Photo feature: Backstage with the stars

Aamina Sheikh talks about her role in the television industry and how she feels about it:

?If I had been anywhere else in the world?maybe the States, anywhere, I think it would have taken a very long time for me to even get an opportunity to prove that I can do a role. In Pakistan, what works for us is that there is a growth of people and there are lots of stories to be told. Our industry is fairly young as compared to other industries. We are at that stage where we can make an impact a lot quicker." — Aamina Sheikh talks about her role in the television industry and how she feels about it: ?If I had been anywhere else in the world?maybe the States, anywhere, I think it would have taken a very long time for me to even get an opportunity to prove that I can do a role. In Pakistan, what works for us is that there is a growth of people and there are lots of stories to be told. Our industry is fairly young as compared to other industries. We are at that stage where we can make an impact a lot quicker."

Badar Khalil remembering her director Husband Shahzad Khalil:

?My husband was such a good director ? he was far ahead of his time. The work he did, even now, no one has been able to do.

I once met Amitabh Bachchan and he said that at his academy he saw a Pakistani play (Pannah) and this Hollywood film (Dr. Zhivago) which they showed in class where he was training ? they used to show the clip side by side to compare a low budget and high budget movie and how they could be similar. Bachhan asked who the — Badar Khalil remembering her director Husband Shahzad Khalil: ?My husband was such a good director ? he was far ahead of his time. The work he did, even now, no one has been able to do. I once met Amitabh Bachchan and he said that at his academy he saw a Pakistani play (Pannah) and this Hollywood film (Dr. Zhivago) which they showed in class where he was training ? they used to show the clip side by side to compare a low budget and high budget movie and how they could be similar. Bachhan asked who the

Qazi Wajid recalls his childhood memories:

?The memories I have are related to my work?I worked for radio ? mostly Radio Pakistan. Then Karachi was different; there was little traffic, fewer buildings, guru mandirs ... after a certain point, the city would finish and if you kept going a bit of a distance then there was a prison. Right after Guru Mandir the city would finish ? my home was in Teenathi and I would leave on the Muhammad Ali bus to go to Radio Pakistan. I did children's programs on the radio ? Ka — Qazi Wajid recalls his childhood memories: ?The memories I have are related to my work?I worked for radio ? mostly Radio Pakistan. Then Karachi was different; there was little traffic, fewer buildings, guru mandirs ... after a certain point, the city would finish and if you kept going a bit of a distance then there was a prison. Right after Guru Mandir the city would finish ? my home was in Teenathi and I would leave on the Muhammad Ali bus to go to Radio Pakistan. I did children's programs on the radio ? Ka

Adnan Siddiqui talks about the entertainment industry and its coming of age:

?After my first play Uroosa, NTM and private productions went up, some good productions were coming from them ? that was an alarm for PTV, which then started to decline. PTV still has a big share though and of course a lot of people still watch it. Now a lot of good production is showing on our entertainment channels, so hats off to them for bringing it back." — Adnan Siddiqui talks about the entertainment industry and its coming of age: ?After my first play Uroosa, NTM and private productions went up, some good productions were coming from them ? that was an alarm for PTV, which then started to decline. PTV still has a big share though and of course a lot of people still watch it. Now a lot of good production is showing on our entertainment channels, so hats off to them for bringing it back."

Mohib Mirza talks about why Karachi is the main focus of the productions:

"From the beginning, the industry was in Karachi ? anything, even film started from here. The whole industry was here. Karachi Centre had a class and all the actors wanted to go to there because those who basically spoke Urdu well were preferred, like Rahat Qazmi." — Mohib Mirza talks about why Karachi is the main focus of the productions: "From the beginning, the industry was in Karachi ? anything, even film started from here. The whole industry was here. Karachi Centre had a class and all the actors wanted to go to there because those who basically spoke Urdu well were preferred, like Rahat Qazmi."

Actor Shahzad Raza on the set of the sitcom ?Perfume Chowk?.

Who in Karachi has not seen the famous wall chalking saying ?Perfume Chowk ? Gulistan-e-Jauhar?? Those who haven?t must have heard about it from the very popular television sitcom, also named ?Perfume Chowk?. The story revolved around a poor neighbourhood and the lives of the various people residing therein. From characterisation to dialogues to the sets, the play was refreshing and genuine both. — Actor Shahzad Raza on the set of the sitcom ?Perfume Chowk?. Who in Karachi has not seen the famous wall chalking saying ?Perfume Chowk ? Gulistan-e-Jauhar?? Those who haven?t must have heard about it from the very popular television sitcom, also named ?Perfume Chowk?. The story revolved around a poor neighbourhood and the lives of the various people residing therein. From characterisation to dialogues to the sets, the play was refreshing and genuine both.

On shoot of an up-coming production to be on-air on PTV.

The scripts are generally well-written now and some of them have now taken bold turns to address issues which a decade ago would have been strictly taboo. There has been a wave of productions focusing on the concepts of extra-martial affairs and infidelity. Although some of these may be a reflective of our society today, there is a large audience that misses the golden days of simple comedies and light-hearted plays which would be suitable for a family — On shoot of an up-coming production to be on-air on PTV. The scripts are generally well-written now and some of them have now taken bold turns to address issues which a decade ago would have been strictly taboo. There has been a wave of productions focusing on the concepts of extra-martial affairs and infidelity. Although some of these may be a reflective of our society today, there is a large audience that misses the golden days of simple comedies and light-hearted plays which would be suitable for a family

And the latest, 'Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon':

Life's twist and turns brings up the story of an interestingly popular television play which is on air these days: "Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon". From a school boy to a playboy and eventually becoming a religious scholar, the story of Abdul Qadir brings about a new interesting angle in every episode. With independent production houses giving the audience great entertainment, it's nice too see the television industry back on its feet.?(Photo courtesy: Tipu Sharif) — And the latest, 'Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon': Life's twist and turns brings up the story of an interestingly popular television play which is on air these days: "Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon". From a school boy to a playboy and eventually becoming a religious scholar, the story of Abdul Qadir brings about a new interesting angle in every episode. With independent production houses giving the audience great entertainment, it's nice too see the television industry back on its feet.?(Photo courtesy: Tipu Sharif)

Photo feature: Backstage with the stars

Our television industry has certainly come a long way, from the good old days of PTV to the innovating times of...

Eefa Khalid Published March 10, 2011

Our television industry has certainly come a long way, from the good old days of PTV to the innovating times of private productions. Whether you look at the sets, or the refined scripts or the abundant brewing talent, there is no doubt that Pakistan's television industry is breaking barriers every passing day. Dawn.com decided to pay a tribute to this very industry by talking to the veterans and today’s leading actors to understand what their profession and lives have taught them.– (Photos & Text by Eefa Khalid)

Comments (3) Closed

Rez

Mar 10, 2011 03:00pm

Excellent pictures and great work. Kudos!!

Recommend 0

Syed Riffat

Mar 10, 2011 03:50pm

Nice moments depicted, specifically by Qazi Wajid and Badar Khalil.

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muzaffar shah

Mar 11, 2011 06:17am

shazad khalil was a contemporary in jehanzeb college swat back in 1961-62. i donot remember about his acadamics but he was life of college extra curricular (drama and dance) and by this virtue known to every college student. in personal life he was a gentleman of the gentlemen. although no contact (even then were just acquaintances) after college life still we would feel proud of his tv ventures rather classics and tell everybody, "look this classic is produced by a man whom we know." May his soul rest in peace and would like to let behan badar khalil know that she is very very rightly proud of mr.shazad khalil.

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