Rani is Angeline’s recent serial aired on ptv – A love story with a political back ground. It is not just a story, it is a page from life, a mirror to a woman’s dignity and fight for survival, a fight between victory and defeat, between life and death. It is about greed, power and revenge. Rani is about women empowerment, How a woman fights against all odds and manages to achieve a position meant only for men, it is about the possibilities open to a woman if she dares to challenge the male dominated society.
The play is a must watch. A strong and different story line with some stunning acting make the play a must see. Babar Ali has lived his character to the core. He is simply amazing and deserves a superb applause. Babar Ali plays the role of an innocent man but pretends to be an abusive and violent character. Babar Ali while commenting on the serial said that after doing so many movies for so long, he has got a very good character of an angry young man. Zahra played by Farah Shah is shown as a fine art’s student and mainly the story of the serial revolves around her. Zahra is a girl basically with a romantic nature, who is waiting for her ideal – a sweet, gentle, soft spoken and kind hearted, but, Bali is the main hurdle between her and her ideal, because she is engaged to him since childhood
The best combination of the great actors of all times – Rahat Kazmi, Saira Kazmi, Talat Hussain and Shakeel, all together in a play written by Hasina Moin, whose name is enough for a drama to be a hit. This drama is best known for the interactions between the major characters and dialogues that can be compared with the best that PTV has ever produced. Rahat and Sahira Kazmi (the husband and wife team) are terrific and so is the wonderfully wicked Talat Hussain (the character that he has played in this drama).
Cast: Shakeel, Sahira Kazan, Rahat Kazmi, Begum Khurshed Mirza, Roohi Bano, Lubna, Begum Azra Sherwani, Mehar Rizvi and Talat Hussain
The drama shows the different roles of women and how they are all unhappy with their husbands. It contrasts the women in the village who worship their husbands to the urban women who, eventhough not tied down by their husbands, are unhappy as well. It also talks about child labor and family planning although towards the end some scenes seemed like and ad for “duo baachay khooshal gharana.”
It’s very well performed by the main actors. The scene where the guy brings “ladoos” to Huma Nawab’s sister is both innocent and pleasing.
Sajid Hassan adds a little humor to the whole thing which is pleasing and not excessive like most dramas tend to do.
Written by: Abdul Qadir Junejo
Directed by: Haroon Rind
Cast: Marina Khan, Atiqa Odho, Nauman Ijaz, Huma Nawab, Sajid Hassan
In this drama Aijaz Aslam (now a renowned dress designer & actor) made his debut. He played the main role of Roshoo who was kidnapped by some beggars in his childhood and one day he manages to escape. He was then raised by a family who took care of him and he got the opportunity to study. His story moves on and takes lots of twists and turns and the complications arise as the story moves on.
Quality acting by quality actors with superb directions and script ensures engrossing viewing experience for the masses and has made this drama a classic.
This drama is Salim Nasir’s last performance on Television as after a short time of its release, he expired and left the gap unfilled forever.
The story revolves around two thieves Laali (M. Warsi) and Raheem Dad (Shabbir Jan), who escaped from the prison and have been running from the authorities throughout the play. The role of both the prisoners have been performed extremely well by the actors. This play has been Shabbir Jan’s debut play. In this play Salim Nasir has again performed extremely well in a role of a cruel brother.
The drama gained immense popularity due to superb direction and performances by the great actors.
Writer : Shaukat Siddiqui
Director : Kazim Pasha
Cast: M Warsi, Shabbir Jan, Zahoor Ahmad, Subhani Bayounus, Salim Nasir, M Yousuf, Ashraf Khan, Shagufta Ejaz, Tahira Wasti, A. R. Baloch
The drama is directed by Abid Ali who also played a powerful role in this drama. The story revolves around the 3 tribes of Baluchistan who were at war with each other due to personal enimities. Born in these tribes are Shah Taj (Atiqa Odho) and Balaj (Nauman Ejaz). Despite of being surrounded by hatred all their lives, both are gentle souls who fell in love with each other. Fearing that their union could unite the two tribes, the head of the third tribe tried to plot against their marriage.
Continuous twists and turns and the complications that arise as the story moves on, along with quality acting by quality actors ensures engrossing viewing experience for the masses. The cinematography of this drama is also great.
Producer: Abid Ali
Writer: Munnoo Bhai
Director: Abid Ali , F H Qureshi
Cast: Abid Ali, Atiqa Odho, Nauman Ejaz, Fazeela Qazi, Asad, Shaista Malik, Noor Mohammad Lashari, Rasheed Naz, Sabiha Khanum, Ayyub Khosa, Aslam Latar
‘Uncle urfi,’ could be ranked among the three greatest drama serials in Shakeel’s forty-year eventful career. Cast included Shakeel in the title role of ‘Uncle urfi,’ Shehla Ahmed as Beena, Qurban Jeelani as Shaheed bhai, Azra Sherwani as Ghazi, Jamshed Ansari as Hasnat bhai.
As the story goes, Shakeel, who is super-smartly dubbed as ‘Uncle urfi,’ takes interest in Beena. In reality, uncle urfi was desirous to make Beena happy. Logically, urfi should have taken Beena into confidence before doing her a favor. Instead, he kept her in the dark. The final moments of the last episode are fraught with pain and pathos.
Urfi tells Beena with certitude, ‘hamari shadi hogi to sara zamana deikhey ga.’ to which poor Beena replies, ‘kuchh shadiyaan dil kay weerano mein bhi to ho jaati hain, sirif khuda gawah hota hai.’
The emotionally charged conclusion of ‘Uncle urfi,’ was so unexpected that literally nobody was prepared for it. Indeed, Haseena Moin had instilled so much despair in its dialogues that thirty-two years later, it still stands as a classic in its bittersweet illustration of the unbreakable bond of family.
KHUDA KI BASTI ( 1969 & 1974 )
PTV’s “Mother of All Serials”
By RAJU JAMIL, Karachi
Shaukat Siddiqui’s Adamjee Adabi prize winner of 1964 “Khuda Ki Basti” is perhaps the only novel-based TV serial in the history of Pakistan which not only drew large viewer-ship but still remains an infectious memory of yesteryears.
Initially, KKB was produced in Nov-1969 jointly by producers ; Ishrat Ansari and Rasheed Umar Thanvi at Karachi TV’s that small and historical studio “A” which still stands galore at the Centre. There was an advisory committee of KKB comprising a panel of famous intellectuals; Faiz Ahmed Ahmed, Jamiluddin Aali besides Shaukat Siddiqui himself to ensure the perfection of the adaptation of the novel into drama.
The 1969 black & white serial had a booty of top PTV artiste of Karachi; Zahin Tahira, Zafar Masud, S.M.Saleem, Zahoor Ahmed, Qazi Wajid, Zafar Siddiqui, Tauqir Fatima, Shahjee, Arsh-e-Munir, Qayyum Arif, Amir Khan, Iqbal Tareen, Shakil Chughtai, Andaleeb, Raju Jamil and many others. It was a 25 minute weekly serial then which lasted 26 episodes. It is said that the day of KKB’s telecast saw the roads and streets of Karachi without traffic….soundless and absolutely quiet. The invitation cards of the wedding parties being held on the day and time of KKB’s schedule, always carried a small message saying “ TV Set Ka Bhi Intizam Hai “.
Halfway through KHUDA KI BASTI on air during 1969, the leading girl Tauqir Fatima suddenly expired of ulcer problem. Her on going character was replaced by the inclusion of Mussarat Sahafi.
At the unofficial awards ceremony held in Apr-1970 at Rio Cinema hall, KHUDA KI BASTI bagged 15 awards with Qazi Wajid receiving as the best actor award for character of “Raja” and Zahin Tahira as leading girl’s mom. The best supporting actor award went to Raju Jamil for his memorable character of “GEOFFERY” calling his subordinate “Solomon” instead of Salman. Both; Ishrat Ansari and Rasheed Umar Thanvi received the best producers award…a black & white 23” TV set.
In 1974 when Z. A. Bhutto was PM, he directed Yusuf Buch his Information Advisor for re-telecast of KHUDA KI BASTI as it was Bhutto’s favorite serial having awami message also. But the PTV had problems as the VTRs
( Video Tape Recordings ) of KKB on spool then (1969), had long been erased due to their scarcity and re-recording of other programs. Z.A.Bhutto insisted that the serial must be re-telecast even if fresh recording is essential hence the entire cast (of 1969 version) was again gathered at Producer Bakhtiar Ahmed’s room at Karachi TV Centre except for Zafar Masud who died in car accident in Egypt a year back, Iqbal Tareen who migrated to USA and Andaleeb who had shifted to Bangladesh in 1971. Zafar’s role as “Nausha” was enacted by Behroze Subzwari ( a young lad then ) and Andaleeb’s by Zooni Butt the then famous TV model and Iqbal’s by Saqib Shaikh as Salman. The rest of the cast remained the same with Munawwar Sultana ( now Mrs. Ghulam Mohiuddin ) playing the leading girl “Sultana”.
The 1974 version of re-recorded KHUDA KI BAST was 50 minute episode which lasted 13 weeks and created the same impact which the 1969 version did. It was KKB and nothing for the viewers. Bakhtiar did the fine job and this time the entire serial has been well maintained by PTV with a repeat telecast in 1990 which termed the adaptation of Shaukat Siddiqui’s novel KHUDA KI BASTI as “Mother of All Serials” at Pakistan Television.
Written by: Shaukat Siddiqui
Directed by : Bakhtiyar Ahmed
Cast : Zaheen Tahira, Qazi Wajid, Mehmood Ali, Zahoor Ahmad, Mohammed Yusuf, Zooni Butt, Raju Jameel, Arsh e Muneer, M Yahya, Tayyabb Ali, Liaquat Durrani, Hassan Shaheed Mirza, Imtiaz Ahmed, Shahid Jaffery, Subhani Bayounus, Shakeel Chughtai, Behroz Sabzwari, Munawwar Sultana, S M Saleem, Saqib Sheikh
The drama tries to highlight the problems faced by Pakistanis living in Scotland and of their relatives living in Pakistan.
Des Pardes revolves around Talat Hussain who plays the character of Malik, an established and ruthless businessman who hires illegal immigrants to work at ridiculously low wages. These illegal Pakistanis are supplied to him by Manzoor Hussain (Hassam Qazi) a crooked character who charges money from the people and brings them in illegally.
Atiqa Odho gave one of the most memorable performances of her career in ‘Chahatein.’ Brimming with romantic tunes and powerful script, ‘Chahatain’ delivers the goods. This mega hit drama serial was shot at twenty-eight different locations in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, and Jandabai jungle. “The story revolves around a girl (Atiqa) who falls in love with a guy (Humayun Saeed). After Humayun dies, she goes to her father who is a millionaire in Malaysia. Here she meets with a duplicate of Humayun Saeed who tries to woe her, but she ignores him. Later, she discovers that the man she loved was actually murdered and thus seeks the duplicate’s help in solving the crime. The duplicate Humayun agrees to go with her to Pakistan to find the murderer.”
A rather unique offering from PTV, considering that the play is based on a crack squad of four commandoes. Neat outdoor shooting, liberal use of ammunition to convey realism ( rather than the usual smokeless, flashless bangs with unrealistic recoils that we’re used to), all add to the high production values of the play. All characters (more film like than what we are used to in dramas) pack a lot of style and charisma. A must for people who enjoy good production values and direction and especially for those who are looking for something more from PTV than your run of the mill family centered plays.
Cast: Ashar Azeem, Nazli Nasr, Nabeel, Rohi, Asal Din Khan, Wajid Ali Shah, Zubair Khan Achakzai, Mohamad Nawaz, Salman and Humayun Saeed
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