KHUDA KI BASTI
(Mother of all PTV serials)
KHUDA KI BASTI written by Late Shaukat Siddiqui, was the first novel to win Adamjee Adabi Inaam in Pakistan by the Pakistan Writers Guild. It was, in 1969, dramtized for PTV-Karachi by Shaukat Siddiqui himself leading an advisory committee comprising of people like Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Jamiluddin Aali.
Massive research and paper work on dramatization took six months at PTV-Karachi during which the cast was also decided. The role of Qazi Wajid was initially offered to Munawwar Saeed–but due to his movement to Lahore then–Qazi became the obvious choice. The Producers of 1969 (original) version were Raheed Umar Thanvi and Ishrat Ansari. So popular became the serial that wedding parties held on the day of its telecast… held a note on the invitation card
stating that arrangement of TV sets
have also been done at the wedding halls.
During the currency of the serial–the leading girl who played Sultana’s role—TAUQEER FATIMA died which shook the entire Nation! Her role was then taken over by Musarrat Sahafi..who had a close resemblence to Tauqeer..
The 26 episode serial turned out to be a super hit in Indo-Pakistan and won many laurels…and an unofficial but first ever in Pakistan, awards ceremony held by MEDORA OF LONDON makers in Pakistan, was held at the Rio Cinema Hall where Rasheed Umar Thanvi & Ishrat Ansari were given ONE Phillips 26 inches TV set…on which Rasheed quipped that an AXE should also have been given to cut the TV into half for him & Ishrat !! Qazi Wajid received the BEST Actor Award…TAUQEER posthomously..the Best Actress, Zahoor Ahmed and myself received the best supporting actor awards ( my first ever.. ) a set of Medora Hampers.
In 1974, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ordered the re-run of KKB but since the 1969 VIDEO TAPE SPOOLS were erased by recording other programs–the serial was re-recorded with the same cast of 1969 except the following cast members–who were not in Pakistan or has died;
- Zafar Masud..who played NAUSHA in 1969 version had died of car accident in Egypt. Behroze Sabzwari played Naushad.
- Tauqeer (Musarrat) role was played by Munawwar Sultana (Mrs. Ghulam Mohiuddin)
- Film actress Andaleeb who played Rakhshi in the segment with me & Iqbal Tareen, had left for Bangla Desh. Her role
was played by Zooni Butt. - Iqbal Tareen who played SALMAN (I called him SOLOMON in the scenes as i PLAYED HIS bOSS AS Geoffery) had left for States. This role was played by Saqib Shaikh…
current famous anchor Maani’s Dad.
Rest including myself, all played the same role they did in 1969 version.
This scenes on the links you are to click… shows me, saqib Shaikh and Zooni Butt—35 years ago!
Also see the amazing FACT of the recording of long scenes/takes–with long dialogues—uncut–uniterrupted the fact which is beyond imagination these days.
See the powerful acting of ZAHEEN TAHIRA & ZAHOOR AHMED…
*Zahoor bhai expired in Islamabad just a month or so back.
*
KHUDA-KI-BASTI
1974 RE-MAKE OF 1969
TITLE
Raju and Saqib Shaikh
Raju, Saqib & Zooni Butt
and
THE MOST TALKED ABOUT SCENE THEN WHICH RECEIVED
HUGE MEDIA COMMENTS ON ACTING ALSO;
Shakeel Chughtai and Qazi Wajid
Zaheen Tahira, Munawwar Sultana and Late Zahoor Ahmed
taab tou i was not even born:cb: