ISLAMABAD: Pioneering puppeteer and renowned Pakistani television artist, scriptwriter, newspaper columnist, voice actor, and TV show director Farooq Qaiser was remembered on his birth anniversary on Tuesday.
He was born in Lahore on October 31, 1945, and received his education at the National College of Arts. He Mastered in Graphic Arts from Romania in 1976 and obtained a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication from the University of Southern California, USA, in 1999.
A multifaceted talent, he excelled as a puppeteer, columnist, director, scriptwriter, and voice-over artist. Additionally, he wrote several humorous books, including titles like “Meray Piyaray Allah Mian,” “Hor Puchho,” “Kaalam Galoch,” and “Meethay Karelay.”
One of his most enduring contributions was the creation of Uncle Sargam, a puppet character for which he provided the voice. Uncle Sargam quickly gained immense popularity in Pakistan, becoming a beloved household name that endured for decades.
Uncle Sargam debuted in the children’s television show “Kaliyan,” aired on Pakistan Television (PTV) in 1976. Aside from “Kaliyan,” Qaiser’s other cherished TV programs included “Putli Tamasha” and “Sargam Time.”
In recognition of his remarkable talent, he was honored with the Presidential Pride of Performance award in 1993 and the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2021 in acknowledgment of his outstanding performance and his four-decade-long contribution to Pakistan’s entertainment industry. In 2010, Pakistan Television (PTV) also awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award. Farooq Qaiser passed away on May 14, 2021, and he was laid to rest in Islamabad. —APP
