| Anwar Maqsood | |
| Honorific Suffix: | HI PP |
| Birth Name: | Anwar Maqsood Hameedi |
| Birth Date: | 7 September 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British India |
| Occupation: | Playwright, lyricist, Satirist, Television Host |
| Nationality: | Pakistani |
| Subject: | Entertainment |
| Spouse: | Imrana Maqsood عمرانہ مقصود |
| Children: | Bilal Maqsood (son) Arjumand Ahmed (daughter) |
| Relatives: | Zubaida Tariq (sister) Fatima Surayya Bajia (sister) Zehra Nigah (sister) Sarah Naqvi (sister) |
| Awards: | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) in 2013 Pride of Performance in 1994 |
| Native Name: | انور مقصود حمیدی |
Anwar Maqsood Hameedi (born 7 September 1939, Urdu:), popularly known as Anwar Maqsood, is a Pakistani scriptwriter, television presenter, satirist, humorist, and infrequent actor. He was well known for his drama write-ups for PTV in the late 1970s and 1980s.[1]
Anwar Maqsood was born on 7 September 1939 in Hyderabad State. He studied at the Gulbarga Trust School in Aurangabad. His large family migrated to Karachi in 1948, after the creation of Pakistan in 1947. His childhood years were spent in PIB Colony, Karachi with his siblings and family.
Maqsood belongs to a prominent family of Pakistan and some of his siblings are well known in their own right: his sister, Fatima Surayya Bajia was a well-known writer in Pakistan and South Asia whose marriage ended early in divorce. She then chose to play a key role in the upbringing of her nine young brothers and sisters and became a maternal figure to them. Another sister Zehra Nigah, is a relatively well-known poet. One of his brothers, Ahmed Maqsood, is a former Chief Secretary Sindh; and his sister Zubaida Tariq was a cooking expert and chef. His wife, Imrana Maqsood, is a known novelist and his son, Bilal Maqsood is a rock artist, lead guitarist and vocalist of former rock band Strings. He has one daughter.[2] A book on the life and work of Anwar Maqsood titled Uljhey Suljhey Anwar (الجھے سلجھے انور) was written by his wife, Imrana Maqsood.
Anwar Maqsood has been associated for many years with PTV where he served as a presenter for a variety of their Television programs including Studio Dhai and then Studio Ponay Teen along with Show Sha and various other shows.
Maqsood is often regarded as one of the leading Pakistani satirists/writers as well as highly respected in social and showbiz industry of Pakistan. Anwar Maqsood is often given credit for encouraging talented television actors like Bushra Ansari and Moin Akhter.[2] He wrote various successful plays for television industry, including:[3] [4]
| Network | Name | Genre | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Television Corporation | Aik Sachi Chuk | Comedy | Long play | |
| Aik Thi Safia | Long play | |||
| Amma | Long play | |||
| Aangan Terha | Comedy | Drama serial | ||
| Chun Chunao | Comedy | Drama serial | ||
| Dour-e-Junoon (Drama 83) | Long play | |||
| Fifty Fifty | Comedy | Sketch comedy | ||
| Fanooni Latifey | Comedy | Long play | ||
| Half Plate | Comedy | Long play | ||
| Iss Tarah To Hota Hai | Comedy | Drama serial | ||
| Karim Sahab Ka Ghar (Sachi Kahaniyan) | Comedy | Long play | ||
| Nasri Ganey | Comedy | Long play | ||
| Show Time | Comedy | Stage show | ||
| Show Sha | Comedy | Stage show | ||
| Silver Jubilee | Stage show | |||
| Studio Dhaai | Stage show | |||
| Studio Ponay Teen | Comedy | Stage show | ||
| Talaash | Drama serial | |||
| Zia Mohi-ud-Din Show | Comedy | Stage show | 1969–1973 | |
| Yeh Kahan Ki Dosti Hai | Long play | 1988 | ||
| Network Television Marketing | Studio Chaar Bees | Comedy | ||
| Sitara Aur Mehrunissa | Romance | Drama serial | ||
| Nadan Nadia | Comedy | Drama serial | ||
| Colony 52 | Drama serial | |||
| ARY Digital Network | Loose Talk | Comedy | Talk show | |
| Majoo Mian | ||||
| Express Entertainment | Hum Pe Jo Guzarti Hai | |||
| Other | Pawnay 14 August | Satire | One-act play | 2012 |
| Sawa 14 August | Satire | One-act play | 2013 | |
| Anwar Maqsood ka Dharna | Satire | Play | 2014 | |
| Siachen | Satire | Play | 2015 | |
| Saadhay 14 August | Satire | Play | 2022 |
Anwar Maqsood received his education in Pakistan. He completed his matriculation from St. Patrick's High School, Karachi. He then went on to study at the Sindh Muslim Government Law College, also in Karachi. He graduated with a degree in Law and began his career as a lawyer. However, he soon realized that his true passion was in the field of creative writing and entertainment, and he transitioned into the field of scriptwriting, television hosting, and comedy.