Farooq Qaiser with his alter ego Uncle Sargam | Guddu Film Archive
Pakistan Television has produced countless gems over a period of time but not all of them were timeless. Characters such as Uncle Jedi, Qabacha and Hasnat Bhai inspired a generation but ultimately faded away with the passage of time. But one character never faded from memory Uncle Sargam, created by the legendary Farooq Qaiser, became a household name the moment the character debuted in 1976.
Those were the days when music director Sohail Rana used to do a weekly music show Saaray Dost Hamaray from Pakistan Television’s (PTV’s) Karachi centre. The kids who participated in the show addressed Sohail Rana as ‘uncle’, and used to sway sideways while singing. When Kaliyaan debuted in 1976, Uncle Sargam made sure the puppets performed in the same manner as the kids in the music show, and sang, ‘Aao mil ke gayein, aayen baayen shaayen, sur ka tiah paancha kar ke waapas ghar ko jayein’ [Come let us sing sing t
He leaves behind a son and two daughters.
He was born on Oct 31, 1945 in Lahore and began his career as an artist after completing graduation from National College of Arts in Lahore. He also obtained a Master’s in Graphic Arts from Romania (1976) and another postgraduate degree in Mass Communication from the University of Southern California, the US, (1999).
He was a columnist, director, puppeteer, scriptwriter and a voice-over artist. He also wrote several humorous books and provided educational services in India for two years as part of a Unesco programme.
A man of multiple talents, he brought smiles on the faces of TV viewers
Islamabad: Pakistanis are mourning the loss of acclaimed artist Farooq Qaiser, better known as Uncle Sargam - a puppet character he created- who pioneered the concept of education through entertainment in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s beloved puppeteer breathed his last on Friday at the age of 75 in Islamabad on Friday after a cardiac arrest, his family confirmed. He is survived by three children, one son and two daughters as well as grandchildren, according to local media.
Qaiser was one of the most remarkable Pakistani puppeteer, cartoonist, author, scriptwriter, voice-over artist and TV personality. He is the creator of Muppet-like puppets including the legendary Uncle Sargam and other characters Maasi Museebatay, Rolla and Sharmeeli that became household names in Pakistan.