PNCA to pay tribute to ‘Uncle Sargam’ tomorrow
National
May 19, 2021
Islamabad: Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will organise a condolence reference to pay a tribute to Farooq Qaiser known as ‘Uncle Sargam’ on May 20.
PNCA Director General Dr Fouzia Saeed, film expert and in-charge PNCA Film Section Ijaz Gul, Salima Hashmi, Arshad Mahmood, other personalities and members of his family would shed light on the life and contributions of prominent puppeteer.
He was died of cardiac arrest at the age of 75 on Friday. Farooq Qaiser, best known as ‘Uncle Sargam’, was a household name for Pakistani kids of the 80s and 90s, said DG PNCA.
Demise of ‘Uncle Sargam’ saddens nation
Islamabad
Our correspondent
Islamabad: Director General of Pakistan National Council of the Arts Dr. Fouzia Saeed on Saturday said that the sudden demise of famous ventriloquist Farooq Qaisar (uncle Sargam) has saddened us all and the entire nation is in deep sorrow and grief.
He was a man of vision who wrote and spoke to highlight evil characters and pointed out the weaknesses in our social life, said a press release issued here.
His unmatchable, remarkable, undeniable and universal characters have played a vital role in educating people.
The unforgettable Farooq Qaisar will remain alive through his writings and acting. He has international recognition for his contribution to the art world. He joined PNCA’s national puppet theatre on the special request of Dr Fozia Saeed and remained associated with PNCA’s puppet team providing guidance in promoting puppetry art despite of his deteriorating health and corona pandemic.
Goodbye, Uncle Sargam
May 16, 2021
Those who grew up in the 1970s and even the 80s can’t possibly forget the puppet show Kaliyan and its main characters such as Uncle Sargam and Maasi Museebatey. They kept in thrall children and adults alike and provided much needed comic relief in the dark years of General Ziaul Haq. Kaliyan’s creator Farooq Qaiser passed away on May 14, 2021, in Islamabad, leaving his admirers and family friends devastated. Qaiser was 75 years old and had been suffering from some heart ailments. Art was his first love which took him to the National College of Arts in Lahore and then to Romania and the US to study graphic design and mass communication. Qaiser had diverse talents and was at ease in various forms of expression from column writing and directing plays to puppetry and scriptwriting. But perhaps he was best known for his voiceover that endeared his characters to millions of listeners and viewers across the country and beyond borders.