Rendezvous with Ayub Khawer

An equally inspiring director, producer, writer and poet, Mohammad Ayub Khawer was born in Chakwal, on 12th June 1948, and joined Government High School, Chakwal, for his initial phase of learning. After shifting to Karachi, where his father was serving Pak Army, he got matriculated from Maqbool-e-Aam High School Sharfabad, Karachi. Later on, he graduated from National College Karachi and, finally, got his Masters in Urdu Literature from Karachi University. He started his professional career in 1976 with his appointment as Producer in PTV, and that journey continued till 2004. Since then, he has been serving as the CEO, Executive Director and Head in different private sector News and Entertainment media organisations. Presently, he is producing the popular talk show “Mazaak Raaat” that is enjoying Olympian heights in regard to popularity and viewership. He has many hit serials, plays, tele-films to his credit, apart from achieving many highest awards in the field of TV and film. Besides, he has emerged as a popular Lyricist for last many years. SYMPHONY AND OTHER POEMS is an English version of his poems selected from his books. These poems have been translated into English by Muhammad Shanazar.

MAK: Being educationally and intrinsically a man of literature, were you inclined to play with words, thoughts and thymes right from your early days?

AK: I started creating poetic expressions and pondering over the intrinsic labyrinths of the society and human existence when I was a little child reading at my village school, in Chakwal district. I used to do part-time labour after attending the classes. One day, when I was working as a daily-wage labourer at the house of my class fellow’s father, I received a rupee or a bit more as compensation from his father. He (my classmate) snatched that from me. Then and there, I spontaneously composed a few lines that concerning the theme of “might is right”. So, it was in my heart and soul, right from my birth, to respond and react to whatever was happening around me in the society and world in words, expressions and rhymes.

MAK: Did you get published during your academic period of life or after stepping into the realm of professional life as a producer?

AK: As I was interested in poetic and literary activities from an early age, I started contributing in literary magazines in 70s, when I was in college. My poetry was, first, published in Sahba Lakhnavi’s “Afkaar”, and, then, this journey continued and I wrote for other magazines like “Auraaq”, “Seep” and Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi’s “Fanoon”. My first poem on the “Fall of Dhaka” was published in “Fanoon”, in 1970. I wrote much for this publication because it was a quarterly and I had time to write for it, along with concentrating on my studies. The more I explored this arena, the higher my passion for literature and creative arts went.

MAK: Have you been the driving force behind or associated with the campaign of creating and promoting literary programs on TV also?

AK: Yes, after joining my service at PTV, I worked for literary TV programs, as a producer also. I produced “Mahnama” the visual Magazine of Urdu Literature, under the Editorship of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Ashfaq Ahmed Khan, and created another program with the title, “Danish Kadah” that comprised Professor Mohammad Munawar’s lectures on Dr. Allamma Iqbal’s lengthy poems and their visual interpretations by the famous artist Aslam Kamal’s paintings.

MAK: Your poetry is internationally appreciated and appraised. Are your works being translated into other languages?

AK: I have more than 35 awards for my poetry from all over the world. I am one of the few Pakistani poets who opened new doors of recognition for them in English speaking countries of the Western world across the globe. My book "Love in the Fist of Terrorism" received a great reputation as the result of this, and the renowned publisher Dr. Anwaar Nasir is going to publish its 2nd edition of "Love in the Fist of Terrorism": another one titled "Muhabbet ki Kitab" is translated by Muhammad Shanazar and Sunia Javed, which is a romantic screenplay of a film in the form of poetry. Both these books by Ayub Khawar are published by Sunita Paul, through Aabbs Publications India.

MAK: Your TV plays are still a symbol of class and quality. How many plays, serials and films have you produced, directed or written?

AK: I am highly grateful to the Almighty for endowing me with this honour and praise in regard to my works. The cascade of my famous plays, serials and telefilms comprises “Khirman”, “Khubsurat”,“Baazgasht”, “ Tasalsal” , “Amarbail (By Bano Qudsia and dramatised by Amjad Islam Amjad) “Cat Walk” and “Bevazan Log”, “Chor”, “Sunset Boulevard” (By Gulzar and Dramatised by Ayub Khawar) “Fishaar”, “Din”, “Inkaar”, “Girah”, “Hisaar”, “Pataal”, “Nasheb”, “Daldal”, “Apney Prayey”, “Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Chor”, “Khawaja and Son”, “Ghareeb-e-Sheher”, “Yeh Bhji Kisi Ki Beti Hey”, “Kaanch ke Par”, “Abhi Waqt Hey”, “Red Card”, “Qasmi Kahanni”, “Kahani Gher” and “Gulzar Classics” (Based on short stories of the famous film Producer, Director, Writer and Poet Gulzar).

MAK: Being a romantic poet and artistic personality, you must have been in love with someone that paved the way for your marriage. Am I right?

AK: You are right. We were together in Karachi University and are still together in the journey of life. My wife is from a family that hailed from Banaras and Illahabad. I have a son and three daughters named Bela, Waqas, Rabia and Zaira, and all are married. With the grace of God, I have become both maternal and paternal grandfather. We are settled in Lahore.

MAK: During your era, the viewers used to observe and admire an artistic harmony and identical chemistry amongst the playwrights, producers and the artists, especially during working on a specific art project. Now, we hardly see that synchronisation. Is it true?

AK: It was the initial phase of the PTV transmission in Pakistan when we were inducted, trained and posted as Producers in this purely professional and certified institution. Aslam Azhar was heading the department during that era and he was very much conscious of and particular about the quality and objectivity of the content and other related stuff and procedures. The role of commercialism was just a supporting phenomenon during that era and was not occupying the driving seat of the media. That is the big difference between the media of that phase and the one in present-era. In the contemporary entertainment world, it is a 20 to 25-year old business or marketing graduate that controls and organises the whole situation, procedures and the finishing stages of the art and literary works. Likewise, the artists are concerning their individual performance and its returns instead of focusing on the artistic or literary venture as a challenge on the whole.

MAK: It is an open secret that contemporary entertainment industry produce and TV programs are void of any didactic element and classic and literary spirit. What are the reasons behind this lapse?

AK: Again, I must mention, here, that it is the race of being or called successful product or producer on the basis of winning sponsorship, glamour and a lot of money out of the fake or pseudo literary or entertainment ventures. Literary spirit, didactic aspects and educational and socio-moral impact of the programs and the content are no more significant or even existing notions in the modern-day drama and performing arts fields. So, to earn more and more monetary rewards, they can cross any socio-moral limits and norms.

MAK: You have been highly admired not only by the country’s literary circles, but by the universally recognised intellectuals, creative artists and critics also. Famous Indian poet, critic, writer and director Mr Gulzar is also a big fan of your works. How do you feel about that honor?

AK: I really feel proud and thankful for all these encouraging and soul-elevating bundles of praise. The credit goes to the legendary poet and author Mr. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi who introduced me to Mr. Gulzar and it is a matter of great pleasure and gratification for me to be counted amongst the first three Pakistani, after Mr. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Ms. Mansoora Ahmed, friends of Mr. Gulzar. I have a learnt a lot from him and it is his greatness that he appreciates and admires my works as a critic and literary icon.

MAK: Your lyrics and poetry are soaked in melodies and heart-touching tunes and tend to be composed and sung as songs by the towering musicians and artists in film and drama industry. Is it a natural passion or the chain of circumstances led you to be an art and literature lover?

AK: Yes, it has been in my spirit right from my birth and I adore tunes, melodies, lyrics, rhythm and rhymes, etc. My more than fifty songs/ghazals have been sung by the seasoned and finished singers of the subcontinent for different films and theme songs for TV serials and plays. I have written many songs for films and plays. I wrote film Bandit Queen’s song “Sajna Ray” for Nusrat Fateh Akli Khan. The song “Meri Palkon Main Ik Spna Tha” won the Best Song of the year Award. My other popular lyrics are “Tu hey Chand aur main Hun Chand Raat” for film “Dil To Pagal Hey”, “Main Ik Din Lot Key Ayun Ga” for the film with same title, and “Mumkin hi Nahin” for film “Sulakhain”. My famous theme songs for TV plays are “Jeevan Ki Chunaria” for “Tanvee Fatm BA”, “Kuchh Ankahi Si Baatain” for the Play with the same title, and “Buri Aurat for the play with the same title.

MAK: Who did inspire you most in the realm of music?

AK: I have been very lucky to have legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Majid Khan as my very close friends. Majid was my class fellow in college and he was the son of Ustad Nathu Khan who was highly admired by Ustad Salamat Ali Khan during his charismatic performance in an annual music festival held in Faisalabad. When I was living in Faisal Town, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s home was in my neighbourhood. I used to visit Khan Saheb and spend time with him. I am proud to have written a few songs for him and one of them was sung by Ustad Raher Fateh Ali Khan and Sara Raza after the death of Khan Saheb.

MAK: You have been admired for producing epoch-making plays, shows and other programs for the children and introducing the use of new technologies and concepts in this regard.

AK: Being a child, I often missed the moments of entertainment and interesting stories or plays. So, when I was posted at Lahore TV centre, I was passionate to create new opportunities for the little ones. I produced many programs for children including “Alif Laila” and “Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Chor”. I introduced the use of models in creating real effects of drowning a city into water, cracking the earth and devouring places and other such supernatural scenes. Before that, only paintings and chrome technology was being used to portray such situations. I produced a serial for children on the novel, “Aali Per Kia Guzri” by Aziz Asri.

(The Interviewer is an Educationist, Author and Journalist, can be reached at muttahir_khan@hotmail.com)