Old Pakistani TV drama ‘Uncle Urfi’ still rules over a million hearts

Television was introduced in Pakistan during the Sixties and various drama series and plays shown that time were very popular among the viewers who still remember them. One of them was ‘Uncle Urfi’ a drama serial aired in the early Seventies when all programmes were shot in black & white as colour programmes began in the mid-seventies.

‘Uncle Urfi’ was a black & white TV serial but it had such a powerful appeal for the people of all age-groups that was considered a milestone in TV entertainment history.

The serial had 26 episodes, each with a running time of 30 minutes, and every episode was telecast once in a week.

It was written by Haseena Moeen, who became a top playwright through this serial and later penned a number of beautiful and successful drama serials.

‘Uncle Urfi’ was directed by Mohssin Ali and Shireen Vaqar Azeem, who were supported by a team of very talented artists and skilled technical crew. The title role of Uncle Urfi was played by Shakeel, who is still working for TV. The female lead role was played by Shahla Ahmed, who was then a student of Karachi University. She later acted in only one  play and went abroad after her marriage.

Other main characters of the serial were played by Azra Sherwani, Qurban Jilani and Jamshed Ansari, who were supported by Begum Khurshid Mirza, Akbar Subhani, Ishrat Hashmi, Naheed Rafiq, Rehana Paqrveen, Subhani Ba Younus, Imtiaz Ahmed, Khalid Nizami, Raju Jameel, SM Saleem, Khurshid Taqlat and many more. A few of them are no more in the world.

The main character, ‘Uncle Urfi’ is a Pakistani expatriate in Canada, who returns home and the story goes on. The heroine, Beena, makes her entry in the third episode and joins the family of Uncle Urfi, who gradually takes interest in her but does not express his love. He just wants to make Beena happy as she is alone. Subsquently, poor Beena also begins to like Uncle Urfi.

However, the end is not a happy one and was so emotionally charged and unexpected that the viewers were not prepared for it.

However, the serial was one of the most successful and popular drama serials which the people could not forget it even after 45 years. All its success was due to its beautiful story, powerful script, skilled direction and natural acting by the whole cast, especially by actors Shakeel, Shahla, Azra Sherwani, Qurban Jilani and Jamshed Ansari.

Jamshed Ansari’s comic role was very popular. He had passed away some 30 years ago but his character is still being remembered by the people.