Lollywood: a brief history
A look back at the history of the Pakistani film industry.
Milestones in the Pakistani film industry
1966 The Waheed Murad-Zeba starrer Armaan released, which went on to become Pakistan’s first ‘Platinum Jubilee’ film. The film’s soundtrack was composed by Sohail Rana and featured the now-iconic song, “Akele Na Jaana”
1967 Nadeem and Shabnam debuted in Chakori, which featured the song “Kabhi To Tum Ko Yaad Ayenge”
1970’s Most popular actirs in Urdu films: Waheed Murad and Mohammad Ali
1979 Rangeela’s satirical film Aurat Raj releases, but is banned
1990 Reema made her Lollywood debut in Javed Fazil’s Bulandi. Her on-screen pairing with Shaan and the film’s success paved the way for a spate of films starring the two in lead roles
1999 Samina Peerzada’s first directorial venture, Inteha, released. It marked the Lollywood debut for television actor Humayun Saeed
First Pakistani Film: Teri Yaad
Release date: September 2, 1947
Produced by: Dewan Pictures
Directed by: Daood Chand
Starring: Asha Bhosle, Nasir Khan, Shola and Ghulam Muhammad
After the first release in 1947, it took a year-and-a-half for another production to release.
The higs and lows of Lollywood
962: From 1967 to 1977, 962 films were released. The film industry boomed in this period despite political crises and a war with India in 1965.
100: The number of films released in 1968
111: The best year for Pakistani cinema was 1975, when 111 films were released.
39: Since 2007, only 39 films have been released.
1966 The Waheed Murad-Zeba starrer Armaan released, which went on to become Pakistan’s first ‘Platinum Jubilee’ film. The film’s soundtrack was composed by Sohail Rana and featured the now-iconic song, “Akele Na Jaana”
1967 Nadeem and Shabnam debuted in Chakori, which featured the song “Kabhi To Tum Ko Yaad Ayenge”
1970’s Most popular actirs in Urdu films: Waheed Murad and Mohammad Ali
1979 Rangeela’s satirical film Aurat Raj releases, but is banned
1990 Reema made her Lollywood debut in Javed Fazil’s Bulandi. Her on-screen pairing with Shaan and the film’s success paved the way for a spate of films starring the two in lead roles
1999 Samina Peerzada’s first directorial venture, Inteha, released. It marked the Lollywood debut for television actor Humayun Saeed
First Pakistani Film: Teri Yaad
Release date: September 2, 1947
Produced by: Dewan Pictures
Directed by: Daood Chand
Starring: Asha Bhosle, Nasir Khan, Shola and Ghulam Muhammad
After the first release in 1947, it took a year-and-a-half for another production to release.
The higs and lows of Lollywood
962: From 1967 to 1977, 962 films were released. The film industry boomed in this period despite political crises and a war with India in 1965.
100: The number of films released in 1968
111: The best year for Pakistani cinema was 1975, when 111 films were released.
39: Since 2007, only 39 films have been released.