The COVID-19 lockdown seems to be never-ending, and we have all by now, exhausted many ways of passing time during the long, long days which don’t seem to be getting any smaller. Well, if you’re like us, and still continue to brave through the days, then fret not! We have a solution, and it’s called Lollywood!
Beyond all the flak that we give the former Pakistani film industry that came to be known popularly as Lollywood, there’s so much it has to offer! Be it romance and comedy or thrilling action, it has it all and it’s about time we revisit some of the classics!
What are the films that Diva has been watching in the last few weeks and highly recommends? Here’s the lowdown…
Armaan (1966)
One of the first films that started the purported Golden Age of Lollywood, Waheed Murad and Zeba starrer, Armaan remains an icon that cannot be forgotten. It has glorious melodies complementing the film, and an equally gripping story! Plus, don’t forget this is the film that gave us Ko Ko Korina!
Chakori (1967)
A platinum hit that fans of Nadeem Baig still love to this date, Chakori was the debut film of the actor alongside actress Shabana that was released in both, Urdu and Bengali! The film was one of the firsts that became mega-popular and to become a fan-favourite that people couldn’t help but watch in the cinema countless times!
Zinda Laash (1967)
A film we love for its pathbreaking role in Lollywood, Zinda Laash is one of the industry’s first horror flicks! There’s everything you need from a thriller available in the film, and it surely deserves a watch! Did we mention it was Pakistan’s first film to get an R rating?
Neela Parbat (1969)
The sixties were a time of great experimentation within the cinematic medium, and every budding filmmaker tried their hand at something new. Neela Parbat, was one example of this, with its Freudian themes. The film was so controversial it only ran for three to four days!
Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat (1975)
A film that made Babra Sharif a household name, Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat is one to watch because it is as interesting as the name sounds! There are romance and drama in the film, and the chemistry between Ghulam Mohiuddin and Babra is palpating! Plus, watch it for the fact that it was the first Pakistani film to premiere in China!
Aina (1977)
A film that marked a distinct symbolic break between the liberal Zulfikar Ali Bhutto years and the increasingly conservative cum revolutionary Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq regime, Aina is a cult-classic which fans love for Shabnam and Nadeem’s pairing! The film stayed in cinemas for over 400 weeks, and that in itself says a lot!
Maula Jatt (1979)
Lollywood was seeing a major seismic shift, as people began turning away from the cinema, and that’s when Punjabi films took over! However, it brought out a new wave of narratives, and the biggest example was the Punjabi cult classic Maula Jatt. Telling the story of a gandasa-carrying protagonist waging a blood-feud with a local gangster, this Sultan Rahi film definitely deserves to be seen!
Choorian (1998)
A film our avid readers must have realised we love, by now, Choorian holds many records for Lollywood, despite it being released during the lowest time for the industry! Directed by Syed Noor, the romantic drama film starring Saima and Moammar Rana managed to gross PKR 20 Crores at a time when it was unheard of!
Inteha (1999)
A film that we just watched for the fact that it was the debut for so many icons, Inteha holds a special place in the list of films to revisit! It was the debut directorial of actress Samina Peerzada, and also the first film done by Humayun Saeed alongside Meera almost twenty-one years ago! Now, that should be reason enough to watch.
Yeh Dil Aapka Huwa (2002)
A film from the ultimate days of old-Lollywood, Yeh Dil Aapka Huwa should hold special importance for anyone who wants to know what the industry created in its demise. The film, though lukewarm, has quite a few fun scenes to watch and a story that is gripping!
Which film do you want to revisit? Tell us in the comment section below.