From Sindh to Punjabi cinema

Mustafa Qureshi is a Pakistani actor associated with films in Punjabi and other languages. In a Dawn interview he described growing up in Hyderabad, Sindh, and receiving offers from Punjabi film producers despite initially being unfamiliar with the language. His work is a reminder that Punjabi cinema has involved artists whose lives and linguistic backgrounds extend beyond Punjab. Accounts differ on his birth year, so it is safer to consult further records than to assert a precise date. His own recollections are valuable evidence of his career, though memories and later retellings can differ.[1]

A career across languages

In a later interview reported by The Express Tribune, Qureshi recalled work at Radio Pakistan in Hyderabad and identified Char Khoon De Piyase as his first Punjabi film. He also discussed working with actor Sultan Rahi and the release of Maula Jatt in 1979. These are the actor’s recollections as reported in an interview; production records and film prints can be used to check spellings, credits and dates. His move between radio and cinema and between languages illustrates the interconnected careers of performers in Pakistan’s cultural industries. His account places those recollections within a discussion about support for Pakistan’s film industry.[2]

Noori Nath and Maula Jatt

Qureshi played Noori Nath, the antagonist opposite Sultan Rahi in Maula Jatt. A Dawn retrospective examines the film’s action, dialogue and reception and describes how the character became associated with Qureshi in later films. The article’s interpretation of the film’s importance is one critic’s account, not a complete history of Punjabi cinema. Character names are transliterated in several ways, including Noori Natt and Noori Nath. A cast credit identifies a role, while viewing the film and comparing contemporary criticism can reveal more about the performance and its reception.[3]

Sources & notes

Source records include access dates and, where known, limits on what was examined. Checks used AI assistance; independent human or specialist review has not been completed.

  1. Dawn, InpaperMagazine. Interview: The actor par excellence ↗newspaper interview · Source date: 2013-01-20 · Locator: Interview: Hyderabad, Radio Pakistan and response to Punjabi film offers. Accessed 2026-11-04.Published interview inspected; original recordings and film prints were not independently reviewed.Return to From Sindh to Punjabi cinema, paragraph 1 ↑
  2. The Express Tribune. Film industry needs support ↗Written source · Source date: 2022 · Locator: Interview on early career. Accessed 2026-11-03.Official award record, film catalogue, or interview inspected.Return to A career across languages, paragraph 1 ↑
  3. Nadeem F. Paracha; Dawn. Maula Jatt: the secret history ↗newspaper film retrospective · Source date: 2014-10-19 · Locator: Retrospective on Maula Jatt, its reception and the Noori Nath character. Accessed 2026-11-04.Published retrospective inspected; its interpretation and the film itself were not independently verified.Return to Noori Nath and Maula Jatt, paragraph 1 ↑
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