Veteran radio, television and stage artiste Maqsood Hassan passed away on Wednesday due to heart failure. He was 67 years old.
Apart from a great body of work Maqsood Hassan leaves behind a wife whom he married six years ago. They did not have any children.
Hassan, like many actors of his generation, had started his career from a children’s program on Radio Pakistan. He lent his voice to many drama serials from the fabled room no. 9 of Radio Pakistan.
His acting career spanned nearly 50 years, which includes performances for all major mediums such as radio, television, stage and film.
Well-known TV and theater actor Behroze Subzwari has fond memories of the deceased actor.
“I had known Maqsood bhai for the past 40 years, he was a great man and a brilliant performer,” Sabzwari told The Express Tribune. “He was one of the most humble seniors I have had at Radio Pakistan. As far as acting was concerned, Maqsood used his height to his utmost advantage and ended up giving us several memorable characters.”
Veteran actor Muhammad Ali was closest to Hassan, having worked with him in many plays, including those produced by Khuwaja Moinuddin. His most memorable film was Jaag Utha Insaan.
In addition to his career on the airwaves, the celluloid and the small screen, Hassan had also showcased his acting talents on the theatrical stage, some of which were with renowned actor Moin Akhtar. His play Bakra Qiston Per garnered critical acclaim and was lauded by both peers and fans alike. His last stage performance was in Nazar Hussain’s play ‘Hum Log.’
“He was more of an elder brother to me and we collaborated on various popular projects on both TV and theater,” Hussain, the director of Hum Log, told The Express Tribune.
“Hum Log was his last play and also his most entertaining one; it was watched and loved by people from all walks of life at The Arts council theater hall. We can only wish to have another performer of Maqsood’s stature in our industry”
Despite his exploits on film, radio, and stage, Hassan will be fondly remembered for his role on the television drama Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewa, which was centring on issues plaguing the lower-middle class societies of Pakistan. His antics and jokes in the drama seemed like an extension of his charismatic personality as he was famous for his quick-witted sense of humour among friends.
“ Maqsood bhai was an exceptional actor who was bestowed with a very good sense of humor and impeccable comic timing. More importantly he never took his height for a disability,” recalls Ahmad Shah the general secretary of Karachi Arts Council, who had known Maqsood Hassan for nearly 35 years.
His funeral prayers were held Thursday afternoon at Ghazali mosque, Civic View, Hassan Square, Karachi.
The Guinness Attempt By Maqsood And His Fellow Artists
Maqsood Hassan’s last theatrical performance, Hum Log comprised an all-dwarf cast and aimed at achieving the Guinness world record for a full-length theatre performance by dwarf performers.
The cast included industry veterans such as Maqsood Hassan, Shahid Rana, Afzal Baig and Nighat Sultana under the directorial eye of Nazar Hussain.
The play revolved around Pappu, one of the prominent figures living in a household of dwarves who frequently laments the fact that how he is ridiculed by the society and people around him for his dwarfism.
The play serves as a comedy of errors as dwarf men fall in love with taller women whilst providing some social commentary and satire as well. Things change when the lead character Pappu wins a lucky draw worth 30 Million Rupees and he realizes how people’s perception towards him has changed.
The performances of the cast were well received and despite its short run the play garnered critical acclaim.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2014.
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@Atiya Ahmed: Definitely we all going to miss him, he was such a great grate actor and a human being..
You were source of inspiration to all of us.you taught us by your positive attitude towards life that, one can stand out in a crowed with out any disability.He had a great sense of humour. Not only he was great artist but a great human being.It was so shocking to hear that you are no more with us. To sum up I could only say you were a jewel to our family. None of our family parties would be any more fun loving with out you.you will be alwayes alive in our memories. God give you super darga in jannat.
Maqsood hassan was my dearest maternal uncle.For me he was a source of inspiration. He showed all of us that instead of height disability , one can stand out high in crowed.our family Mefils could never be completed with out him.He had great sense of humour ,he alwayes made us happy, we had a grest laugh together.what else I can say more rather than that he was jewle for our family.Not only he was great artist but a great human being.We all going to miss you Mammo. God give you high place in jannat.