Islamabad
Director: Raza Mir
Producer: Syed Afzal Hussain-Raza Mir
Script: Zia Sarhadi
Cast: Shamim Ara, Ijaz, Mustafa Qureshi
Lok Virsa Mandwa Film Club returned on Saturday with a memorable Urdu film ‘Lakhon Mein Eik’. Mustafa Qureshi who made his debut in Urdu films with ‘Lakhon Mein Eik’, was the special guest of the evening.
Released in 1966, ‘Lakhon Mein Eik’ deals with a girl who is not accepted in the mountainous village because she is from a different religious background (despite her spending all her life there). Shamim Ara in the leading role plays that girl with mind and soul. Her every gesture, every dialogue uttered is integral part of that character. Director Raza Mir who had been one of our best cinematographers, now stepped into direction and performed equally well.
Sound recordist Syed Afzal Hussain joined hands with Raza Mir as Producer and the end result was nothing less that ‘Lakhon Mein Eik’. The music composed by Nisar Bazmi was yet another memorable feature of the film with melodies of Noorjehan, including a number filmed in the temple ‘Mun mandir key devta’. The other all-time top hits of the chart include ‘Challo acha huwa tum bhool gaey’ and ‘Bari mushkil sey huwa tera mera.’ Screenwriter-director Zia Sarhadi who had films like ‘Hum Log’ to his credit, came out with a script which was so full of emotions, dramatic twists and turns that Raj Kapoor adored it and asked Haseena Moin to re-write it for ‘Henna’.
And now special guest of the evening Mustafa Qureshi. He had earlier been associated with Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad so his voice quality was good beyond doubt. He had also worked in a Sindhi film. Raza Mira was adamant to cast him as villain in ‘Lakhon Mein Eik’ despite actors’ resistance. Qureshi had earlier gone on location to watch Mohammad Ali and Shamim Ara lensing for ‘Aag Ka Darya’. In the end, Raza Mir won in roping him in and this was the beginning of a career which has flourished during the last 50 years. Mustafa Qureshi has excelled both in Urdu and Punjabi films. From ‘Andaleeb’, ‘Wadera’, ‘Maula Jatt’, ‘Sher Khan’ to ‘Sua Jora’, his name has always dazzled on the movie marquee.
‘Lok Virsa Mandwa’ Film Club salutes an actor with distinguished credentials and spotless life despite working and living in a colourful world with shades of infamous events and characters.
Lok Virsa and European Union joined hands in setting up European Village on Saturday (May 6) from 4 to 11 p.m. Cultural stalls from 15 European countries with a musical programme were highlights of the event. You did not have to go to Europe this summer. You just come to Lok Virsa.
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