Amrita Pritam’s Pinjar Coming to Pakistan TV on Republic Day-Eve

The partition classic is being helmed by ‘Mom’ actor Adnan Siddiqui.

Amrita Pritam’s renowned novel Pinjar is making its way on to the Pakistan small screen. Titled Ghughi, which means “dove” but is also used as a term of endearment for girls, the adaptation would air on TV One on January 25 at 8 pm (Pakistan Standard Time).

According to Indian Express, the project is being helmed by popular Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui - who starred as Sridevi’s husband in Mom. He is producing as well as acting in the adaptation.

“Ghughi will make people on both sides of the man-made border gravitate to their roots. It is not just about the horror of partition, two nations and religions. Primarily, the series talks about human beings and their emotions, which suffered at the hands of a few decision-makers.”  

Adnan Siddiqui, Actor-Producer

In the show, Puro, the female protagonist’s name has been changed to Nirmala. The role is being essayed by Amar Khan, a graduate of Lahore’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television of Beaconhouse National University, while Siddiqui plays Rasheed.

“We have shot in a gurudwara and a temple in Punjab. Some locations were just an hour’s drive from the (India-Pakistan) border. In the evenings, we could see the lights on the Indian side.”

Pakistan TV is plagued by the same maladies as its Indian counterpart, TRPs coming with not-so-quality content. Consequently, it is not easy to get people to back meaningful projects.

“Unfortunately, both in India and Pakistan, har cheez TRP pe ruk gayi hai (everything stops when it comes to TRP). If we can let go of that concern for a while, new ideas will come up and can be explored.”

Indian viewers can watch Ghughi on the web - the hour-long episodes would be uploaded by 10 pm IST every Thursday within half an hour of its telecast in Pakistan.

Pinjar, a heartbreaking story of a Hindu girl abducted by a Muslim man in August 1946 to settle a family feud, was adapted by Chandraprakash Dwivedi for the Indian big screen in 2003. The film, starring Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar and Sanjay Suri, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.

(Source: Indian Express)

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)