As an infant in British India, the Pakistani cinema industry has improved markedly. Actor and director Abdur Rashid Kardar founded the first studio and production house, United Players Corporation, in Lahore, in 1929. Husn Ka Daku, a silent feature film, was its debut release in 1930.
Following independence, Lahore became Pakistan’s cinema industry hub. In the 1960s, the industry entered its iconic “golden age.” Several of Pakistan’s most well-known actors, including Mohammed Ali and Waheed Murad, in classic movies like Kaneez and Armaan, rose to fame during this decade.
For the following 20 years, Pakistani cinema suffered due to a military coup in 1977. But soon, the industry’s rejuvenation was reignited with a rising tide of low-budget, independent films from Karachi in the early 2000s. By 2013, a national box-office record was set by a sports film directed by Syed Ali Raza Usama of renowned cricketer Shahid Afridi. The film earned Rs. 22 million in its first week of release.
Today, a flourishing independent Pakistani entertainment industry is full of phenomenal individuals and untapped potential who celebrate the best aspects of their history and culture from unusual perspectives.
Pakistani cinema featured an unprecedented revival in 2022 owing to back-to-back recording-breaking films. Pakistani cinema also made waves internationally, making Pakistan a key player in the entertainment world. Here are the top Pakistani films that changed the nation’s cinema game:
- The Legend of Maula Jatt
Bilal Lashari is the director and writer of the 2022 Pakistani Punjabi action drama movie The Legend of Maula Jatt. The movie is a remake of the 1979 classic movie Maula Jatt, however, the producers do not suggest it as a sequel or remake. The film’s direction, acting, musical score, action scenes, and special effects received high praise in reviews.
It has made more than $10 million globally, outranking Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2’s complete theatrical run and breaking multiple records at the box office, including becoming the highest-grossing Pakistani and Punjabi movie of all time. - Joyland
Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, set a record in May this year when it became the first Pakistani motion picture to win a feminist-themed prize at the famous Cannes Film Festival. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai guides the project as executive producer.
Joyland received worldwide acclaim. The film also won accolades at the London Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Cairo International Film Festival, in addition to being exhibited at the British Film Institute, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Athena International Film Festival. Pakistan’s Oscars Selection Committee chose it as the official entry for the Oscars in 2023. - London Nahi Jaunga
Nadeem Baig is the director of the 2022 Pakistani rom-com drama film London Nahi Jaunga. The initial perception of London Nahi Jaunga was as a sequel to the movie Punjab Nahi Jaungi from 2017, but the producers clarified it as a different film. The film brought in PKR 300 million domestically. It also became the second-highest-grossing Pakistani movie of all time and the third-highest-grossing Pakistani film overall. - Kamli
Kamli, directed by Sarmad Khoosat and starring Saba Qamar, is a bewildering array of parallel stories with symbolic meanings. The widely praised Pakistani film is undoubtedly a trendsetter and creates new standards for upcoming Pakistani movie releases. The movie shows how social norms and restrictions confine us all, especially women.
After finding success in local theatres, the Pakistani film Kamli is ready to represent Pakistan internationally by making its European debut at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2023.
