Makers of original Maula Jutt working on new film after 29 years

Muhammad Sarwar Bhatti promises ‘LPD’ will be a great addition to Pakistani cinema

LAHORE: Muhammad Sarwar Bhatti, the acclaimed producer of 1979’s Maula Jutt – one of Lollywood’s most successful films is all set to return to the field after a gap of 29 years. With the film titled, LPD, Bhatti wants to re-launch his production company, Bahoo Films Corporation and is adamant on releasing on feature film per year. The production banner has a host of other hit films to its credit, including Chan Waryam (1981), Mirza Jutt (1983), Haq Meher (1985) and Bazar-e-Husn (1988).

Bhatti is currently trying to finalise the cast and crew for his comeback project. “I always aim at creating timeless films so I have to spend a lot of time on the film’s story and its visual treatment,” Bhatti told The Express Tribune.



“It’s a fact that no one else – not in Pakistan or India – has been able to produce a film like Maula Jutt. In fact, Bollywood producers used to copy my work! Maula Jutt was remade there as Jeenay Nahin Dounga, Haq Meher was copied as Sanam Bewafa and Bazar-e-Husn as Tawaif.  That was the golden era of Pakistani films!”

Bhatti recently re-released Maula Jutt in Multan, hoping to make fellow film-makers realise the importance of big screen and what it takes to conquer it. According to Bhatti, a production company is judged for its aesthetic value and above all, originality. “That’s why I took a break from films; it’s against my nature to repeat or copy other's work,” he explained.



He has been observing the developments within the film industry for quite some time and believes that now more than ever is the right time to make a comeback as cinema in Pakistan has turned over a new leaf.

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“It’s my commitment that LPD will be a great addition to Lollywood. I have also been waiting for my son to graduate from National College of Arts (NCA) and introduce him through the film. It’s important to motivate new, young talent and benefit from their ideas.”

Muhammad Muttaqi, Bhatti’s son and CEO of Bahoo Films Corporation, promised LPD will be well worth the wait. “It’s a mega budget film and we’re casting some of Pakistan’s biggest artists, as well as some old ones from Maula Jutt. We plan to shoot in the northern areas of Pakistan and abroad,” he revealed. “My father and I have been developing LPD’s music, script and dialogues for a long time now.”



Muttaqi also praised his father’ work, calling Maula Jutt the biggest Pakistani film of all time. “It’s a fact that people are still trying to replicate the film. Just recently, a director asked us for the official rights to Maula Jutt but we refused. It’s the longest-running Pakistani film of all time! No one else can produce it and when the time is right, Bahoo Film Corporation will make Maula Jutt 2 as well,” he stated.

“Haq Meher won Best Direction at the Iran Faras International Film Festival in 1994, Bazar-e-Husn won Best Film in Moscow. Even LPD is going to be huge! This time, our priority is new talent and we’re conducting interviews at university level.”

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