The second death anniversary of known writer, columnist and poet Munnu Bhai was observed on Tuesday.
Munnu Bhai breathed his last on January 19, 2018 in Lahore, aged 84. He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 2007 for his services to the nation. He was also rewarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award on March 23, 2018 for his notable literary services.
Munnu Bhai started his career by working as a translator for an Urdu language newspaper but eventually developed into a playwright and a dramatist. His career as a drama-writer was primarily devoted to writing plays for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). As a playwright, Munnu Bhai's most famous TV drama to date is Sona Chandi released in 1982. He has also written plays like 'Ashiana' and 'Dasht' and contributed in an environmental docudrama - 'Before It's Too Late'. Tamanna, a UK-Pakistani production shot entirely in Pakistan with the soundtrack featuring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is also written by Munnu Bhai.
His name is mostly associated with column writing but Muneer Ahmed Qureshi or 'Munnu Bhai', as he is better known as, has put on paper a few of the most remembered and revered drama serials in Pakistani television history. He has been one of the most outstanding and consistent writers in Pakistan.
He also ventured into long plays, producing immensely entertaining plays such as ‘Gumshuda’ and ‘Khubsurat’ which were well received by the audience and drew favourable comments from the critics. He also wrote another renowned drama serial ‘Ashiyaana’ which was characterised by its buoyant and optimistic plot as well as for highlighting family values.
His drama serial ‘Dasht’ was another one of his brilliant works and portrayed the life style, cultural traditions as well as the backwardness of the Balochi tribes based in Gwadar, Balochistan.