Director-actor Sarmad Sultan Khoosat made a biopic, called Manto, in 2015 that was based on the life and times of Urdu literature giant Saadat Hasan Manto, essayed by the director himself. The film not only received critical acclaim but also garnered immense praise for Khoosat in form of multiple national and international accolades. The good news is that the film has been turned into a TV play that is all set to go on air from November 3 on Geo TV.
Khoosat delivers a powerful performance as Manto while the project also stars an ensemble cast including Sania Saeed, who plays the role of his wife, Saba Qamar as Madam Noor Jehan and many others in a cameo (Mahira Khan, Azfar Rehman and Yasra Rizvi). With a solid soundtrack featuring the likes of Ali Sethi, Zeb Bangash and Meesha Shafi, this production has all the hallmarks of being an enduring hit.
This isn’t the first time a Pakistani film has been converted into a TV play. Humayun Saeed, Mahira Khan and Armeena Rana Khan-starrer Bin Roye also aired on the small screen and performed better as a drama serial.
Coming back to Manto, with a focus on tales written by Manto, one of South Asia’s most controversial and brilliant writers, it will be an intelligent content for TV audiences who are tired of watching weeping willows on the small screen.