Sipahi Maqbool Hussain

Pakistani TV series

Sipahi Maqbool Hussain
The opening title screen for Sipahi Maqbool Hussain
Created by	ISPR Interflow Communications Limited
Written by	Haider Imam Rizvi
Directed by	Brigadier Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi
Starring	Hassan Niazi Raja Haider Batin Farooqi Riaz Mastana Reeja Ghazala Butt
Country of origin	Pakistan
No. of episodes	6
Production
Producer	Haider Imam Rizvi
Running time	approx 40 min.
Original release
Network	TV One, PTV
Release	20 April 2008 (2008-04-20)

Sipahi Maqbool Hussain (Urdu: سپاہی مقبول حسین, lit. 'Private Maqbool Hussain') is a Pakistani television series, aired in April 2008 on TV One and Pakistan Television (PTV). The series was co-produced by Haider Imam Rizvi and Brig Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi from Inter Services Public Relations and Interflow Communications.^[1]^[2]

The miniseries narrates the true story of Maqbool Hussain, a Pakistani soldier injured and captured by the Indian Army during the 1965 war. He sent 40 years in Indian jails before being released as a civilian prisoner in 2005. The series highlights the severe human rights abuses he endured and pays tribute to his resilience and steadfastness.^[1]^[2]

Plot

As the story unfolds, Maqbool Hussain, bearing army No 335139, is shown being hit by enemy fire on the Line of Control at the start of the 1965 war.^[1] Subsequently, he is taken prisoner by the Indian army, who deny him Prisoner of War status.^[1] Trained in the traditions of the Pakistan Army, Maqbool Hussain faces great suffering and refuses to share any information about his country with his captors — so much so that when they cut out his tongue, he writes Pakistan Zindabad (long live Pakistan) in his own blood. Maqbool Hussain also beaten into becoming mentally ill during his four decades of incarceration.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Cast

Hassan Niazi
Raja Haider
Batin Farooqi
Riaz Mastana
Reeja
Ghazala Butt

Director's comments

Director Haider Imam Rizvi, who has dozens of popular television and movies and plays and serials to his credit, told the gathering he and his team had been reduced to tears several times during the filming of the poignant scenes in the drama serial. "In my opinion, the production of 'Sipahi Maqbool Hussain' is more significant than all the 40 serials that I have produced in my entire career," Rizvi said.^[4]

Reception

Dawn lists the series among "Pakistant's top 10 patriotic dramas".^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Tribute paid to Sipahi Maqbool Hussain at Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC)". Daily Times (newspaper). 16 October 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c To Sipahi Maqbool Hussain with love The News International (newspaper), Published 6 June 2008, Retrieved 25 June 2020
^ Khadija Tariq (14 August 2022). "Patriotic productions". The News International.
^ "Sipahi Maqbool Hussain (Based on True Story)". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
^ "Pakistan's top 10 patriotic TV dramas". DAWN.COM. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2024.