Talent runs in this family

Posted on October 6, 2006
Filed Under >Naveed Siraj, Humor, Music, People, Poetry, TV, Movies & Theatre
17 Comments
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Guest Post by Naveed Siraj

Anwar Maqsood belongs to a Pakistani family that has made huge contribution to civil society. Either through social activism or conscious efforts through Television, Anwar Maqsood has articulated and defined the ethos of modern pakistaniat. So what better place to express my admiration for his latest work than Pakistaniat.com.

Anwar Maqsood is hugely popular these days thanks to “Loose Talk�, a comedy show on ARY. Indeed this is the facet of his personality for which he has earned fame. That of a leading writer of comedy shows & television presenter. But he is a far better writer of serious prose than he gets credit for.

One often hears people describing how their lives were impacted or shaped by a piece of literature; a verse or a play. For me, it was a PTV long play by Mr. Maqsood called Daur-E-Junoon aired in 1986.

Mr. Maqsood’s siblings Fatima Surraiya Bajiya and Zehra Nigah are blessed with God-gifted genius especially the latter whose poems are replete with social and political content. Faiz sahib, it is said, insisted that Zehra Nigah recited her poems in taranum whenever he visited her home in London in the late 70’s. What can be a greater compliment?

What drove me to muster my courage to write to Pakistaniat.com is a video by the Pakistani band The Strings. The track is called “Beirutâà ƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã‚? lyrics are credited to Anwar Maqsood.

Beirut
04:31

Bilal Maqsood, (lead guitar/back-up vocals), Anwar Maqsood’s son lives upto the family tradition of creative output of highest order. Lead vocals are played by Faisal Kapadia and he does a magnificent job by rendering “Beirutâà ƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã‚? in a heart-moving fashion.

The track heralds the coming of age of Pakistani pop music and all credit goes to The Strings for highlighting the plight of Lebanese people.

Naveed Siraj blogs about a variety of subjects, but especially sufi poetry and music at Rambling On.

17 responses to “Talent runs in this family”

  1. basit says:

    Few of the most beautiful and serious plays I saw on pakistani tv were writtern by him.I think his most significant work has been introducing political satire to Pakistan television in times when criticising the ruling elites was considered an unforgivable sin.

  2. Dear,
    Sir.

    I need Awar Maqsood E-mail adress. Please see my artistic wooden sculptures.
    wasan khurshid

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