Sabiha Khanum, an unparalleled artistic legend
I belong to a generation that predates selfies by a few decades. Autographs were the most convenient mode of expressing reverence in my years of growing up.
Being a reluctant autograph seeker, there have been only 3 personalities (all females) who I have approached for an autograph. In case of Nazia Hassan Arundhati Roy, I had been a great admirer of their work when I got the chance to meet but the first autograph I ever sought was from someone I was not even familiar with at that time.
[bs-quote quote=”The play was unlike the comical ones that became synonymous with theatre in Karachi subsequently in the 80’s and 90’s.” style=”style-17″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Naveid Siddique” author_job=”COO, Samaa TV”][/bs-quote]
She was Sabiha Khanum.
1984 – my family was settled in Saudi Arabia and were visiting Karachi for the customary summer family weddings when an aunt of mine decided that all of the people staying at her house will be going to see a theatrical play staged at Hashoo Auditorium which has since made way for Madina Mall on Abdullah Haroon Road. The play was unlike the comical ones that became synonymous with theatre in Karachi subsequently in the 80’s and 90’s.
It was an intensely dramatic play featuring a number of prominent TV actors and I still have trouble understanding why as a 10 year old, I was dragged to see it. An hour into the play, a special appearance was made by a lady who was on stage for a total of 6 minutes but her impact left me completely mesmerized.
[bs-quote quote=”It was an intensely dramatic play featuring a number of prominent TV actors and I still have trouble understanding why as a 10 year old, I was dragged to see it.” style=”style-17″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Naveid Siddique” author_job=”COO, Samaa TV”][/bs-quote]
Draped in a black sari, she had an electrifying presence and literally store the thunder from everyone else in that limited time. Afterwards, we met an acquaintance who somehow took us backstage and there I saw this charismatic lady again. I borrowed a paper from my aunt, went up to the graceful thespian seated quietly in a corner and asked for an autograph for the first time in my life.
I did not know her name and had no idea who she was as I had never seen a Pakistani film till then. But the sheer power of her performance had left me totally awestruck. She asked my name and wrote “Khush Rahiye” (Stay Happy) on the page with her signature – SABIHA KHANUM.
[bs-quote quote=”Draped in a black sari, she had an electrifying presence and literally store the thunder from everyone else in that limited time.” style=”style-17″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Naveid Siddique ” author_job=”COO, Samaa TV”][/bs-quote]
Much much later when I had access to one of the biggest film libraries of old Pakistani films at Eveready Pictures, I got an opportunity to watch Sabiha Khanum in her prime – a wonderfully spontaneous actress with an effervescent screen presence and undeniable star appeal. After 15 years of acclaimed and successful leading roles, she graduated to supporting characters from the mid 60’s and remained a dramatically powerful performer for another 2 decades. She later worked for television and occasionally did theatre.
Having been in artistic hibernation for over 2 decades, Sabiha Khanum passed away at Virginia, USA on 13th June 2020, 38 years after the death of her husband and costar of 40 films, Santosh Kumar.
Sabiha Khanum had a long and illustrious career and she invariably would always rank as one of the biggest stars of Pakistani film industry.
[bs-quote quote=”I got an opportunity to watch Sabiha Khanum in her prime – a wonderfully spontaneous actress with an effervescent screen presence and undeniable star appeal.” style=”style-17″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Naveid Siddique” author_job=”COO, Samaa TV”][/bs-quote]
The Power of Cinema
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