Saleem Murad — Visionary Filmmaker & Master Storyteller

Mr. Saleem Murad, originally named Muhammad Saleem,
is a renowned Pakistani film writer, director, and producer based in Lahore. Born in 1962 in Gujrat City, Pakistan, he has written 260 movies in five different languages: Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Bengali, and Nepali.
He is considered one of the best writers in Pakistan,
famous for creating issue-based films wrapped in entertainment

1. Awards and Recognition:

   • Recipient of multiple Nigar Awards, Pakistan’s most prestigious film award, for Best Screenplay and Best Writer.

   • Honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pakistan Film Producers Association.

   • Recognized by Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) for his contribution to culturally significant cinema.

2. Contribution to Pakistani Cinema:

   • One of the few screenwriters in Pakistan to successfully write films across five languages, making him a pioneer in multicultural storytelling.

   • Credited with reviving Punjabi cinema in the 1990s with socially relevant stories blended with mass entertainment.

   • Known for addressing social issues like poverty, women's rights, and injustice in his films while maintaining commercial appeal.

3. Collaboration with Legendary Actors and Directors:

   • Worked with leading Lollywood stars, including Sultan Rahi, Mustafa Qureshi, Nadeem Baig, and Saima Noor.

   • Collaborated with iconic directors such as Haider Chaudhry, Syed Noor, and Masood Butt.

4. Saleem Murad as a Mentor:

   • Mentored many upcoming writers and directors, some of whom are now leading filmmakers in the Pakistani industry.

   • Conducted screenwriting workshops in Lahore for young filmmakers.

5. Transition into Digital Entertainment:

   • Co-founded Game Changer Entertainment, extending his storytelling skills into mobile games and digital platforms.

   • Currently developing interactive storytelling games and digital films aimed at both Pakistani and international audiences.

6. Personal Philosophy and Influence:

   • Believes in "Cinema as a tool for social change".

   • Inspired by Pakistani literature and Sufi poetry, which often reflect in his film dialogues and narratives.

7. Family Legacy:

   • Son, Naghman Saleem, continues the legacy as an editor, producer, and game developer, ensuring Game Changer Entertainment expands into new digital spaces.

To his credit are some of Lollywood’s biggest hits, including Boxer, Lutira, Hijrat, Gandasa,Dara Gujjar, Gundaraj, Barood, Karma, Benam Badshah,Jadu Nagri, Sukhan ,Sharabi, Yarana, Turyaly, Baryaly, Nangyalay, Gujjar Da Kharrak, Zakhmona, Lambe ,Juram Aw Saza ,Zandan ,Da Badamalo Badamala ,Dy Ta Badmashi Wai ,Badmashano Sara Ma Chera ,Us Khu Me Zargay Shuwe ,Shahenshah Bacha ,Janaan ,Yaar Dushman ,Charta Khanay Charta Faqiray ,Ishq Mubarak ,Chaa Karam Badamla and many more..............

Opening of Film (SHENSHA) 1988
(From Right To Left)Director Arif khan , Director Naseem Khan ,Writer Saleem Murad Producer Haji Mahroof ,Female Singer Mahjaben Qazalbash , Director Qaiser Snober & Film Villain Bakhtiyar Tanga

Opening of Film (Levaney Khan) Pashto1986
(Left To Right )Writer of To Levaney Khan ,Saleem Murad , Director Saed ali khan & Still Photographer Zulfi

Saleem Murad first major achievement was the film Barood, released on August 17, 1984. It marked the beginning of his journey as a solo scriptwriter. He also had the great opportunity to work with renowned journalist and columnist Munno Bhai who was the Number One columnist of jang News Paper of Pakistan. Barood Urdu film was nominated in the best of three for the National Film Award in 1985.

Saleem Murad began his cinematic journey as an assistant to the renowned film scriptwriter Sayed Noor from 1979 to 1983. During this period, he gained valuable industry experience and honed his skills in storytelling and screenplay development.

In 1982-83, he took on the role of Chief Assistant to two prominent Punjabi film Directors, Haider Chaudhry and Arif Chaudhry. His work alongside these legendary filmmakers further solidified his expertise in film direction and production.

in Eid-ul-Azha 2012, Saleem Murad achieved a remarkable milestone in the Pakistani film industry, celebrating a Double Century as a solo scriptwriter. With over 200 Films to his credit, his contributions have left an indelible mark on the industry, shaping the narratives of countless iconic movies.

In Same Year 2012, veteran scriptwriter Saleem Murad set an extraordinary benchmark in the Pakistani film industry by writing 17 film scripts in a single year. His prolific output included 16 Pashto films and 1 Punjabi film, showcasing his versatility and deep understanding of regional cinema.

His dedication to storytelling and his ability to craft compelling scripts have cemented his legacy as one of Pakistan's most prolific and influential scriptwriters.

Express News 2012 Artical Link
https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101689097&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20121207&fbclid

Saleem Murad holds the historic credit of creating Pakistan’s first Punjabi film featuring visual effects. This groundbreaking achievement was made even more special as the visual effects were done by none other than his own son, Naghman Saleem.

Additionally, this film, titled "Kafra," also became the first Punjabi movie in Pakistan to be shot on an HD camera, marking a significant technological advancement in the industry.

With this innovation, Saleem Murad not only introduced modern filmmaking techniques to Punjabi cinema , but also set new standards for future productions.

By 2025, the legendary scriptwriter Saleem Murad has achieved an extraordinary milestone, with 262 released films to his name as a solo scriptwriter—a feat few in the industry can claim.

Spanning decades, his storytelling has shaped the golden era of Pakistani cinema, captivating audiences with gripping narratives across Punjabi, Pashto, and Urdu films. His ability to craft diverse and engaging stories has not only defined careers of countless actors and filmmakers but has also kept cinema halls alive with his signature storytelling magic.

With this unparalleled achievement, Saleem Murad’s name stands tall among the greatest scriptwriters in Pakistani film history, leaving behind a cinematic legacy that will inspire generations to come.

Breaking Barriers in Pakistani Cinema: Saleem Murad & Naghman Saleem’s Technological Revolution

After the groundbreaking 2011 Punjabi film Kafra, Saleem Murad and his son Naghman Saleem faced immense backlash from industry veterans for introducing HD technology into Pakistani cinema. Many established players resisted the change, fearing it would disrupt the traditional filmmaking process.

However, refusing to back down, the father-son duo reunited in 2013 to create the Pashto film Munafiq—a project that cleverly blended both old and new filmmaking techniques. While the film was shot on traditional 35mm cameras, all its visual effects were filmed in HD and later converted to 35mm reel.

This bold experiment proved to be a game-changer. The success of Munafiq shattered industry resistance, leading to a revolution in the Pashto film industry, where filmmakers abandoned outdated 35mm cameras and fully embraced HD technology.

Through innovation and perseverance, Saleem Murad and Naghman Saleem not only modernized Pakistani cinema but also paved the way for the future of filmmaking in the region.

One of Saleem Murad’s most notable contributions to the industry was introducing the legendary qawwali maestro, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, to Pakistani cinema. This historic moment took place in his critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, Boxer.
The film not only showcased Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s extraordinary vocal talent but also left a lasting impact on the industry.

Through his dedication and artistic vision, Saleem Murad played a significant role in shaping the golden era of Pakistani cinema, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire filmmakers today.

Kafra Poster

Saleem Murad & Sobia Khan

Saleem Murad & Naghman Saleem

Shafqat Cheema , Saleem Murad & Naghman Saleem

Kafra Poster

Arbaz Khan , Saleem Murad & Naghman Saleem

Sobia Khan ,Qaiser Mastana , Jahangir Jani ,Saleem Murad & Inayat Ullah Khan

Saleem Murad,Falak Ch ,
Raheela Agha ,Arbaz Khan , Sobia Khan & Jahangir Jani

Jahangir Jani , Saleem Murad , Falak Ch

Arbaz Khan,Sobia Khan ,
Anela Agha ,Jahangir Jani & Saleem Murad

Saleem Murad Falak Ch ,Raheela Agha , Arbaz Khan ,Sobia Khan & Jahangir Jani

Falak Ch ,Jahangir Jani & Saleem Murad

Saleem Murad ,Naghman Saleem & Arbaz Khan

Sobia Khan,Arbaz Khan ,Raheela Agha ,Falak Ch & Saleem Murad

Saleem Murad as An Director Knows what he wants , Check expretion on Jahangir Jani Face after Saleem Murad Act

Saleem Murad ,Naghman Saleem
& Nigha Hussain

Saleem Murad & Sajjad Ahmad Warrach

Munafiq Film Poster