Ghazala Rafique Explained

Ghazala Rafique
Native Name:غزالہ رفيق
Native Name Lang:غزالہ رفيق
Birth Name:Bilquis Ansari
Birth Date:1939
Birth Place:Qamber Ali Khan, Sindh, Pakistan
Death Date:24 January 1977
Death Place:Karachi
Nationality:Pakistani
Occupation:Actress, Radio/tv Hostess
Years Active:1957–1977
Known For:
  • Subah Dam Khawer Darwaza Khula (Urdu: صبحدم دروازہ خاور کھلا), (Radio)
  • Zeenat(tv)
  • Rat Ja Rishta (Film)
Children:Saba, Sadaf, Ahsan

Ghazala Rafique (Sindhi/Urdu: غزالہ رفيق, 1939 - January 1977) was a Pakistani radio, tv and film actress. She was also a singer and hostess of Radio Pakistan Karachi. She was one of the most popular female TV actress's in the 1960s and 1970s.

Biography

She was born in 1939 in Qamber Ali Khan, District Larkana (Now Qamber-Shahdadkot District). Her birth name was Bilquis Ansari. She was niece of renowned Sindhi language writer Usman Ali Ansari.[1] Being member of an educated family, she had interest in reading and singing since childhood.

She began her singing and acting career at Radio Pakistan Karachi in 1957. Fortunately, Ghazala Rafiq's talents were noticed by the then-renowned broadcaster Z. A. Bukhari, who not only recorded her songs but also encouraged her to participate in radio programs as a hostess and drama artist. Her first Urdu radio play was Aag which was produced by Zahid Naqvi. After that, she played leading roles in many other radio plays.

At the radio, she learned music from renowned musicians Amrao Bundu Khan and Master Muhammad Ibrahim. In the 1960s, she was one of the most popular hostesses of Radio Pakistan Karachi. Her program 'Subah Dam Khawer Darwaza e Khula' (Urdu: صبحدم دروازہ خاور کھلا) was especially popular among radio listeners of that time.[2]

With a vibrant voice and a deep sense of understanding of the characters she was asked to play, she attracted the attention of TV producers. She was among the first few Sindhi speaking women who appeared on TV. Moreover, she was the only actress who gained widespread popularity in both Urdu as well as Sindhi language plays/serials.

She also acted in Sindhi film Rat Ja Rishta.[3]

Urdu Plays

Ghazala Rafique acted in scores of Urdu plays and serials of Pakistan Television (ptv) Centre Karachi. Her most popular plays/serials are listed below:

Sindhi Plays

She was one of the most popular actresses of Sindhi TV plays until her sudden death in 1977. Some of her memorable Sindhi language serials include the following:[4]

She died on 24 January 1977 in Karachi.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-01-24 . معروف صدا کار، باکمال اداکار غزالہ رفیق کی برسی - . 2022-04-29 . ARYNews.tv Urdu - Har Lamha Bakhabar.
  2. Web site: Tareekh e Pakistan - Death of Ghazala Rafique (غزالہ رفیق کا انتقال) Online History Of Pakistan . 2022-04-28 . www.tareekhepakistan.com . 26 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220526195233/https://tareekhepakistan.com/detail?title_id=304&dtd_id=415 . dead .
  3. Web site: سنڌي فلمون پسمنظر ۽ تاريخ : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا) . 2022-04-29 . www.encyclopediasindhiana.org . sd.
  4. Web site: 2022-01-24 . Mention Of Ghazala Rafiq Whom We Forgot ... - IG News . 2022-04-28 . en-US . 24 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220124151714/https://irshadgul.com/mention-of-ghazala-rafiq-whom-we-forgot/ . dead .