Pakistani colour films that failed to grab attention in the beginning

Dunya News

Pakistani film industry gained foothold with super hit color movie 'Naila' in 1965.

LAHORE (Daily Dunya) – Pakistani film industry has always been a troubled tale with ups and downs at different levels as most of the Pakistani colour films failed to live up to the expectations of the audience in the beginning despite introducing latest technology.

According to Daily Dunya report, 1960 was marked as the start of color era in Pakistani cinema when director Munshi Dil and S.Q Zaman recorded two color songs in film ‘Gul Bakavli’ being picturized on Sudheer, Jameela Razzaq and Illyas Kashmiri. However, the film didn’t grab the attention of the spectators.



The first color laboratory established at Screen and Sound Studio located in Rehmanpura, Ferozpur Road was preliminary allotted to Tasadduq Hussain and Shafi Aijaz in 1949 after which S.Q Zaman got the studio on contract and renovated it.

In 1962, Agha G.A. Gul recorded a color song in his movie ‘Azra’ with prominent actors Neelo, Aijaz, Allauddin, Agha Talish, Nazar and others but the film emerged as a flop piece in cinemas.




A scene from film Azra


‘Ek Dil Do Diwane’, the first ever colored Pakistani Urdu movie, by Wazeer Ali and S.Q Zaman hit the screen in 1964. The actors who performed in the film were Rani, Syed Kamal, and Nasira. However, this movie also could not inspire the audience.



Jaffer Malik and S.Q Zaman’s first Punjabi film ‘Panj Darya’ that released on December 22, 1968 with Akmal, Fidous, Ajmal, Sheikh Iqbal, Shirin, Nagma, Rangeela, Sultan Rahi and Sawan in leading roles also failed to make the mark.




A scene from Panj Darya


After a chain of flop production of color movies, Pakistani film industry finally gained foothold with super hit color movie ‘Naila’ directed by Shareef Nayyar and Agha G.A. Gul in 1965.



The aforementioned film was picturized on Santosh Kumar and Shamim Ara whereas Darpan, Ragni and Gul Rukh also acted in the movie.