From lights to action : Badar Munir remembered on his sixth death anniversary

Actors suggest setting up academy named after the legendary actor.

PESHAWAR: Badar Munir, whose meteoric rise saw him go from a lighting technician to a Pashto cinema star with a 30 year career, was remembered on his sixth death anniversary by fellow actors and cultural activists at an event in Nishtarabad on Sunday. The legendary actor died in 2008 in Lahore.

Participants at the event asked the government to set up an academy named after the actor to promote arts in Khyber-Pakthtunkhwa. They also suggested the establishment of  “Yasmin Khan fund” for the financial assistance of actors.

Around 85 of Munir’s staggering 750 movies were in Urdu, while he also acted in 31 Punjabi, 11 Sindhi and one Indian movie. He was the lead actor in around 70% of the Pashto movies, and also played the hero in some of the flicks in other languages.

“Badar Munir was the first artist to combine action and glamour in Pashto movies,” said Shahid Khan, a film artiste and producer.  Shahid added Munir’s personality was unmatched and was why he ruled the hearts of millions of Pukhtuns.

Munir belonged to the small village of Shagram in Madyan, Swat. Born into the Mian Khel tribe in 1942, Munir was later sent to Karachi to work as a rickshaw driver.

The actor, who started his career in showbiz as a lighting technician for a Waheed Murad film, starred in his first Pashto movie in 1970. The film was called Yousuf Khan Sherbano and written by Ali Haider Joshi, a renowned poet of the time. It was based on folklore and directed by Aziz Tabassum.

The hugely successful film not only put Pashto cinema on the map, but also established Munir’s career. His next successful movie was Adam Khan Durkhanai, also based on folklore. Other hits included Orabal, Baghi, Didan, Kochwan, Mairnay Wror, Khana Badosh, Topak Zma Qanoon and Dehqan.

“Merely calling him just an actor would not define Badar Munir,” said Qaisar Sanobar, a Pashto film producer and director. “He was an institution, every artiste learnt from him.” According to Sanobar, aspiring actors should learn about the talent that was Badar Munir and understand his contributions to Pashto cinema.

Sanobar added the industry suffered a huge loss with the death of this leading actor. He regretted the fact that the cultural authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa failed to even arrange a humble function to honour Munir’s services.

“The sitting K-P government needs to take concrete steps for the welfare and protection of artistes,” said Sanobar.

Those attending the tribute to Munir on Sunday unanimously passed resolutions asking the government to extend financial assistance to the widow of Badar Munir, who is suffering from cancer. They reiterated their demand to set up the Badar Munir academy in Peshawar.

“The inborn talent of Munir and his projection of Pukhtun culture gave him a unique identity among people,” said Ihtisham Toru, a member of a cultural forum. “Young actors must follow Munir if they want to revive the golden days of the Pashto film industry.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2014.