Adieu Shoaib Hashmi

Adieu Shoaib Hashmi – Veteran actor and playwright Shoaib Hashmi passed away after a prolonged illness. He was 84 years old. He lived his life to the full and was known as a reservoir of knowledge as well as an entertaining company. He taught while relishing theatre and TV productions with his programmes heavily tilted towards portraying the eccentric side of life. He was also viewed as a trendsetter in producing comic satire throughout the 1970s, including Akkar Bakkar, Such Gupp, Taal Matol and Balila. His significant contribution in the field of performing arts was duly recognised when he was conferred with President’s Pride of Performance and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Humour was his most significant trait and he developed an endearing style of a confounding performer that evoked widespread laughter. Being the son-in-law of renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Shoaib Hashmi was no stranger to celebrity and his house remained abuzz with the gaiety and colour it brought. He wrote extensively for the theatre and translated a few books and one of his most notable translations was ‘A song for this day’: compendium of Faiz’s 52 poems. He also did quite a few translations of English dramas for local theatres owing to the lack of playwrights and drama publications in Urdu. The Weekender