Cinematic jewel of Pakistan to be screened at Lok Virsa today

Islamabad
Director: Masood Pervaiz
Producer: Ijaz-Masood
Script and Lyrics: Ahmad Rahi (based on Waris Shah's classic)
Music: Khursheed Anwar
Photography: Masood ur Rehman
Cast: Firdaus, Ijaz, Ajmal, Rangila, Zamurd, Munawar Zareef
Lok Virsa is screening the 1970’s classic 'Heer Ranjha' as opening movie of its film club 'Mandawa' (a term used for films and cinema from the last century) today (Saturday) at 6 p.m.
'Heer Ranjha' has gone hand in hand with the film history of sub-continent for several decades. Back in 1932, when sound had just arrived in films a year back with 'Alam Ara', A R Kardar (who went on to make his own studio in Mumbai and gave hits like 'Jadoo', 'Dastaan', 'Dillagi' and 'Dil Diya Dard Liya'), attempted 'Heer Ranjha' with Anwar Begum and Rafiq Ghaznavi in the lead roles. The film was a wreck largely due to its faulty and out-of-focus camerawork. Five years later, in 1937, this epic came from Kolkata as 'Heer Sayal' and was a smash hit. After independence, Nazir and his star wife Swaranlata made 'Heer'. A R Kardar re-made it as 'Dillagi'. In 1948, Wali Sahab again went for 'Heer Ranjha' in Mumbai.
And leaving past behind, in 1970, Masood Pervaiz and Ijaz Durrani's 'Heer Ranjha' premiered in Pakistan and Chetan Anand's 'Heer Ranjha' came out in India. The later with Raj Kumar and Priya had no dialogue and everything came in poetry.
The kind of response 'Heer Ranjha' received in 1970 in Pakistan was unprecedented. And it was not just the Pakistani audiences. Diehard movie fans from India (particularly from Punjab) saw the film here on their 'yaatra' trip and adored it. It turned out to be the only Pakistani film which went through studio's laboratory for over 150 prints and this was long before the digital revolution. The picture's negative took the worst beating beyond salvage.
'Heer Ranjha' is a milestone of our film history due to many factors. It presented the Punjabi rural scene in its true colours. Be it the lush green fields with grazing cattle or 'haveli' of Heer's father. Few Punjabi films have been able to accomplish that feat. Colour films had just been introduced here a few years back with 'Sangam', 'Naila', 'Zarqa' and 'Andaleeb' and film fans were just crazy for colour. 'Heer Ranjha' offered all the colours of life, live and in rich tones. Masood Pervaiz, an accomplished director with 'Intezaar', 'Jhoomar' and 'Koel' to his credit, was in full command and got the best performance from the entire cast. Khursheed Anwar's compositions, Ahmad Rahi's lyrics and Noorjehan's melodies were yet another hit feature of the film with songs like 'Wanjli waliaria' , 'Soun wanjli di mithri taan' and 'Chan mahi aa' becoming smash street songs.(they still are ).
Today, many celebrities who lead the cast and credits of 'Heer Ranjha' are no longer with us. The cinematic classic they created back in 1970 would remain with us. The coming generations would have a film jewel to prove that given a chance and proper production facilities, Pakistani films are second to none.
The author can be reached at aijazzgul@gmail.com