Chan Wey Explained

Chanway
Native Name:
Director:
Producer:Shaukat Hussain Rizvi
Music:Feroz Nizami
Studio:Shahnoor Studios
Country:Pakistan
Language:Punjabi

Chanway or Chan Wey is a 1951 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed Noor Jehan (in her directorial debut) with the supervision of Shaukat Hussain Rizvi.

It was written by Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj. Feroz Nizami provided the music for the film's soundtrack. It premiered in Lahore's Regent Cinema on 24 March 1951.

The film was the first Pakistani film directed by a woman. "Mundeya Sialkotiya" was a popular track from the film's soundtrack.

Cast

The cast of the film includes:[1]

Production

After migrating from India, Shaukat Hussain Rizvi established his Shahnoor Studios and decided to produce a film. He was advised to produce film in Punjabi language because at that time Punjabi films such as Pheray (1949) and Laraay (1950) were commercially successful rather than Urdu language films. So, he directed and produced Channway and his spouse Noor Jehan was credited as the director because he himself did not know the Punjabi language. Thus, it became the first Pakistani film by a female director.

The film also marked Jehan's return to the screen since her last film Jugnu (1947), also directed by Rizvi and had music composed by Nizami.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Release and reception

The film premiered on 24 March 1951 in Lahore's Regent cinema. It became commercially successful with a theatrical run of 18 weeks.[7] [6]

Soundtrack

Feroz Nizami composed the film's music on the lyrics of F.D. Sharf and Ustad Daman. All songs were performed by Noor Jehan except one, which was performed by Ali Bakhsh Zahoor.

Track listing

Song title Lyrics by Sung by Notes
Tere Mukhre Da Kala Kala Til Way, Mera Kud Ke Le Gya Dil Way, Way Mundeya SialkotiyaF.D. SharfNoor JehanPopular song from the film's soundtrack[8] [9]
Changa Banaya e Sanu, Kach Da KhadonaF.D. SharfNoor Jehan
Way Tu Bhul Na JavinF.D. SharfNoor Jehan
Chann Deya Totya Wey, Dillan Deya KhotyaF.D. SharfNoor JehanThis song establishes Jehan's mastery over difficult singing
Bedardaan Di Dunya KohlunF.D. SharfAli Baksh Zahoor
Lamiaan Manzilan, Dil Door KinarayF.D. SharfNoor Jehan[10]
Bach Ja Mundeya Mor TunUstad DamanNoor Jehan
Teray Long Da Peya LashkaraF.D. SharfNoor Jehan and chorus

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . 2 September 2013 . Dunya newspaper . dead . 27 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427162056/https://dunya.com.pk/index.php/special-feature/2013-09-02/5739.
  2. News: Jehangir A. Khan is dead . Dawn newspaper . 24 September 2013. 9 June 2024.
  3. Book: Gazdar, Mushtaq . Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997 . Mushtaq Gazdar . 1997 . Oxford University Press . 38 . 0-19-577817-0.
  4. News: فلمی و ادبی شخصیات کے سکینڈلز۔ ۔ ۔قسط نمبر582 . 4 January 2019 . Daily Pakistan newspaper. 9 June 2024.
  5. Book: Culture and Customs of Pakistan . Iftikhar Haider Malik . 978-0313331268 . Greenwood Publishing Group . 2006 . 182.
  6. Web site: Chanway (1951) . Motion Pictures Archive of Pakistan website . 14 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200214234525/http://www.mpaop.org/mpaop/pak-film-database/chronological-of-films/1951-2/chan-way/. dead. 9 June 2024.
  7. Web site: . 30 September 2005 . BBC News . ur . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330074747/https://www.bbc.com/urdu/entertainment/story/2005/09/printable/050930_lollywood_12_zs . 30 March 2023. 9 June 2024.
  8. News: Noor Jahan’s top 10 most memorable songs . Amjad Parvez . 23 September 2019 . Daily Times newspaper . 9 June 2024 . 23 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223093107/https://dailytimes.com.pk/470798/noor-jahans-top-10-most-memorable-songs/ . dead.
  9. News: Timeline of Pakistani cinema (film review of Chanway (1951 film)) . Soonha Abro . 9 June 2024 . Dawn newspaper. https://web.archive.org/web/20221009133219/https://www.dawn.com/in-depth/film-special/. dead. 9 October 2022.
  10. Web site: Sound of Lollywood: The classy classical number by the one and only Noor Jehan. Scroll.in. 9 September 2017. 25 April 2023.