Bilal Lashari announces 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' to debut in Chinese cinemas on May 21

Calls it a huge moment for Pakistani cinema as film breaks into China's tightly controlled foreign film import quota

The Legend of Maula Jatt is set to debut in cinemas across China on May 21, director and co-writer Bilal Lashari has announced. The blockbuster film stars Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Humaima Malick, Gohar Rasheed, Faris Shafi and Ali Azmat.

Sharing the news on social media, Lashari described the release as a “huge moment for Pakistani cinema,” revealing that the film had secured a place within China’s tightly controlled foreign film import quota system. He also unveiled a Mandarin-dubbed poster and trailer for the release.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lashari wrote that the film "has broken into one of the most exclusive film quotas in the world — the first Pakistani film ever to do so." The film joins the ranks of Parwaaz Hai Junoon which also received a theatrical release in China in November 2020.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Legend of Maula Jatt emerged as Pakistan’s highest-grossing movie of all time, earning more than $13 million worldwide and crossing Rs1 billion at the domestic box office. It was also praised for helping revive large-scale Pakistani cinema and expanding the global reach of Punjabi films.

Released in 2022, the movie is a reimagining of the 1979 Punjabi cult classic Maula Jatt. The film follows local hero Maula Jatt as he takes on his arch-rival Noori Natt, leader of a feared clan in Punjab.