KARACHI: Legendary playwright, intellectual and actor, Kamal Ahmad Rizvi breathed his last in Lahore on Thursday. He was 85.

Rizvi, who rose to fame with the popular television series, Alif Noon, passed away after prolonged illness.

Born in 1930 in Indian state of Bihar, Rizvi moved to Karachi at the time of partition, he was 19 at that time.

His family stayed behind and he was the only one of his siblings who opted for that niche the Muslims of the subcontinent had carved for themselves.

In 1965 he wrote Alif Noon for Pakistan Television (PTV) and acted as one of the leads in the drama.

Alif Noon was probably the first popular and critical comedy success of television in Pakistan.

Done first during the days when even plays were telecast live, it was revived a couple of times later; once recorded in black-and-white and later again in colour.

Each time Rizvi brought some of the earlier episodes back and then added a few new ones as well.

Apart from his work for television, Rizvi did some translations of famous Russian novels into Urdu.

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Condolences pour in

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Rizvi. In a message, the prime minister prayed for peace of the departed soul.

Paying rich tribute to the meritorious services of Kamal Ahmad Rizvi, Nawaz said that Rizvi's sad demise has left a deep vacuum in the literary circles which will be difficult to fill in times ahead.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in his condolence message said that Kamal Ahmad Rizvi was among the most senior playwrights, actors and broadcasters.

According to a statement released on MQM website, Altaf Hussain prayed for the departed soul and said that Rizvi will live among his fans due to his ever living work.