Zia Sarhadi

Elaan

The Urdu film Elaan (1967) was directed by Ashfaq Malik.

Yateem

A social drama centered on the life and struggles of an orphaned child. The film explore themes of vulnerability, resilience, the search for belonging, or the challenges faced by someone without familial support in society. It aim to evoke empathy and highlight societal responsibilities towards orphans.

Badi Maa

A devoted woman, Badi Maa dedicates her life to raising her deceased friend's child, her love and sacrifices influencing all around her, leading to emotional conflicts as the child matures.

Manmohan

A social woman-centered film interrogating aspects of feudal patriarchy. The painter Ashok (Surendra) who loves the orphaned Vimala (Bibbo) is distressed to learn that she is due to marry Jagdish (Yakub). He paints Vimala's portraits with a frenzied obsession and becomes a famous artist. Paralleling this love story is the decline in Ashok's family fortunes.

Anokha Pyar

Love triangle has a flowerseller and a doctor's daughter both in love with a struggling writer.

Footpath

Tired of poverty, Noshu takes to black-marketing. Soon, he realises that his act has hurt everyone around him, including his brother and his sweetheart. Although he tries to make amends, it may be too late.

We Three

Mehboob presents the autonomous passion of Leela (Rose) for Moti (Motilal) who is promised to another woman, Bina (Maya). Leela is portrayed as irresponsible and impulsive as she acknowledges her desire for Moti and has a child by him. Bina then releases Moti from his promise. Moti suffers when he is told by Bina’s father (Sankantha) that she is dead, while Leela’s father (Pande) enjoins his daughter to commit suicide if Moti does not marry her. In spite of the film’s endorsement of ‘traditional’, lethally oppressive patriarchal mores, incarnated by the women’s fathers, Mehboob’s narrative at least dares to depict a woman who refuses to feel guilty about her desire.

Nadaan

A childhood betrothal goes awry when a case of mistaken identity lands a woman in trouble with the law. Years later, the destined pair reunite as rival journalists, entangled in a love triangle with their boss.