Asgharandim Syed has written several popular dramas for Pakistan Television, among which Darya, Payas and Dastak were prominent.
Since these dramas were for PTV, it is obvious that a certain kind of traditional atmosphere and censorship restrictions would have to be faced.
Asgharandim Syed wanted to write a lot but was chained by various restrictions like the pen, but still he would show many sensitive and hidden topics on the screen in one way or another with great beauty.
Being the only official TV channel of Pakistan, Network Television Marketing or NTM was established in the early 90s.
Not only can it be considered a pleasant experience for Pakistani viewers, but it also holds the distinction of being the country’s first private TV channel.
Initially, NTM used to show the broadcasts of the American broadcaster CNN throughout the day and then as the evening wore on, it was filled with entertainment programs. Apart from English language films, Punjabi and Urdu films were also broadcast while various musical shows were also part of the broadcast.
The network was later renamed as ‘STN’, which introduced a series of interesting programs for the viewers. Most of these programs were filmed outside the four walls of the traditional studio in space or historical locations. That being said, it was also known that PTV producers were hired for these programs who would prepare these programs behind the scenes.
When the channel management launched a new drama ‘Chand Grahan’, Asghar Nadeem Syed was specially invited. He was probably more happy that the thirst left in the writings till then was going to be fulfilled through this play. Asgharandim Syed was told that he could write openly. There will be no restriction on their dialogues or story.
According to Asgharandim Syed, he was looking at the future of Pakistan in the 90s, in which the fabric of meeting the three main pillars of the state namely bureaucracy, politics and journalism was spinning in his mind.
These are the pillars that remain partners of power in every age. Not only this, these sectors also believe that they alone are enough to bring down anyone.
The obsession and cynicism of ‘power sharing’ is such that it tramples anyone who comes in the way. Asghar Nadeem Syed says that if we examine the present day, his play will seem like a story of today despite the passage of so much time.
Asgharandim Syed first made the personalities of these three fields friends and then what flowers blossom out of their differences, it was dramatized with great beauty and this drama became the highlight of the serial ‘Chand Grahan’.
Veteran PTV director Haider Imam Rizvi was hired to create it. Interestingly, when this drama aired, Tajdar Alam’s name flashed on the screen as a director. The reason was that no PTV director was allowed to work for any other channel or private production.
Shafi Muhammad Shah appeared as a politician in the drama serial ‘Chand Grahan’. Initially, Mahmood Siddiqui was going to get this role, but then Shafi Muhammad’s name was finalized.
According to Asgharandim Syed, the choice of Shafi Muhammad was made because it was the role of a politician who traditionally understands the pain and suffering of the people rather than being hard-hearted. He is soft-spoken, has a steady temper and believes in understanding and dialogue.
Asghar Nadeem Syed says that before ‘Chand Grahan’, Shafi Muhammad used to play conventional roles. From this point of view, his role was slightly different.
They say that just as Shafi Muhammad was a cold-tempered politician, Jahanian Shah i.e. Sohail Asghar was a completely opposite character. A headstrong and ruthless son who, unlike his father, was convinced to intimidate people.
Not only this, he used to protest against his father against the education of his sister Shahr Bano (Huma Nawab) and her liberal thinking. According to Asghar Nadeem Syed, he supported casting Sohail Asghar in this role as he was impressed by his performance in ‘Piyaas’.
Asghar Nadeem Syed says that the choice of Shakeel Ahmed for the role of bureaucrat Khawar also happened because this role was of a civilized person who is actually a deep type. Shakeel had a positive personality in the dramas he worked in so far and the most shocking thing for the audience was the look he showed in the final episodes of the drama.
Lured by the political future of his son Abdullah Kadwani, he made Huma Nawab his daughter-in-law against his son’s will, but due to lack of mental harmony, this relationship did not last long, which he avenged by using traditional bureaucratic tricks. Shafi destroys Muhammad’s world.
Similarly, the third pillar of the state was Kamal, the owner of the newspaper. This role came to the late Qazi Wajid, whose son Nasir i.e. Ayaz Naik believes in principled journalism, who is determined to use the pen as a weapon to eradicate the evils of society, but the father weighs everything in the scales of profit and loss. Weigh.
Kamal Sahib is more interested in the interests of his politician and bureaucrat friend along with increasing the circulation of the newspaper, that is why the battle of principles between father and son continues.
The interesting story is that Nasir i.e. Ayaz Naik is loved by Huma Nawab, but due to caste differences, they cannot get married.
Certainly, the name of the play ‘Chand Grahan’ was reflecting the idea that the children of the main characters in it like Huma Nawab, Ayaz Naik, Sohail Asghar or Abdullah Kadwani are ‘Eclipses’ for their parents because of their ideas and thinking. ‘ are becoming.
Asghar Nadeem Syed said that when the theme of your play is strong, writing the script, dialogues or screenplay is never difficult for you. Something similar happened to him during the preparation of ‘Chand Grahan’.
They knew when and which character they had to clash with each other. When to take a dramatic turn in the story. All this was preserved in his mind one by one. Jabhi Asghar Nadeem Syed had written all the episodes of ‘Chand Grahan’ at once and handed it over to the director.
There were several stories in this play, which converged on one track through different stages. Where it showed the nexus of journalism, politics and bureaucracy. There, how the dancer Shema Kirmani, who brought films from Bangladesh by deception, was tried to be pushed into the scandalous business, it was also presented very beautifully.
This honor also goes to Asghar Nadeem Syed that on his another PTV drama serial ‘Hawain’ there were conditions that Talat Hussain will be hanged in the drama or not?
Not only this, politicians’ relationships with famous singers or actresses of the past, like Shahji i.e. Shafi Muhammad, while keeping it a secret, married the former singer Gul Bahar Begum i.e. Faryal Gohar in the city, one of the dark side of her life. Dilbar’s character Gulab Chandev is bent on blackmailing her.
The most prominent aspect was the relationship between politicians and bureaucrats and then changing them into relationships to strengthen this relationship and then how these pillars show their true nature when the desired goals are not met.
From the very first episode of ‘Chand Grahan’, it was flooded with advertisements.
It can be estimated that at that time commercial breaks were usually for four to five minutes, but in ‘Chand Grahan’ it was more or less 15 to 20 minutes or sometimes up to half an hour. Viewers were not willing to move away from the screen.
Asghar Nadeem Syed says that many jokes were made on the length of the break. For example, he remembers a newspaper cartoon in which, as soon as there is a break in the lunar eclipse, a guest comes to a friend’s house.
Asghar Nadeem Syed says that since STN’s broadcast was in limited cities and the popularity of ‘Chand Grahan’ was at its peak, a dhaba owner in Hyderabad would record the drama in Karachi on the day it was aired and then the cassette would reach him. It would be delivered in one and a half to two hours, which he would put on the VCR and show to the visitors to the dhaba and during this time he would sell tea for Rs. He was watching the new episode of ‘Chand Grahan’.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Every episode’s ‘First Day First Show’ would get a houseful in the same way, from which Dhabawala would earn well.
In the drama serial ‘Chand Grahan’, Jahanian Shah’s pillow talk is ‘We are the owner of this land’ or Gulab Chandev’s ‘Hey Wah Wah. Meri Jaan Ke Tote’ or similarly Shema Kirmani’s saying ‘Hum Ko Nao Manga Do’ became popular and is still famous today.
Asghar Nadeem Syed admits that some of the actors in the drama were weak in acting, but the characters of other actors were so effective and strong that one did not feel the swing in the acting of these actors.
‘Chand Grahan’ became popular not only in Pakistan but all over the world. ‘Chand Grahan’ actually helped the private TV channel to a high position.
This is the reason why every possible effort was made to maintain the high quality of ‘Chand Grahan’ in all the dramas produced by STN later.
This honor also goes to Asghar Nadeem Syed that on his another PTV drama serial ‘Hawain’ there were conditions that Talat Hussain will be hanged in the drama or not?
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2024-09-23 12:29:14
