Date of foundation: 1971

When the satirical magazine “Crocodile” was published in the USSR, it quickly became popular among readers. Following this, various satirical magazines in the republics, and “Kirpi” in Azerbaijan, began to operate. Khrushchev, who came to power after Stalin, somewhat relieved the moral tension in the country. A certain “mild” atmosphere was created in the field of literature and art. At such a time, it was decided to prepare a screen version of “Crocodile”. In 1962, the first issue of the all-Union satirical film magazine “Fitil” was released. This film magazine was shown in cinemas before feature films.
In April 1970, when the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan discussed the shortcomings in the activities of the film studio, it was decided to release a satirical film magazine under the studio.
Mozalan studio was founded in 1971 under the “Azerbaijanfilm” film studio as the satirical film magazine “Mozalan”. The purpose of the film magazine is to fight against negative situations in the republic, to convey them to the people through the language of satire and to teach them a lesson. The main working methods of the “mozalans” were to suddenly appear at various production facilities, to film their shortcomings and problems, and to warn the entire republic.
The first issue of “Mozalan” was released in June 1971. The first plot of the film magazine, titled “Dear Scientific Comrades,” declared the origin and purpose of the newly created satirical film magazine “Mozalan”.
The first editor-in-chief of the magazine was Ekrem Aylisli, but after the first issue was released, he was replaced by Eyvaz Borchaly. In 1971-1979, the film magazine was produced quarterly or monthly (4-6 times a year).
On January 1, 1980, “Mozalan” separated from the film studio and became an organ of the Azerbaijan State Cinematography Committee – the Independent Chief Editorial Office with Economic Accounting of the Republican Satirical Film Journal. From this date, the magazine began to be published 8-9 issues per year.
The magazine enriched the national cinema art with a new genre - the genre of satirical film journalism.

“Mozalan” was transferred to the Mozalan Studio in 1989, and in addition to the film journal, feature and documentary films were shot under this brand.

The directors of the studio (cinemagazine) during its existence were:
Akram Aylisli (1971, issue 1)
Eyvaz Borchali (1971-1984)
Ziyafat Abbasov
Jahangir Mehdiyev
Orkhan Fikretoghlu (2007-2014)
Mushfig Hatamov
Alisattar Guliyev (2015-2023)
Rashad Jafarov (2025-...)