LeonorColangelo at 09:19, 10 March 2026

2026-03-10T09:19:37Z

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{{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Short description|Pakistani film producer-director, writer (1933–2015)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ali Sufiyan Afaqi
| image = Ali Sufiyan Afaqi.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Ali Sufiyan Afaqi
| birth_name = Ali Sufiyan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|08|22}}
| birth_place = [[Sehore district]], [[Bhopal]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|01|27|1933|08|22}}
| death_place = [[Lahore]], Pakistan
| other_names =
| education = [[Bachelor of Arts]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|Film producer|Director|Writer}}
| era =
[[1958 Pakistani coup d'état|1958]]
| years_active = 1953 {{endash}} 2015
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| awards = Won 8 [[Nigar Award]]s during his career
}}

'''Ali Sufiyan Afaqi''' (22 August 1933 {{endash}} 27 January 2015; sometimes spelled '''Sufyan Afaqi''') was a Pakistani film producer, director, writer, and journalist. He made his debut in [[Lollywood]] films with his first ever [[Urdu]] film ''Thandi Sarak'' in 1957, and later contributed to other films as a writer and director, however he earned recognition as a film producer.<ref name="BBC News اردو 2015">{{cite web | title=صحافی اور فلم ساز علی سفیان آفاقی انتقال کر گئے | website=BBC News اردو | date=2015-01-28|url=https://www.bbc.com/urdu/entertainment/2015/01/150127_ali_sufian_afaqi_dead_rh | language=ur | access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref> He wrote about twenty-eight books on [[travel documentary]] and biographies, including ''Filmi Alif Laila'', a book on the history of [[Cinema of Pakistan|Pakistani cinema]].<ref name=TNI>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/831867-revisiting-the-golden-era |title=Revisiting the Golden Era (scroll down to read about Ali Sufiyan Afaqi)|author=Omair Alvi|date=9 May 2021|newspaper=The News International (newspaper)|access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

==Early life==
Ali Sufiyan Afaqi was born on 22 August 1933 as Ali Sufiyan in [[British Raj|British India]] (in modern-day [[Sehore district]] of [[Bhopal]], India).<ref name="dawn.com"/><ref name="nation.com.pk">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/28-Jan-2015/ali-sufiyan-afaqi-passes-away|title=Ali Sufiyan Afaqi passes away|date=28 January 2015|newspaper=The Nation (newspaper)|access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> Following the [[Partition of India]] in 1947, he along with his family migrated to Pakistan and settled in [[Lahore]]. At the time of migration, he was fourteen. In 1951, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] degree.<ref name="dawn.com" />

In 1951, he worked for an [[insurance]] company, and later joined newspapers where he used to write columns on various subjects. He first joined ''Daily Tasneem'' and [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan|Jamaat-e-Islami]]. He also worked at ''Chattan'', a weekly newspaper established by [[Agha Shorish Kashmiri]], and later worked at the [[Nawa-i-waqt]] Group. In later years, he joined ''Daily Afaq'' newspaper where he choose his last name "Afaq" and became known as Ali Sufiyan Afaqi. He wrote first-ever film review in Afaq newspaper and then chose it as a regular job. As an editor, he worked at ''Aqwam'' weekly and as joint editor at ''Daily Aasar''. Following the [[1958 Pakistani coup d'état]], he left journalism and moved to film industry.<ref name="dawn.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1159923|title=A.S. Afaqi passes away|date=28 January 2015|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

== Career ==
He first joined the Urdu cinema as a storywriter and later wrote dialogues for ''Aadmi'' and ''Ayyaz'' films. In 1965, he worked as a producer of ''[[Kaneez (1965 film)|Kaneez]]'' film. Prior to his association as a producer, he first worked in ''Thandi Sarak'' film as a storywriter. As a storywriter, producer and director, he produced Urdu language films such as ''Joker'', ''Aaj Kal'', ''Aasra'' ''Aik Hi Rasta'' and ''Shikwa'' among others.<ref name="dawn.com"/> During a film festival held in Russia by the Tashkent International Film Festival selected his films such as ''[[Aas (film)| Aas]]'', ''Saiqa'' and ''Ajnabi'' and translated them into [[Russian language]].<ref name="dawn.com"/><ref name="nation.com.pk"/>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}
| Remarks denote a short description of the work where available.
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" width=100%
!scope="col" width=2%|#
!scope="col" width=25%| Title
!Year
!scope="col" | Director
!scope="col" | Producer
!scope="col" | Screenwriter
!scope="col" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |1||''Thandi Sarak''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1957
||
||
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |2||''[[Kaneez (1965 film)|Kaneez]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1965
||
|{{ya}}
|{{ya}}
|co-producer
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |3||''Aaj Kal''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1959
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |4||''Joker''
!1966
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |5||''Aik Hi Rasta''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1968
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |6||''[[Mera Ghar Meri Jannat]]''
!1968
|
|{{ya}}
|{{ya}}
|co-producer
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |7||''Aasra''
!1969
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |8||''Shikwa''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1963
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |9||''Diwangi''
!1983
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |10||''Aar Par''
!1973
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |11||''Kabhi Alwida Nah Kehna''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1983
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |12||''[[Andaleeb (film)|Andleeb]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1969
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |13||''Merey Hamsafar''
!1972
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |14||''Gumnam''
!1983
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |15||''Bandagi''
!1972
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |16||''[[Kamyabi]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1984
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |17||''[[Saiqa (film)|Saiqa]]''
!1968
|
|
|{{ya}}
|screenplay only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |18||''Play Boy''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1978
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |18||''Miss Colombo''
!1984
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |19||''[[Daman Aur Chingari]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1973
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |20||''[[Devar Bhabi]]''
!1967
|
|
|{{ya}}
|dialogues only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |21||''Dil Aik Aaina''
!1972
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |22||''[[Mohabbat (1972 film)|Mohabbat]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1972
|
|
|{{ya}}
|screenplay only
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |23||''Intizar''
!1974
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |24||''Insaniat''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1976
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |25||''[[Dosti (Pakistani film)|Dosti]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1971
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |26||''Namak Haram''
!1974
|{{ya}}
|{{ya}}
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |27||''Beta''
!1994
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |28||''Moamla Garh Barh Hai''
!1996
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |29||''Very Good Duynia Very Bad Log''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1998
|
|
|{{ya}}
|
|-
! scope="row" align="left" |30||''[[Aas (film)| Aas]]''<ref name="dawn.com"/>
!1973
|{{ya}}
|{{ya}}
|{{ya}}
|co-producer
|}

==Awards==
He was the recipient of eight [[Nigar Award]]s, six Graduate Awards and one Musawar Award and one Kartak Award.<ref name="dawn.com"/><ref name="nation.com.pk"/><ref name=ARY/>

== Death ==
He was suffering from [[Complication (medicine)|health complication]]s over the past few years and died in [[Lahore]], Pakistan on 27 January 2015 of [[cancer]].<ref name="dawn.com"/><ref name=ARY>{{Cite web|url=https://arynews.tv/en/renowned-name-film-industry-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-dies-81/|title=Renowned name of Pakistani industry, Ali Sufiyan Afaqi dies at 81|date=28 January 2015|access-date=22 July 2023|website=ARY TV News website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1160331|title=The missing story|first=Asha’ar|last=Rehman|date=30 January 2015|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

==Books==

===Autobiographical Works / Travelogues===
* '''''Safarnāmah e Āmarīkā''''' (''سفرنامۂ امریکہ''; ''Travelogue of America'') – A detailed Urdu travelogue chronicling his observations and experiences during travels in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ali Sufiyan Afaqi: Safarnama America |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/safarnama-america-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
* '''''Zarā England Tak''''' (''ذرا انگلستان تک''; ''Towards England'') – A reflective travel narrative capturing cultural and social contrasts observed in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zara England Tak by Ali Sufiyan Afaqi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/zara-england-tak-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
* '''''Yūrop ka Koh-i-Qāf''''' (''یورپ کا کوہِ قاف''; ''The Mountain of Qaf of Europe'') – A metaphorical and travel-inspired account of his experiences in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europe ka Koh-i-Qaf |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/europe-ka-koh-e-qaf-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>

===Film-Related Works===
* '''''Filmi Alf Laylā''''' (''فلمی الف لیلیٰ''; ''The Filmic One Thousand and One Nights'') – A three-volume memoir and oral history of the Pakistani film industry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Filmi Alf Laila: The forgotten memoirs of Pakistani cinema |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/821660/filmi-alf-laila-the-forgotten-memoirs-of-pakistani-cinema |work=The Express Tribune |date=13 January 2015 |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
* '''''Neel Kināre''''' (''نیل کنارے''; ''Banks of the Nile'') – A memoir based on his travel to [[Egypt]] and reflections on cross-cultural film experiences.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neel Kinare by Ali Sufiyan Afaqi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/neel-kinare-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
* '''''Tilismāt-e Farang''''' (''طلسماتِ فرنگ''; ''Magic of Foreign Lands'') – Observational essays and satirical notes on Western societies and their contrasts with South Asia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tilismat-e-Farang by Ali Sufiyan Afaqi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/tilismat-e-farang-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>

===Biographical and Cultural Sketches===
* '''''Chānd Chehre''''' (''چاند چہرے''; ''Moon-Faced Stars'') – Biographical sketches of legendary South Asian actresses like [[Meena Kumari]] and [[Rekha]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chand Chehray by Ali Sufiyan Afaqi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/chand-chehray-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
* '''''Millat ka Pāsban: Muhammad Ali Jinnah''''' (''ملت کا پاسبان: محمد علی جناح''; ''The Nation’s Guardian: Muhammad Ali Jinnah'') – A respectful biographical account of Quaid-e-Azam [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Millat Ka Pasban by Ali Sufiyan Afaqi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/millat-ka-pasban-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
* '''''Khawābon ki Sarzamīn''''' (''خوابوں کی سرزمین''; ''Land of Dreams'') – Essays reflecting on the cultural and artistic fabric of Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Khawabon Ki Sar Zameen |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/khwabon-ki-sar-zameen-ali-sufiyan-afaqi-ebooks |website=Rekhta |language=ur |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|3753561}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Afaqi, Ali Sufiyan}}

[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Pakistani film producers]]
[[Category:Film directors from Lahore]]
[[Category:Urdu-language Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:Pakistani male journalists]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Nigar Award winners]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistani nationalists]]

Ali Sufiyan Afaqi - Revision history

LeonorColangelo at 09:19, 10 March 2026