Ayub Khawar

Ayub Khawar is a famous Pakistani director. He mainly used to work with the PTV Center in Lahore, having directed all of his dramas from the PTV Lahore Center. He has become one of the household names in the Pakistani drama industry as his affiliation and work relationship with the media has gone on for very long. Throughout his career, Ayub only worked with PTV, but his affiliation with national television ended recently when he left PTV and started working for private channels. He has worked with all of the most popular stars of Pakistan, having directed famous drama serials such as Khwaja and Son, Fishaar, Din, Daldal, Inkaar, Ghareeb-e-Shehar, Qasmi Kahani, Nisaf Sadi Ka Qassi and Kahani Ghar. All of these serials were directed for PTV. Since he left PTV, he has done several serials for ARY Digital as well, the most notable of which was Gulzar Kahani. He has now turned in to producer as well, and is the executive producer of a new drama by the name of Tere Aane Ke Baad, which will be aired on GEO TV.

The personality of Khawar Ayub is versatile and multidimensional; the list of his achievement is long but here only a quick glimpse of his lifetime attainments is given for the general readers. The original name of Khawar Ayub is Muhammad Ayub, Khawar Ayub is his pen-name and he has been known well by this name. The name of his father was Muhammad Yaqub Khan, Ayub Khawar was born at Chakwal (Punjab, Pakistan) on 10th of October, 1948, he got early education at the native town, then in 1964 his family moved to Karachi, he passed his SSC Examination fromMaqbool-e-Aam High School Sharf Abad Karachi in 1968, in the same year he was employed at some private school against the salary Rs. 60 per month. Meanwhile he kept continue his studies; he graduated from National College from Karachi in 1975 and qualified M.A in Urdu from Karachi University in 1978. His professional career indicates that he worked at different T.V channels, from 1975 to 1978 at TV Station Chaklala (as Trainee Producer), 1978 to 1980 TV Station Karachi (as Producer), 1980 to 1981 TV Station Peshawar (as Producer), and 1981 to 2005 TV Station Lahore. He got retirement in 2005 and after retirement till now he has been rendering his services as Senior Executive Producer at GEO TV Channel. During his service in PTV, he worked on different ventures like one act plays, serials, literary programmes, musical shows and talk shows. He worked for the most popular programme “NelaamGhar” with Tariq Aziz, and the most costly programme, “KonBanayGaKarorPati” with worldwide famous figure Zia Moe-u-Din. On account if his devotion, he was awarded with several honours. He also devoted some his time to Radio Pakistan, and got an opportunity to meet conspicuous literary figures like N.M Rashad, Intazar Hussain, Prof. Karar Hussain, Saleem Ahmed, QamarJamil, Dr. AslamFurkhi, Dr. AbulLaisSiddiqui, Dr. MajnoonGhorakhPuri, Dr. Farman FatehPuri, Prof. Mumtaz Hussain, Dr. AbulKhairKashfi and HanifFauq. During his stay at PTVChaklala Station (1978-1978), he produced memorable programmes “NaieRoshni” and safarShart Hey”; he had honour to conduct an interview of Sadqain, a worldwide famous artist. During his stay at PTV Karachi (1978-1980), he produced and directed several dramas, a few of them were AaGahi, and AkhriChataan (A serial of QasimJalali), Dhund (a drama of Sherin Khan and serial of ManzoorQureshi). At PTV Station Peshawar he worked independently as Producer/Director and presented a few memorable dramas like Daman-e-Kohsar and Amanat. During the years 1981 – 2005, he worked at PTV Lahore and devoted himself as Producer and Director; this period was zenith of his professional life. He presented the first literary programme “BasriJarida” which consisted of each genre of the art, Ahmed NadeenQasmi and Ashfaq Ahmed edited the programme. It was the first literary programme which was chosen for PTV National Award. While being at PTV Lahore he introduced prominent poets like Abbas Tabash, ZahidMasud, Samina Raja, Farhat Nawaz, and HaiderQureshi through his programme “Hawa-e-Taza”. He also presented “DanashKadah” in which he managed several lectures of the intellectuals on long poems of AllamaIqbal for the young generation. He availed himself the service of a great artist Aslam Kamal in getting illustrated different stages of the poems, the poetic effect on the audience, was created with the help of music. It all made the programme very attention-grabbing. Another programme which is worth-mentioning is “AaliPer KiaGuzri”. In fact it was the novel of Aziz Asri who was related to a newspaper, he wrote the novel for the children but it became equally popular among the children as well as elders, in the country. Its plot revolved around a hero-child who one day did not return home on account of punitive behaviour of the teacher, it depicts how his parents went through unbearable mental agony. In the programmes he produced “Bachoon Ki Adaalat” is also notable. It was in early eighties a specific serial for the children. In it any one of the elders was made accountable to the children, in any allegation. In this series the child who perform the role of judge, was Faisal Qureshiwho later on became a well-known actor. In 1983 a film “Palkoon Ki Chhaon” was produced and presented, its popular song was written by Khawar Ayub, it goes as: “Meripalkoonmeiniksapnatha, Iksapnajomeraapnatha, Meraysapnay Merayapnay Meray pas aakehmeinphirseypalkoonkichhaonmeinteraysaaray rang smait loon” Music of this song was composed by a famous musician Khalil Ahmed and it was sung by Nayer and Mehnaz. It received the first Graduate Award. He produced a Punjabi drama “Khoo”(the well of lust and desires), it had its peculiar individuality which affected Ayub Khawar in fact it based on the fiction written by Mirza Hamid Baig,a well known fiction writer of Pakistan and its dramatized by M.Younas Butt. Its theme represents human avarice, greed and ultimate end in the form of death. On production of this drama Ayub Khawar was awarded “PTV Award” in 1987. He had the credit to introduce Asghar Nadeem Syed on PTV who conducted compeering of Punjabi programme “PunjNudh”, he wrote Punjabi drama “Safarash” on his request, besides he also introduced on PTV Ata UllahQasmi and got composed three dramas by him “ApnayParaye, Ali Baba ChalisChour, Khawaja and Sons”. “ApnayParaye” is the first serial of Ata Ul Haq Qasmi, it was as actress, the first serial of the most prominent artist Robina Ashraf too. She had a central role in the story, when the actor Fakhri Ahmed gets five lac first prize of the prize bond .the relatives of fakhri ahmed,who never liked him before,start trying to get their shares out of the prize money .so the five lac rupees created comedy out of the lust of people. Subtlety of Ata UllahQasmi makes this drama is memorable, it is hoarded even today in minds of the audience. “Ali Baba ChalisChour” was written by Ata UllahQasmi for the children, on the request of Ayub Khawar, it got popularity in both, among children as well as the elders. In it worth-remembering roles were played by Arsa Ghazal, MehboobAalam, AsimBukhari, Samina Ahmed, and Tahira Saleem. “Khawaja and Sons” was the third serial of Ata UllahQasmi, it is categorized in classics. It is seen even today with profound interest. ArfaSiddiqi, Samina Khalid,Aurangzaib and Muhammad Zubair and above all,the most prominent and seasoned actor Ali ijaz performed major roles. This serial was awarded Bolan Academy Award. “Jhankar” was a musical programme; its music was composed by Khalil Ahmed, in this programme a series of symphonies was presented, which in fact were composed on being influenced by music of the neighbouring countries. This series was also awarded “Graduate Award”. “NelaamGhar” was a long informatory stage show of PTV and Tariq Aziz; it was commenced from Karachi but later on, on account of security reasons it was shifted to Lahore. Ayub Khawar was its producer and Tariq Aziz was its host. Ayub Khawar cultivated his talent and gave it climax in a very short period of two years and broke all records of business. Later on it was name “Tariq Aziz Show”, it ever remained popular on account of its peculiar traits. “Khirman” was the story of a landlord whose wife was ill, he had two children.Hecould not hire a maid because he was afraid of ignominy. Then he expressed his desire to marry a woman conditionally who might serve his ailing wife and as soon as she got better, he might divorce her. At last a poor girl showed her consent to become his conditional wife with the hope to get proper meal at least for a few months. His children became more and more attached to her newly wed wife. But on the other hand, her ill-wife did not recover, she died after some time. Instead of awarding her the status of wife he divorced her. When she was to leave her house, the children who were emotionally attached to her, stopped her by calling her “mother”. In this drama, Tani Begum, FarihaJabeen and Anwar Iqbal performed memorable roles; it was awarded “Nigaar Award”. “Fishaar” was written by Amjad Islam Amjad on our educational system, and problems faced by the students and their involvement in politics and the major issue which was highlighted in this serial was how the different political parties uses the different unions and their leaders for their very own interests. It was awarded “Bolan and Graduate Award”. Sohail Ahmed ,NomanEjaz and NitashaSehgal performed in it their virgin roles.It proved a mile-stone for their professional success. “Hisaar” was got written by a prominent fiction and novel writer Mirza Athar Baig who for the first time was introduced on PTV by Ayub Khawar as a prime time play writer. It was a story of a man who planned the careers of his children according to his own wish, but the children chose their careers according to their own likes and so they mixed into dust the plan of their own father. The moral of the story is that conceived life cannot be imposed upon others. In the drama the roles of Muhammad Qavi Khan, Farooq Zameer, Samina Pirzada and Usman Pirzada are memorable. This play was also awarded “Graduate Award”. “Din” was written by Amjad Islam Amjad and directed by Ayub Khawar; it was the story of three friends who in the initial stage of life were alike, but the vicissitude of life broke them asunder into different spectrums. The influential circumstance brought them close again. When they shared their experiences with one another, it was known that that wealth, worldly respect and fame are the fleeting illusions. Afzal Ahemed, Muhammad Qavi Khan,Mehmood Aslam, Waseem Abbas, Muhammad Zubair, Bindia, Raisham and Nabeel performed their roles splendidly. AneeqNaji the son of well-known column writer NazirNaji was also introduced in this serial; it was awarded “Graduate Award”. In “Daldal” was written by Mirza Athar Baig, directed and produced by Ayub Khawar. This drama raised the curtain from the parallel systems devised by the feudal lords, capitalists and bureaucracy. It was liked and appreciated countrywide. The central character was evil genius bureaucrat who after his retirement obtained computerized of bureaucrat, feudal lords, capitalists involved in evil practices and later on blackmailed them. Then he put into conflict the capitalist and feudal lord. one night, he called them in his house and murdered them. After this huge turning point ,he found himself the God of evils. finally,the evil powers leads him towards insanity. but at one night he himself was shot dead and so became the victim of his quagmire. A weekly English magazine gave it much coverage. Firdous Jamal, TahiraWasti and ArifaSiddiqi performed their very enchanting roles. This serial was also awarded “Graduate Award”. “Qasmi Kahani” was the dramatized serial of the short stories written by Ahmed NadeemQasmi. “Sunata, ehsaan, Lawrence of thelebia, ghar se ghar takk , SattBharie, BatayBatian, Paharon Ki Barf” etc. became very popular among the audience. Amjad Islam Amjad, Mirza Athar baig and Younas javaid also assisted by suggesting some novel devices of dramatic techniques. “Kahani Ghar” was started with the special mission to re-establish relation of the young generation to books as the then viewers of PTV were disconnecting themselves from the books, and it was very horrible. Ayub Khawar in KhaniGhar attracted the young generation to fictions by presenting stories like “Amber Bail and Kallo by Bano Qudsia, Katba and Hamam mein by Ghulam Abbas, Tu Tu by Saadat Hassan Manto and Sultan by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi”. They got much popularity countrywide; this series was also awarded “Graduate Award”. “Zia Moe-u-Din Show” was presented by PTV on its earlier days with Moe-u-Din, one of the well-known producers, actors and intellectuals. It was discontinued for some time and then resumed by Ayub Khawar with fresh elegance. “Red and White Music Show” was the first music show of Adnan Samihfor PTV which was recorded in the open theatre of Al-Hamrah in Lahore.This programme opened the door of a new world for Adnan Samih. “Music 96” was in fact “Pop Music Mela”, it for the first time produced and managed by Aube Khawar in an open theatre at Al-Hamra Lahore. It made Fakhar and Haroon very popular in the span of a night. “Red Card” was written by Ayub Khawar himself, its theme was the decline of football our national game. It was presented on STN and ZTV, in this serial Firdous Jamal, Kanwal, Naina, NazliNasar, Zara Akbar, Muhammad Zubair, Khayyam Sarhaddi and Mazhar Ali performed their outstanding roles. This serial was also awarded “Graduate and Nigaar Awards”. “Pehli Si Mohabbat” was written by a famous novel, fiction writer and dramatist Anwar Sajjad. They play revolved around a woman victim of psychological abnormalities;she wanted to establish her entity with the male chauvinism, but after all on account of social pressure she had to commit suicide. In this drama the roles of Sohail Ahmed and ZaibRehman were worth-mentioning. This drama was awarded “Graduate Award”. “Ghareeb-e-Shehar” was written by a prominent writer AsgharNadeem Syed. It was the story of a political leader who was sent exile. When he came back he found his whole family vanished, nothing remained behind. In this drama Abid Ali, Sadia Imam, ShagutaEjaz, Asad Malik, Sohail Ahmed, Kanwal, ArifaSiddiqi, Saira Khan, Salem Sheikh, and Nawaz Baluch performed their marvelous roles. The drama was awarded Nigaar and Graduate Award. “Girah”was written by Amjad Islam Amjad, it was presented on STN. It was a story of stubborn feudal lady; she brought up bad blood against her brother in the avarice of property and later on the children had to face the consequences. In this drama Sohail Ahmed, Saba Hameed, Iffat Rahim, Saleem Sheikh and Mazhar Ali performed their roles; it too was awarded “Graduate Award”. “Kanch Key Per”was written by Asif Ali Pota, it was a story of a strong-headed father who had extreme revulsion for his youngest daughter but his daughter on account of her prudence saved the father from the gallows. Its prominent characters were Afzal Ahmed, Nighat Butt, Iffat Rahim, Saleem Sheikh, Aysha Sana and Jana’n Malik. The drama was awarded Nigaar Award. “Melody Night” it was the music programmes from PTV Karachi and Lahore stations. This was the programs in which representative singers expressed their skills. Ayub Khawar on account of managing the programme splendidly was awarded PTV National Award. “Nashaib” was written by world known literary figure Abdullah Hussain, it was his first attempt. In fact it was a novelette which was given proper shape of a tv drama by Mirza Athar Baig. The story was moving around two women, one who compromised with the life style of her husband and the other could not because of complexity of her inner self. Saba Hameed, Waseem Abbas, Madiha Gohar ,Firdous Jamal, Mehmood Aslam and Samina Ahmed performed their memorable roles; it was awarded Bolan Academy and Graduate Award. “Catwalk” was a story of the girls who had to perform catwalk in front of the women who ran marriage centres and sought for the suitable matches. It was written by Mirza Athar, PTV awarded this drama National Award and Arsa Ghazal was declared title of the Best Actress. “JalianWalaBagh” was produced and present on the 50th anniversary of Pakistan. It based on the historic event of JalianWalaBagh when many muslims laid down their lives in the struggle of independence. This drama was written by Mustansar Hussain Tarar on the request of Ayub Khawar. KhayamSarhadi, Anita Camphor, Raisham and JamilFakhari performed major roles. It was awarded cash prize. “Per Masher Singh” is a drama based on Ahmed NadeemQasmi’s famous fiction “Per Masher Singh”. It was presented on 50th anniversary of Pakistan, its script was written by Shaukat Siddiqi, its dramatic setting and dialogues were arranged by Ayub Khawar. Sohail Ahmed performed in it his central role. “HeerRanjha” is a folk tale of the Punjab written in poetry by Waris Shah. Khawar Ayub requested Hussain Shad, a prominent fiction writer to write a first draft of this story in a shape of Tv drama after receiving the first writing of this drama ayub khawar completed the screen play and dialogue f the drama. During the finalization of the script ayub khawar tried to interpret the death of Heer in a different way which you will find in the last scene. LailaWasti, TahiraWasti, AjabGul, MasudAkhtarSehti, Zara AkbarandArshad Mehmood performed living roles. “Be Wazan Log” was presented in the spectrum of 21st century. It was got written by MirzaAtharBaig. This drama presents worthlessness of a common man in the society. When new millennium was celebrated and the in-charge of mortuary at night was forgetful in celebrations and at the same time a heirless body was being searched in the mortuary, it throws light on the worthlessness of a common man.Sohail Ahmed, Firdous Jamal, Kashaf Mehmood, and Janan Malik performed their roles wonderfully. “Khubsurat” was written by MunnuBhai, in this drama, love for the trees has been inculcated from a certain angle. It also lovefor humans and human life. The enchanting roles of ArifaSiddiqiand Abid Ali and directorial touches of Ayub Khawar made the drama worth seeing. It was awarded with the cash prize. “Bazgusht” was written by Amjad Islam Amjad and presented on 13th and 14th August in two episodes. Maria Wasti, Nabeel, Begum KhurshidShahid rendered their roles matchlessly. Its peculiar trait was that a story of Sadat HasanManto, on disruptions, was jelled in the drama. “Inkaar” presents a very horrible picture of the girls of upper social sect and their increasing trend to addiction of narcotics, heroin powder which shook basis of the society. It was presented with the cooperation of Anti-Narcotics. It was written by Amjad Islam Amjad. Its shooting was conducted at different spots from Lahore to the Gate of Afghanistan. Firdous Jamal, Swera Nadeem, Abid Ali, Seemi Raheel, Farheen Raja, Nauman Masud, Wajid Bukhari, Rasheed Naz, Arifa Siddiqi were worth-mentioning characters of the drama. Swera Nadeem got the award of the Best Actress. “Jo Janey Wo Jeetey” was a programme on the style of “KonBaneyGaKarorePati”. This was the most costly programme; it was managed without any franchise, on self-help basis. It was hosted by the worldwide famous figure Zia Moe-u-Din. It also received PTV National Award. “Pataal” was the first drama which was presented by PTV on 9/11; it was the last serial directed and produced by Ayub Khawar. It was written by mirza Athar Baig, Abid Ali Abid, Uzma Gilani, irfan Khosat, Ahsan Khan, Ali Tahir, Naeem Tahir, film star ghulam Moe-u-Din, WajihaTahir, Mehrin Syed and Mikal Kaya performed multifarious roles. On its production and direction Ayub Khawar was awarded Lux Award. “Badshaht Ka Khatma” was derived from Sadat Hassan Manto’s story; it was presented on Indus TV when Manto week was observed. It is one of the worth-mentioning creations of Ayub Khawar. “Sunset Boulevard” was a classic series which was telecast on GEO TV. For the first time the story of Gulzar Indian fiction and song writer, film director was presented. Ayub Khawar himself directed its dramatic performance. “Chore” was written by Ashfaq Ahmed the most famous short story writer in Pakistan. This was also one of the classics; it was directed by Ayub Khawar and got appreciation by the writer himself. “Ye Bhi Kisi Ki Baiti Hey” was written by Noor-ul-Hodha, it presented relationship and conflicts between a wise woman and her family specially her husband and son,regarding the respect of her daughter in law. it became the story of each and every house, so it was applauded a lot in the country. It was specifically written to encounter effect the Star-Plus, Indian TV channel. In the drama the mother-in-law sacrificed her honour for the sake of her daughter-in-law and attracts the audience to the traditional norms. “Gulzar-e-Classic” was a series based on stories of well-known film director, poet and fiction writer Gulzar. It was appreciated in Pakistan as well as in India. Ayub Khawar is the first Pakistani producer who got equal fame even in India too. “The Message” is a film which was made in the background of early history of Islam, life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was concentrated. The film was banned in the Islamic countries all around the world in 2006. It was made in English; Ayub Khawar accepted the responsibility of dubbing it in Urdu language. Imran Saleem the president of GEO, Dr. Anwar Sajjad, NadeemAsad wrote the script of the film. Ayub Khawar chose suitable voices in accordance to the characters from Karachi and Lahore. The process of dubbing was accomplished in the local audio-studio. In this film the voice of Abu Sufianis the voice of Aube Khawar, it is frequently shown on GEO in the month of Ramazan and Rabi-ul-Awal. “Pehla Chand” was written by Ayub Khawar and directed by AnjamShehzad, it was written in the background of creation of Pakistan. It threw light on hardships of the migrants how after one year they were living in the camps. It was awarded Lux Award. “Joseph Naheen Manta” was written and directed by Ayub Khawar and presented on GEO, on the 100th anniversary of Muslim League in 2006. In it Pakistan was symbolized as an old building, some people wanted to demolish it, but Joseph who was living along with other muslim families resisted its demolition, he went to the court of law and won the case and saved the building. “Geo Tu Aisay” was written and directed by Ayub Khawar himself on a very sensitive theme. In fact it was a case from Quaid-e-Azam against the history of Pakistan. He advocated that his photo from the currency must be removed because the fake system in vogue had disregarded a lot his photo. Poetic Career Ayub Khawar’s first poetry book “GulMosam-e-Khazan” which means the Rose of Autumn was published in 1992. It consists of ghazals and poems with profound imageries like “Intabah, Gharon Mein AikGharAisaBhiTha, AbhiJanazaUthaNaheen Hey, KachiNeend Ki Dehshat, AbhiMosamNaheenAya, Madawa Ho Naheen Sakta, Parday kay Pechhay Kon Hey, Aey Haway-e-Besamar, Jagti Aanh ka Khawab, and others. This first book established Khawar Ayub as a promising poet. He also wrote some resisting poems against the despotic rulers. “Tumein Janay Ki Jaldi Thi” was the second poetry book of Ayub Khawar published by Al-Hammad Publications in 1998. Its introduction was written by Gulzar: a well-known poet, fiction writer and film director. It like his earlier book was appreciated and sold like hot cakes. “Bohat Kuch Kho Gaya Hai” is a third poetic work of Ayub Khawar, it was published in 2010.

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