Pervez Malik

Pervez Malik (1937 in Karachi - 18 November 2008) was a Pakistani film director. He directed more than 20 films, mostly Urdu, and received excellent reviews from both film critics and the public. He directed films like Heera Aur Pathar (1964), Armaan (1966), Ehsaan (1967), Doraha (1967), Pehchaan (1975), Talaash (1976), Pakeeza (1979), Intikhab (1978), Hum Dono (1980), Qurbani (1981), Kamyabi (1984) and Gharibon Ka Baadshah (1988).

Pervez Malik was nine years old when Pakistan became independent in 1947. His family had a background in military service, but he was influenced by his class fellow, Waheed Murad, whose father, Nisar Murad, ran a film distribution business, namely Film Arts. With the passage of time, both learned the art of making and marketing films from Nisar Murad and his colleagues, mostly film-industry personalities. After graduation, both decided to study film-making in the USA, but Waheed Murad was his parents' only child, he wouldn`t be allowed to go away to US for four years. So Pervez Malik went alone while Waheed Murad was admitted to Karachi University to pursue his second highest passion, English Literature. Pervez Malik received his master's degree in film-making from University of Southern California at Los Angeles and returned to Pakistan in 1963.

After returning he joined country's most widely circulated English magazine 'Eastern Film' as assistant editor. During this period, Waheed had already produced his own two films under the banner of his father's Films Art. Pervez also joined him and together made hit films like Heera Aur Pathar, Armaan (1966) and Ehsaan (1967). Pervez Malik won the prestigious Nigar Award for film Armaan (1966) for the year 1966 as Best Film Director. But due to some differences which arose between them, he decided to start films with other film heroes like Nadeem and Mohammad Ali.

Three of Pervez's films were exempted from tax and received President's Pride of Performance Awards. He also received several awards in best director's and lifetime achievement categories. Film director Pervez Malik died on 18 Nov 2008 after directing over 20 films for the Pakistani film industry.