'''Dalsukh M. Pancholi (1906-59)'''


Hindi director. Exhibitor and Punjabi-Hindi
producer born in Karachi. Studied
scriptwriting and cinematography in New
York. Inherited cinema network built by
Rewashankar Pancholi during WW1.
Expanded Empire Film Distributors (1922)
into Empire Talkie Distributors (1931),
established in Lahore and the largest importer
of American films in Northern and Western
India (approx 24 films annually). Exclusive
contract with RKO gave them access to
Photophone sound equipment. Made some
documentaries, including footage on the
Karachi Congress session (1931). Entered film
production relatively late, but early
productions in Punjabi (Gul-e-Bakavali, 1939,
Yamla Jat, 1940) and Hindi (Khazanchi,
1941) were instrumental in bringing Lahore’s
film industry into the national mainstream.
Built his studio Pancholi Art Pics in Lahore
with five floors but abandoned everything to
migrate to Bombay following Partition (1946),
apparently taking only the negative of his
unfinished film, Patjhad (1948). For some
years his team of film-makers (e.g. Gidwani
and Ravindra Dave), actors (Ramola,
Nurjehan, Smriti Biswas, Om Prakash, etc.)
and composers (Ghulam Haider, O.P.
Nayyar) were very influential in shaping a
hybrid mass cultural film formula for a
growing migrant working class in North India.
Usually credited himself for his productions’
stories and scripts.
'''
FILMOGRAPHY:''' 1952: Aasmaan.

[[Director]]

[[Producer]]