Mandwa to screen ‘Kaneez’ today

Islamabad

Director: Hassan Tariq

Script-Producer: Ali Sufian Afaqi

Music: Khalil Ahmad

Cast: Zeba, Waheeed Murad, Mohammad Ali, Sabiha, Santosh Kumar,

Sabra Sultana, Lehri, Talish.

September 1965 War had ended and film trade, after blackouts, was now on its way to come out with new films. Earlier, Fazal Ahmad Karim's ‘Aisa Bhi Hota Hai’, Dilgeet Mirza's ‘Riwaj’, S.A. Hafiz's ‘Shabnam’ and Sharif Nayyar's ‘Naila’ had done well. ‘Kaneez’ came out in November that year.

Lok Virsa film Club Mandwa will screen ‘Kaneez’ on November 12 at 5 pm.

Produced - scriptwriter Ali Sufian Afaqi had selected Hassan Tariq for direction, Khalil Ahmad for music and a star-loaded cast of Zeba, Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali in leads and Sabiha, Santosh Kumar, Sabira Sultana, Lehri, Talish and Emi Minwalla in supporting roles. Afaqi was normally known for comedies but kaneez was a serious subject revolving around a family with high traditions. Talish plays Nawab Jamshed Ali Khan and Santosh Kumar’s son whose wife expires on the wedding night.

Housemaid Sabiha who resembles the late bride, is unwillingly brought in by Nawab as replacement. Time moves on and Santosh is killed in a fatal crash. Just the right time for Nawab to show the door to petty housemaid. Her two sons must part, one living with the Nawab and the other on the streets with displaced mother.

Apart from the dramatic screenplay and dialogue, powerful performance by Sabiha, supported by Talish, Mohammad Ali and Waheed Murad, it is Khalil Ahmad score and well-balanced orchestra which are highlights of ‘Kaneez’. As a director, ‘Kaneez’ remains one of Hassan Tariq's best and most successful and prestigious films. ‘Kaneez’ won as many as five prestigious Nigar awards for Best Dialogue (Afaqi), Best Actor (Mohammad Ali), Best Supporting Actor (Talish), Best Comedian (Lehri) and Best Editing (A Sghar).

Composer Khalil Ahamad's three memorable songs with rich orchestra rendered by Ahmad Rushdi, Naseem Begum and Mala still sound fresh and can compete against the very best:

"Jab raat dhaili "

"Pyar mey hum ai jana-e-tamana"

"Gher ki batoon ka aakhir".