other singer, at least in Pakistan, can boast of singing so many songs, falling into a variety of genres (geet, ghazal, happy, sad, fast, slow, Urdu Punjabi) than Mehdi Hassan. Had it not been for Mehdi Sahib, there were chances that Muhammad Ali, Waheed Murad, Nadeem and Shahid might not have enjoyed the stature that they did. Masterpieces: Dard, Insaan Aur Aadmi and Zarqa.

  • Sabiha & Santosh

The couple epitomized decency and sobriety, on and off-screen, and made films that every Pakistani could readily identify with. They were the best specimen of the times when hullabaloo and meaningless hew and cry weren’t the subject-matter of our films. The couple’s masterpieces are Wada, Dever Bhabi and Daman.

  • Alauddin

The best supporting actor, whose awe-inspiring thespianism might never be surpassed, He is at his supreme best in the films Badnam, Shaheed and Zarqa. Some believe that in Mehtab he displayed his talent to the best, playing a helpless, penury-stricken husband of a wife opting for immoral ways to earn a living.

  • Sultan Rahi

The icon of Punjabi films who single-handedly saved the industry from going to the dogs in the 80’s. Though he had his share of detractors, but the fact of the matter is that he was one of his kinds and a lot of people envied him. Mola Jutt and Bashira have to be seen to verify this observation.

  • Rani

The heartthrob of the entire nation. No one could dance like she did one could coochie coo the way she did. One of those rare entities who always warmed the cockles of your heart. Masterpieces: Umrao Jaan, Sita Maryam Margaret and Surayya Bhopali.

  • Shabab Krianvi

One of the most prolific directors. Light, romantic and social films were his hallmark. He easily amongst the top five commercially successful auteur. Daman Aur Chingari Afsana Zindagi Ka and Saperan are three of his best ventures.

  • Ahmed Rushdie

Perhaps he was the first Pakistani pop singer. With his foot-tapping, fingers-snapping numbers, he brought ebullience and energy to the otherwise typical film music of Lollywood. But that was not it. Rushdie sahib was a versatile vocalist. He could sing sad or slow songs with equal ease and perfection. Masterpieces: Arman, Samandar and Tum Mile Piyar Mila.

  • Babra Sharif

The glamorous, ever-green heroine. Versatility was also her forte. The baby doll of a girl garnered a huge fan as well as cult following. She still rules many heart. Salakhein, Mera Naam Hai Muhabbat and Shabana are films where she is at her effervescent best.

  • Nayyar Sultana

The best supporting actress that the industry ever had. The perpetual gloom on her heavenly countenance and the sad situations that she would often confront in movies made her the paragon of sacrifice and altruism. Masterpieces: Saheli, Maan Ke Aansu and Aulad.

  • Ilyas Rashidi

The founding member of Nigar, the famous film magazine. This great journalist was also instrumental in instituting Nigar Awards, Pakistan Film Industry’s most prestigious awards. His services also include promotion and well being of many an artist.

  • Nisar Bazmi

Brought a new flavor into the music world of Pakistan. His tunes mainly had urban touch to them, unlike the musicians from Punjab. He also gave many new singers to the industry, Alamgir being one of them. Masterpieces: Shama Aur Parwana, Umra o Jaan Ada and Aisa Bhi Hota Hai.

  • Lehri

The genius of a comedian. His acerbic humor and note-perfect dialogue delivery were matchless; and he was never dependent on the script-writer, the genius that he was. The generation X wallahs must watch his Aag Ka Darya, Dever Bhabi and Aag.

  • Aslam Pervaiz

The best anti-hero that Pakistan film industry ever produced. His iconoclastic mean and vile characterization in a number of movies sent chills down the spines of many filmgoers. A superlative actor! Nek Parveen and Tahzeeb are two films that instantly bring Aslam Pervaiz’s work to mind.

  • Munawwar Zarif

Another comic genius. His wacky antics and hilarious mannerism spawned many comedians in Pakistan – Umar Sharif and Amanullah to name a couple. Shararat, Rageela Aur Munawwar Zarif and Dia Aur Tufan are his memorable flicks that keep you in stitches.

  • Tasleem Fazli

The prolific songwriter. Not many poets can brag about coming up with so many hit songs than Tasleem Fazli. Some of the films that he wrote famous songs are Shama, Daman Aur Chingari and Abshaar.

  • Ghaffar Danawala

The most successful film distributor who’s still a very significant part of the industry. It would be astonishing to note that in the 50’s one of his films Bahan Bhhai did business worth 3 crore.

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