Celebrated broadcaster, actor and poet Aslam Farshori passes away-OxBig News Network

Hyderabad

Aslam Farshori, the celebrated broadcaster, poet, theatre and film actor, and journalist passed away on Thursday morning. He was 76.

Born in 1949, Mr Farshori wore many hats and began his career as an announcer at the All India Radio (AIR) during his teenage years, marking the beginning of a lifelong association with culture and communication.

An alumnus of Anwar ul Uloom College, he was elected president of the students’ union, a position that showcased his leadership. Mr Farshori was an active participant in the Telangana agitation and deeply associated with Zinda Dilan-e-Hyderabad, dedicated to humour, comprising illustrious authors, which survives to this day. He also served as the secretary of the Fine Arts Academy, a cornerstone of Hyderabad’s cultural scene.

During his tenure at AIR, Mr Farshori gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal of the beloved character Lala Bhai in the popular daily radio show Chhoti Chhoti Baaten. His contributions extended beyond acting as he directed, produced, and acted in numerous plays. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became a programme executive at AIR.

Mr Farshori later left AIR to become the founding head of ETV Urdu, an exclusive Urdu television channel. His vision and dedication significantly enriched Urdu broadcasting and literature.

A poet, Mr Farshori specialised in naat, poems that eulogise Prophet Muhammad, and was a well-known master of ceremonies at mushairahs and other programmes. He is survived by wife Shabeena Farshori, and children — Amaan Farshori, Faraaz Farshori, Salman Farshori, Armaan Farshori and Nabeela Aslam.

The Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) is scheduled at the Suncity Masjid at 7.20 p.m., following the Isha (night) prayers. The tadfeen (burial) will take place at the Yusufain Dargah in Nampally at 9 p.m.

According to Ashhar Farhan, co-founder of Lamakaan, who was closely associated with Mr Farshori, the latter worked on several occasions with celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who recently passed away, and also had cameos in his films.