Pashto cinema

This article is about the Pashto-language film industry in Pakistan. For the Pashto film industry in Afghanistan, see Cinema of Afghanistan.
For other uses of "Pollywood", see Pollywood.

Pashto cinema
No. of screens24 (2023)
Main distributorsVarious local distributors
Cinema of Pakistan
Shop selling Pashto-language films

Pashto cinema (Pashto: د پښتو سينما; Pashto: پالېوډ), also known as Pollywood, refers to the film industry based in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, enagaged in production of motion pictures in Pashto language. The industry is a part of the larger Pakistani cinema.[1]

Origins

Yousuf Khan Sher Bano was the first-ever Pashto film produced in Pakistan and released in theaters on 1 December 1970.[2] It was directed by Aziz Tabassum, with debut stars Yasmin Khan and Badar Munir. The story is based on the Pashto folk story Yousuf Khan and Sher Bano and completed 50 weeks at number 1 in Peshawar.

Revival

In 2015, Sanober Qaiser's film Sartez Badmash[3] was released at two cinemas in Kabul and Pakhtun Pay Dubai was released in Dubai as well as Kabul.[3] In 2013, the first high definition Pashto film Zama Arman was released. After 35 years, in 2015 the Pashto film industry released seven new movies, thus breaking all previous records of film production. All films were screened at the cinemas in Peshawar, Mingora, Mardan, Kohat and even in a few theatres of Karachi city. The movies released were Ma Cheera Gharib Sara, Sar-Teza Badmash, Daagh, Mayeen kho Lewani vee, Khanadani Badmash, Pukhtoon pa Dubai ke[4] and I Love You too.[4] Shama cinema in Peshawar is popular.[5] Reham Khan's movie Janaan has won awards for its screenplay.[6] Naz cinema was first to provide 3D digital movie experience at Peshawar.[7][8]

Films

Main article: List of Pashto-language films

References

  1. ^ "Bombs, boredom threaten Pakistan's "Pashto" song-and-dance cinema". Dawn. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Pakistan Film History". Pakistan Film Magazine. mazhar.dk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010. This inaugural Pashto film completed more than 50 weeks in one cinema of Peshawar
  3. ^ a b Lodhi, Adnan (21 July 2015). "Pakistani Pashto film makes a mark in Kabul". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Release of seven new Pashto films this Eid". The Express Tribune. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  5. ^ Today, Pakistan (10 July 2015). "Cinema targeted by militants reopens after a year". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  6. ^ Desk, Entertainment (23 July 2015). "Cinema's new darling: Armeena Khan says Bin Roye is a giant leap for Pakistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. ^ Shinwari, Sher Alam (3 February 2020). "KP's first 3D theatre facility to revive cinema culture". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Peshawar to get its first 3D cinema on Dec 26 | SAMAA". Samaa TV. Retrieved 5 February 2020.

External links