Daily Times

Turning to the first page of the book Stars from another Sky by Khawaja Najamul Hassan looking for dedications, one finds a vintage picture titled Four Decades of Stars that gives names of the artists, some with their nick names, establishing familiarity with them like Nivi for Naveed Shahzad etc.

One presumes that the book is dedicated to all these great artists, producers and hosts. On the onset this reviewer gets the impression that this book in a way is Najam’s autobiography.

Although Khawaja Najam’s forte is music but he has done well in film production as well as in other domains in television production during his 35 years stay at PTV. If any other artist, writer or producer were to write on his/her experiences at television, these would be different with some commonalities.

The first submission is on Khawaja’s production ‘Saaz Kahani’. It reminds this reviewer of Indian Government’s movement ‘Sarangi Bachao Muhim’ to save the instrument Sarangi many years ago when it issued monthly stipends to those who desired to learn this intricate but beautiful instrument as it was felt that this instrument was dying with no fresh blood entering this field. With the exit of Ram Narayen, Sultan Khan, Kamal Sabri, Ustad Hafizullah Khan, Bundu Khan and alike, the players of their caliber were nowhere to be seen. In Pakistan with the exit of Ustad Ghulam Muhammad, Ustad Nazim Ali Khan, Ustad Nathu Khan and alike we are left with only a handful of Sarangi Playing musicians. Even Ustad Nazim Ali Khan did not teach Sarangi to his children as despite his proficiency in playing this instrument his life was full of struggle. He encouraged them to adopt an alternate profession. The next article ‘The story of dying instruments’ is also related to the gradual dying of eastern instruments.

Khwaja Saheb recalls the early days of PTV. So does this reviewer when he is taken back in his memory lane. The producers/directors of the caliber of Fazal Kamal, Aslam Azhar, Agha Nasir, Kanwar Aftab Ahmad, Muhammad Nisar Hussain and alike laid the foundations of PTV at Lahore Center in a shed behind Radio Pakistan’s main building. Khwaja Saheb remembers entry of Nahid Akhtar and his production of Sukhanwar with Sofia Latifi and later independently (as Akhtar Waqar Azim left for USA in those days) where Nahid sang. This reviewer recalls Nahid appearing in modern attire and songs in his programme idea ‘Sangat’ produced by Rafiq Ahmad Warraih; probably the first Pop Show of PTV.

The first submission is on Khawaja’s production ‘Saaz Kahani’. It reminds me of India’s movement ‘Sarangi Bachao Muhim’ to save the instrument sarangi many years ago when it issued monthly stipends to those who desired to learn this intricate but beautiful instrument as it was felt that the instrument was dying with no aspirant entering this field

This reviewer has mentioned the name of Aslam Azhar, so had Khwaja Najam as one of the most charismatic, creative and wonderful human being.The author remembers him as the first producer, Tufail Niazi as the first vocalist. This reviewer remembers participating in his programme Tallee Thally. Khwaja Saheb mentions of his association with Shuaib Hashmi for the programme ‘Taal Matol’. Earlier he recalls meeting Moneeza for the recording of the programme ‘Such Gup’. She was pregnant and bore Adeel Hashmi later on. Khwaja Saheb pays tribute to Moneeza for her lifelong struggle rising to the position of General Manager, Lahore Center of PTV – Page 24. Khwaja Saheb reiterates that being daughter of Faiz Ahmad Faiz had least impact in grooming of her career. This reviewer recalls her taking a round of TV Station that gave her exercise and a chance to inculcate with the staff. She is recipient of many national and international awards.

In a special submission Khwaja Saheb pays tribute to the POWs returning home after 1971 war. Then he talks about Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore in Februry 1974 when 22 heads of Muslim countries came to Lahore. This reviewer recalls many private bungalows housing some of the delegates as hotel accommodation was full. Names of the team making coverage for PTV have been mentioned; Fayyaz ul Haq made coverage of Friday prayers at Badshahi Mosque. Special mention has been made of Suhail Rana’s composition ‘Hum Mustafvi Hain’ by Mehdi Zaheer and 100 member chorus. Details of Such Gup and Taal Matol have been given. The best part was that some of the skits were written by Shuaib Hashmi on the spot and enacted on the sets. The PTV went to colour from Black & White transmission in 1976. Rafique Warraich recorded Nahid’s ‘Aati Hei Pawan’ in Chroma technique. This reviewer happened to be present at the time of its recording.

Khwaja Najam pays tribute to Nayyara Noor in a separate submission. Her earlier training came from listening to Kamla Jharia, Begum Akhtar and Kannan Devi’s records making her emulate the Murkis those singers took out from their throats. Khwaja Saheb felt proud when he was involved in the recordings of great literary people in the serial ‘Dastaan Go’ (story tellers), one of which was on Hijab Imtiaz Ali. The others were on Khadija Mastoor, Ashfaq Ahmad, Bano Qudsia, Ghulam Abbas, Akhtar Jamal. As expected Khwaja Saheb dwells in detail on his production of ‘Meri Pasand’ Season 1 in 1984. Madam Nurjehan’s ‘Taranum’ Season 1 was also his production. A separate section on Nurjehan with the author’s memories attached with the great lady form an important place in the book. He was inspired by her palatial residence in Lahore. It houses a commercial centre now.

Opening of Conference Room at Lahore TV Center on April 30, 1979 was an exciting experience prepared for the visit of Bhutto, questioning Shahzad Khalil about his drama where a child took refuge in a church instead of in a mosque. PTV policy was confusing as per Khwaja Saheb. It was General Zia ul Haq who allowed Nurjehan’s programme; hence starting of preparation of her programme Taranum. We even do our rehearsals there nowadays. Kishwer Naheed, the great poet was friends with Tanveer Masood, Ghazanfar Ali and Shireen Pasha recalls Khwaja (Page 54 and not 544). There is no need to mention her classic books bringing this great lady fame international.

Among actresses, Khawaja Sahib shares the memories of Musarrat Nazir. He calls her glamour queen.

Few songs were added in her album ‘Musarrat’s horizon’ including ‘Ahista Ahista’ for videos on the advice of MD EMI Mansur Bukhari. Tribute has been paid to Malika e Mausiqui Roshan Ara Begum, Iqbal Bano (her return), Fareeda Khanum, Malika Pukhraj, Mehnaz, Mehdi Hassan, Suraiya Multanikar, Runa Laila (her return) and music composers Suhail Rana, Muslehuddin. Tributes have been paid to actresses Rani, Zeba, Shamim Ara, Sabiha Khanum, Sworenlata and Babra Sharif. Special tributes have been paid to Bushra Ansari and singer Tahira Syed. Khwaja Saheb remembers successful couples Sahira and Rahat Kazmi and Yasmin and Naeem Tahir, Samina and Usman Pirzada. Poet Ahmad Faraz has been remembered in an article ‘Khwab Marte Nahi’. Adnan Sami Khan has been termed as a great piano master. He is a great music composer and a popular singer as well. Tributes are paid to Naeem Bukhari, Tina Saani, Dilip Kumar and Asha Bhosle. A very important portion of the book is about those non-Muslims who opted to stay back in Pakistan including Alexander Robert Victor Rollo (photography), Lonsdale Niblett (UCH, Lahore), Hugh Catchpole (education and philanthropist), Geoffrey Langlands (Principal Cadet College, Razmak, North Waziristan), Michael Close (teacher) and Hal Bevan Petman (Dutch). Khwaja Saheb writes on Radio Netherlands Training Institute Amsterdam.

Basically, the book Stars from another Sky is a testimonial of a producer’s experience down his memory lane; of his friends among great people. Photographs supplement the write-ups. Great job, Khawaja Najam!

The writer is the recipient of the prestigious Pride of Performance award. He can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com