We received the sad news from the Pakistani satellite TV channels just and few hours ago. Film Industry Superstar Actor/Producer Mohammad Ali passed away in Lahore after a prolonged illness. He was either 69 or 71 years old, depending on which report one follows (a phenomenon not uncommon in Pakistan since the Late Melody Queen Noor Jehan was reported to have at least two different birth names i.e. Allah Rakkhi and Allah Wasai when she died a few years ago). But in any event the sadness of this news is will surely be shared by Pakistanis worldwide, especially amongst people above 50 years of age who remember the “Golden Age of Pakistani Cinema” during the 1960’s and early 70’s.

The Pakistani Urdu film industry is currently in a pathetic state of decline. Piracy and easy access of Indian films has made it very difficult for Pakistani films to compete (maybe there should now be open competition?). But that is not all. The separation of Bangladesh was the first major blow to local movie making (Bengal gave us Shabnam, Nadeem, Rehman etc.) And Pakistani society itself underwent quite a change since Z.A. Bhutto fell.

The Zia Regime and the lawlessness that engulfed the country since the Afghan war drew family entertainment indoors as people sought refuge in the VCR and now DVD + Satellite TV. The Cinema Halls lost both respectability and customers since the 1980’s and many have now been transformed into Marriage Halls or Shopping Plazas. 52 Urdu movies were released in 1966, 41 in 1970, 48 in 1975, 26 in 1980, 22 in 1985, 10 in 1990, 14 in 1995, 30 in 2000 and 13 in 2005 (source of data Pakistan Film Magazine). Punjabi films are also in decline, but one is at a loss to explain why Pashto films are increasingly being made. But whatever this slow decline of Urdu films indicates, Ali-Zeb films will always be remembered with a certain degree of fondness by us old folks. We also thank our stars for Pakistani television and the survival of our music in an increasingly intolerant environment.

Mohammad Ali started his film career in director Fazal Karim Fazli’s film “Chiragh Jalta Raha” which was inaugurated by Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah in 1962. He gained critical acclaim in Hassan Tariq’s “Kaneez” in 1964 but it was not till he acted in Director Humayun Mirza’s “Aaag Ka Darya” in 1966 that he shot to full stardom. 1966 can be spoken of as one of the finest years for Pakistani films because Waheed Murad’s blockbuster “Armaan” was also released the same year. Mohammad Ali made his last (?) film “Dam Mast Qalandar” in 1995.

He married the leading lady of the Pakistani Film Industry Zeba in 1968 giving birth to Ali-Zeb films. During his illustrious career he acted in over 250 films and won numerous Nigar awards. The late 1970’s and early 80’s movies “Salakhen” “Aawaz” and “Kiran Aur Kaali” were possibly his last memorable films. By that time he was also sharing the limelight on the screen with other male heroes.

Many can argue about the best film role that he ever played. As a humanitarian he did quite well playing just his true self. His acting abilities were utilized to their fullest in a number of films but in my humble opinion his role in Shabab Kairanvi’s “Insaan Aur Aadmi” was the best work that he had ever done. The man who cried out for justice and made the appeal “Your Honour” (Judge Sahib) a household word in 1970 is no more.

As Noor Jehan sang in the film “Too jehan kahin bhi jaye mera pyar yaad rakhna,” Pakistanis worldwide mourn his loss as our heart goes out to Zeba and Samina.

We will miss you Mohammad Ali. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un.