Nigar Awards
Encyclopedia
The Nigar Awards, the official awards of Pakistani film industry
, are the oldest award
s to honour the show business
personalities of Pakistan
. The awards were first introduced in 1958 by Ilyas Rasheedi, the editor of weekly Nigar magazine
, with a purpose to recognize the achievements of those who worked in the film industry. The first award distribution ceremony was held on July 17, 1958 at Lahore's Evernew Studio. Since then, the awards were presented annually till 2004. During the 1990s the prominence of awards was eclipsed by the National Awards and later by Lux Style Awards
. With the discontinuation of film making in Pakistan, the distribution of Nigar Awards is also discontinued.
to Karachi
after independence of Pakistan
. Ilyas Rasheedi was inspired by the Indian film magazine 'Filmfare
', so he purchased a children magazine Monthly Nigar from his friend Ibne Hassan Nigar, and publish it as Pakistan
's first ever film weekly from Karachi
.
The first award distribution ceremony was held on July 17th, 1958 at Lahore
's Evernew Studios. The first Nigar award was given for the best movie Saath lakh, for the best director W.Z. Ahmed for the film Waada, for the best actor Santosh Kumar
and for the best actress Sabiha Khanam.
The male artist who has received the highest number of Nigar awards is Nadeem
, who had started his career in Chakori (1967), got his first award for the same movie as the best actor. The female artist who has received the highest number of Nigar awards is Shabnam
, who had started her career in Urdu films in Akhri station (1965), got her first award for the same movie as the best supporting actress. The Melody Queen Noor Jahan
got a total of 13 Nigar awards in her career. It is very interesting to note that she got her first Nigar Award for the best playback singer in 1960, after 3 years the awards started.
Despite of this, the award committee has strict rules of only considering the candidacy of those films and television shows that are nominated for the awards and their copies are provided by the film makers or distributors to the committee.
The awards are also known for their impartial assessment and unbiased attitude as compared with other high-level awards for the media. Another prominent factor of the awards is that, over the time, various categories from both television and film industry that have been included to cover such subsets as the Urdu
, Punjabi
and Pushto language films.
, Punjabi
and Pushto film awards. Each section has several categories, such as:
Cinema of Pakistan
The cinema of Pakistan refers to Pakistan's film industry. Most of the feature films shot in Pakistan are in Urdu language but may also include films in English, Punjabi, Pashto, Balochi or Sindhi languages....
, are the oldest award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s to honour the show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
personalities of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The awards were first introduced in 1958 by Ilyas Rasheedi, the editor of weekly Nigar magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, with a purpose to recognize the achievements of those who worked in the film industry. The first award distribution ceremony was held on July 17, 1958 at Lahore's Evernew Studio. Since then, the awards were presented annually till 2004. During the 1990s the prominence of awards was eclipsed by the National Awards and later by Lux Style Awards
Lux Style Awards
The Lux Style Awards is an award ceremony held annually in Pakistan since 2002. The awards celebrate "style" in the Pakistani entertainment industry, and honour the country's best talents in film, television, music, and fashion. Around 30 awards are given annually.The Lux Style Awards is considered...
. With the discontinuation of film making in Pakistan, the distribution of Nigar Awards is also discontinued.
History
Ilyas Rashidi had acquired experience in the field of entertainment journalism through his association with his elder brother Umer Azad's daily newspaper Anjum, which had just shifted its offices from DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
after independence of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Ilyas Rasheedi was inspired by the Indian film magazine 'Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
', so he purchased a children magazine Monthly Nigar from his friend Ibne Hassan Nigar, and publish it as Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's first ever film weekly from Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
The first award distribution ceremony was held on July 17th, 1958 at Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
's Evernew Studios. The first Nigar award was given for the best movie Saath lakh, for the best director W.Z. Ahmed for the film Waada, for the best actor Santosh Kumar
Santosh Kumar
Syed Musa Raza better known as Santosh Kumar was a famous Pakistani film actor of 1950s and 1960s era. He belonged to a well educated family from Uttar Pradesh, India. He was married to Sabiha Khanum. His brother Darpan was also a renowned film actor during that period. His other brother S...
and for the best actress Sabiha Khanam.
The male artist who has received the highest number of Nigar awards is Nadeem
Nadeem
Nadeem is a masculine given name. It has the meaning "friend", "close companion", or "confidant"...
, who had started his career in Chakori (1967), got his first award for the same movie as the best actor. The female artist who has received the highest number of Nigar awards is Shabnam
Shabnam
Shabnam from the word meaning dew drops on the flowers) is a Pakistani stage and film actress of Pakistan. Shabnam was active in the Pakistani film industry, Lollywood in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and in the Bangladeshi film industry in the 1990s...
, who had started her career in Urdu films in Akhri station (1965), got her first award for the same movie as the best supporting actress. The Melody Queen Noor Jahan
Noor Jehan
Noorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
got a total of 13 Nigar awards in her career. It is very interesting to note that she got her first Nigar Award for the best playback singer in 1960, after 3 years the awards started.
Design
Ilyas Rashidi had initially chosen the design of a lady statuette, but during the Islamic dictatorial rule of President General Zia-ul-Haq and his regime, the statue design changed into the present textual design.Arrangements
Instead of the usual practice of envelope opening, the award committee prints the names of the winners on the back of the invitation cards that are sent to all invitees. This removes the charm of the suspenseful moments to the attendees.Despite of this, the award committee has strict rules of only considering the candidacy of those films and television shows that are nominated for the awards and their copies are provided by the film makers or distributors to the committee.
The awards are also known for their impartial assessment and unbiased attitude as compared with other high-level awards for the media. Another prominent factor of the awards is that, over the time, various categories from both television and film industry that have been included to cover such subsets as the Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
and Pushto language films.
Awards
The Nigar awards are divided in three sections, i.e., UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
and Pushto film awards. Each section has several categories, such as:
- Best FilmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
- Best directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
- Best scriptScreenwriterScreenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
- Best screenplay
- Best ActorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
- Best Actress
- Best supporting actorSupporting actorA supporting actor is an actor who performs roles in a play or film other than that of the leads.These roles range from bit parts to secondary leads. They are sometimes but not necessarily character roles. A supporting actor must also use restraint not to upstage the main actor/actress in the...
- Best supporting actress
- Best musicMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
- Best lyricsLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
- Best camera
- Best female singer
- Best male singer
- Best editing
- Best art directorArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
- Best sound
- Best comedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
- Special award
- Ilyas Rasheedi Gold MedalGold medalA gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
for lifetime achievement.