PESHAWAR: Noted film actors, performers and fans paid rich tributes to the uncrowned king of Pashto movies, Badar Munir here on Monday.

The provincial culture directorate conducted the event at Nishtar Hall. Movie buffs and fans of Badar Munir attended the function in a large number.

Paying tributes to the late actor, speakers said that Badar was not only an excellent performer but also a great social worker.

They said that he had collected donations for Shaukat Khanam hospital in Lahore in his lifetime and used to extend help to poor people in his personal capacity.

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Badar had performed in about 732 Pashto, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi and Bengali movies.

Around 23 individuals were given away ‘Badar Munir best performance awards’ related to Pashto showbiz. Besides the sons of the late actor, Saeed Munir and Aqal Munir, his younger brother Khurshid Iqbal also attended the function. Noted actors of the yore days Amaan Khan, Shahnaz Begum and Pashto ghazal maestro Khial Mohammad were also present on the occasion.

Speaking as chief guest, Abdul Moneem Khan, adviser to chief minister, said that government did not believe in hollow slogans but in practical work and always fulfilled its promises.

He said that after removing technical problems, the Cinema Road in Peshawar would be renamed after Badar Munir on the public demand.

He said that government had spent millions of funds to honour and facilitates artists, performers and literati.

Mr Khan said that Badar Munir was an icon and a perpetual source of inspiration for young showbiz people.

Addressing on the occasion, Khial Mohammad said that hundreds of his songs had been picturised on Badar Munir as his voice had suited his personality. He said that he had taken pride in being a playback singer in most of Badar Munir’s movies.

“He had a close resemblance even with my face structure. Badar Munir was a versatile actor, who would always be remembered as a true hero of masses,” he said.

Javed Yousafzai, chief of All Pakistan Badar Munir Federation (APBMF), regretted that family of Badar Munir in Swat had still not been compensated for destruction of the house in flashfloods of 2010. He said that Badar Munir had always remained as excellent role model for young performers.

Shahnaz Begum dwelt upon her long associations with Badar Munir and said that the late actor was an uncrowned king of Pashto silver screen. She said that had he not launched his career in Pashto movies, there would have been no Pashto film industry.

Ms Shahnaz said that Badar Munir was an academy in his own right.

Arshad Khan, noted actor and chief organiser of the show, said that out of 60 cinema halls most were dismantled in sheer violation of laws in the province. He said that only six cinema halls were in good working condition.

He said that it was the legendary Badar Munir, who had kept alive Pashto cinema till his last breath.

Saeed Munir in his brief remarks said that many young actors had copied style of his father but a few could do so in the true sense. He said that Badar Munir’s contribution was huge and worthy of appreciation. He said that for his family, Badar Munir was more than just a person.

Young actors performed a few memorable shots of Badar Munir’s hit movies while Pir Hamid, an artist, presented popular film posters, portraits and photographs of the late actor.

Akbar Hoti, a Pashto poet, screened a short documentary on the life and contributions of Badar Munir.

Senior Pashto film directors Inayatullah, Qaiser Sanubar, film actors Jahangir Khan and Shahid Khan also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2016