Bannu cinema has its roots in the 1960s, when filmmakers from the region started producing movies in Pashto, Urdu, and Punjabi languages. The genre gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with films like "Deewana" (1978) and "Khanak" (1981). Bannu cinema is known for its unique storytelling, music, and cultural representation of the Pashtun community.