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Feb 28th, 2010 - 10:16:38 |
Shoaib Khan
History of Pakistani Films
Immediately following the partition, the new film industry was able to produce its first feature film, Teri Yaad on 7 August,1948, premièring at the in Lahore. 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 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. Legendary playback singer Ahmed Rushdi started his career in April 1955 after singing his first song in Pakistan "Bander Road Se Kemari". To celebrate the success of these endeavours, film journalist Ilyas Rashidi launched an annual awarding event on July 17, 1958.Named Nigar Awards, the event is since then considered Pakistan's premier awarding event celebrating outstanding performance in various categories of filmmaking.
Golden age under President Ayub Khan (1959–1969)
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 1960s.
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 Pakistan but was exercised rigorously after the conflict. Pakistani cinemas did not suffer much from 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.
In 1966, film Armaan was released and became one of the most cherished accomplishments of the industry. The film is said to have given birth to Pakistani pop music introducing playback singing legends – 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.Another rising star Nazeer Beg with th stage-name Nadeem received instant debut.
Meanwhile Eastern Films Magazine, a 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. Tabloid like these got their first covers.
(1970–1977)
Amidst concerns of a collapse, the film Dosti, released on 7 February 1971, turned out to be the first indigenous Urdu film to complete 101 weeks of success at the box office[dubbing it the first receipient of a diamond jjubilee.
The mid-1970s saw the introduction of video cassette recorders 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 2 December 1976, was Pakistan’s first venture into English film-making. The film's Urdu version Musafir did not do well at the box-office. While the industry was revolutionising, Pakistan's government was in a state of turmoil. Aina, released on 18 March 1977. The film stayed in cinemas for over 400 weeks at the box office, 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
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 died in 1983 due to alcohol abuse and stomach cancer, some however say he committed suicide. Media attributes the film star's death to his disheartened. Director of his unfinished film Hero, employed cheat shotsto 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,directed by Saeed Rizvi employing elaborate special effects. The sci-fi film received an award at the Moscow Film Festival and even in Egypt and Korea
(1988–2002)
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. This number would lower further as studio went towards producing short-plays and television commercials and let the industry astray in the wake of cable television. By the early '90s, the annual output dropped to around 40 films, all produced by a single studio.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 and Samina Peerzada's 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, 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 in the late 1990s, a film produced by Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed and directed by Jamil Dehlavi. Objections were raised over the choice of actor Christopher Lee as the protagonist depicting Muhammad Ali Jinnah and inclusion of Indian Shashi Kapoor as archangel Gabriel in the cast combined with the experimental nature of the script. Imran Aslam, editor of The News International, said the author wrote the script in a ‘haze of hashish’. 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.
The year 1998 saw the release Javed Sheikh's Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa 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.
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
Revival under President Musharraf (2003–2009)
In early 2003, young filmmakers took on a stance to demonstrate that high quality content could be produced by the local film industry using he limited resources available. 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.
Geo Films, a subsidiary of Geo TV took on itself to invest in upcoming Pakistani directorial ventures and dubbed their efforts “Revival of Pakistani Cinema” and on 20 July 2007 released Shoaib Mansoor's cinematic directorial début Khuda Ke Liye (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.
Unbeknown to the local media scene, a Pakistani horror and gore film was already doing rounds in International film festivals. 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 HD. Where the horror genre seems to have been reincarnated in the industry, Freedom Sound, a science fiction film would use the computer-generated special effects for the first time since 1989's Shaani. The recent successes of issue-centered Pakistani films such has Khuda Ke Liye prompted director Mehreen Jabbar to come forth with her instalment with the release of Ramchand Pakistani which will mark the first true efforts of international collaboration towards the revival of cinema in Pakistan.
Next up are filmstar Reema Khan's directorial project based on Paulo Coehlo's Veronica Decides to Die, filmstar Shan's directorial project " Chup" introducing model Juggun Kazim to the silver screen, Syed Noor's " Price of Honor" based reportedly on the Mukhtara Mai Rape incident, Khamaj fame Music Video director Safdar Malik's Directorial debut "Ajnabi Sheher mein" starring Nadeem, Samina Peerzada, Ali Zafar and Model Tooba Malik, Actor Humayun Saeed debut production BALAA Shagufta Rafique(talks Iman Ali and Juggan Kazim in Pakistan), Salman Peerzada's "Zargul" a major festival circuit success might also finally see mainstream release.
Since 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. The country boasted 750 cinema theatres in 1990 (even more before then), but that number had declined to 175 by 2002.The remaining cinemas are reported to be in very poor condition, and in desperate need of attention.] Numbers below do not include cinemas in Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
Pakistan's First Cineplex
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. 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 lose a lot of revenue, making the industry even less attractive for investment. Many professional financiers left the cinema industry of Pakistan.
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. Cinepax is the first dedicated cineplex company in Pakistan. They are building the country’s first nationally branded cineplex chain. 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.
Cinepax is targeting the larger cities of Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, and Hyderabad. Cinepax’s has an initial five-year build-out plan for the development of 120 screens.
Cinepax screens 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.
Feb 28th, 2010 - 09:19:19 |
Shoaib Khan
Khursheed Anwar, Inayat Hussain, Nisar Bazmee
Feb 28th, 2010 - 09:16:55 |
Shoaib Khan
Singers of Pakistan
Male Singers
Mehdi Hasan, Gulam Ali, Ahmed Rushdie, Akhlaque Ahmed, Adnan Sami, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Zoheb Hasan, Atif Aslam, Javed Ali Shehky, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. In ayat Husein Bhatti, Masood Rana, Alamgir, Saleem Raza, Waris Baig
Female Singers
Noorjehan, Naheed Akhtar, Nayyara Noor, Farida Khanum, Munni Begum, Iqbal Bano, Musarrat Nazir, Nazia Hasan, Saira Naseem, Mehnaaz
Feb 20th, 2010 - 04:31:44 |
Shoaib Khan
Top Comedians of Pakistan
1950s
Nazar, Noor Mohammad Charlie, Zarif, Asif Jah, Sultan Khoost, Zulfi, A.Shah Shikarpuri,
Lehri, Faizi, Abbas Nosha, Asad Jafri, Rangeela
1960s
Nirala, Kalifa Nazir, Irfan Khhost, Irfan Khoost
Female comedian
Razia, Shahida, Farhi
1970s
Moin Akhtar, Jamshed Ansari, Jameel Fakri
1980s
Behroz Sabswari, Amanullah, Umar Sharif,
Feb 19th, 2010 - 12:50:51 |
Shoaib Khan
Top Heroines of Pakistan
1950s
Sabiha Khanum, Musarrat Nazir, Neelo, Shamim Ara, Yasmin, Nayyar Sultana, Bahar, Laila, Husna, Rukhsana, Zammurad, Shahina,
Gulshan Ara, Rehana, Jamela Razzak, Nasreen, Kafira, Zaib Qureshi, Khursheed
1960s
Zeba Ali, Naghma, Firdous, Tarannum, Sabira Sultan, Saba, Naseema Khan, Heena, Ghazala, Ada, Saiqa, Sufina Bano, Farzana
1970s
Asiya, Mumtaz, Babara Sharif, Nisho, Surayya Khan, Waheeda Khan, Shaista Qaiser, Ruhi Bano
1980s
Neeli, Salma Agha, Aarzoo,. Bazgha, Sameena Peerzada, Khushboo
1990s
Saima, Sana, Resham, Madiha Shah, Sabiha, Jia Ali, Noor, Nargis, Rubi Niazi, Laila, Zeba Bakhtiar, Ateeqa Udho, Iram Hasan
2000s
Zara Shaikh, Aleena, Iman Ali, Sarah
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