Zinda Laash

Zinda Laash (Urdu: زندہ لاش, lit. 'Living Corpse') is a 1967 Pakistani Urdu horror film, directed by Khwaja Sarfraz.[1][2] Produced by Abdul Baqi, it stars Asad Bukhari (Dr. Aqil Harker), Habib (Aqil's Brother), Deeba (Shabnam), Rehan (Vampire), Zareen Panna (Dancer) and Nasreen (Vampire bride). It was the first horror film of Pakistan, and also the first to be X-rated.[3]

Zinda Laash
Directed byKhwaja Sarfraz
Written byNaseem Rizwani
Khwaja Sarfraz
Produced byAbdul Baqi
StarringAsad Bukhari
Habib
Deeba
Rehan
Nasreen
Zareen Panna
CinematographyNabi Ahmed
Raza Mir
Music byTassaduq Hussain
Release date
7 July 1967
Running time
103 minutes
CountryPakistan
LanguageUrdu

Zinda Laash is also known as Dracula in Pakistan (USA title) and The Living Corpse (International title).

Plot synopsis

Professor Tabini is experimenting on an elixir that he believes will beat death. When he tries it on himself, however, things don’t work out as planned and he dies. When his assistant finds him no longer among the living, she carries him downstairs and slaps him into the crypt in the basement. Unfortunately for her, he rises from the grave and chomps down on her neck.

Cast

Inspirations

The plot borrows heavily from Hammer Horror's Horror of Dracula, in fact there are times when the music even has a noticeable similarity to James Bernard's score. There are some classical themes thrown in as well. "The Barber of Seville" is playing during the car chase scene and some other cues which are eccentric to say the least. Some elements of the plot even come directly from Bram Stoker's novel, not from "Horror of Dracula".[4] Zinda Laash is also referenced in Omar Khan's Zibahkhana, usually termed as its sequel.

Initial release and reception

Zinda Laash was released on 7 July 1967. The film couldn't do great at the box-office and was a flop show.[5]

DVD release

The DVD is available on the Mondo Macabro DVD label from around 2003. The Hot Spot has secured Theatrical and Home Video rights to Zinda Laash for the regions of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand as well as Home Video rights for Pakistan. The film is to be part of The Mondo Macabro series of DVD releases due in the near future and will therefore become the first Pakistani film to be released on DVD.

Film festivals

Zinda Laash also has the distinction of being the first ever horror film to be screened at two major film festivals abroad; the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Spain and the Neuchatel International Festival of Fantastic Films in Switzerland.[6]

References
  1. Khan, Rayan (9 October 2011). "Dracula in Pakistan: 'Whattay scary'". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. Trenholm, Richard (18 December 2021). "Turkish Spider-Man and the weird world of foreign remakes". CNET. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  3. Paracha, Nadeem F. (9 August 2012). "Also Pakistan - IV". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. "ZINDA LAASH - The Living Corpse - El Muerto Viviente (1967)". web.archive.org. 15 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  5. "Zinda Lash". Pakistan Film Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021.
  6. "Veteran actor Mir Rehan battling illness with no governmental support". Daily Times. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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