KARACHI: Veteran TV actor Subhani Ba Yunus died on Wednesday after waging a long battle with the deadly Parkinson’s disease.
He is survived by a widow, two daughters, and a son. Laid low by the ailment, the septuagenarian artiste was largely restricted to his home for the last couple of months. According to his friends, he died in his sleep at his PIB Colony residence.
The Namaz-e-Janaza for Subhani Ba Yunus was offered at Hashmi Masjid after Asr prayers. He was laid to rest in Yaseenabad graveyard, where relatives and friends bade him farewell. “He was great man of character,” celebrated actor Qazi Wajid remarked.
Born in Aurangabad of Hyderabad Deccan, Subhani Ba Yunus was an accomplished actor whose distinct voice quality earned him a special place in Radio Pakistan. His claim to fame comes from Khwaja Moinuddin’s stage plays, particularly Taleem-e-Balighan in which he played the role of a butcher.
His memorable plays were Lal Qilay Se LaloKhait Tak, Mohammad Bin Qasim, Qisa Chahar Darwaish, Mirza Ghalib Bandar Road Par, Do Duni Panch, Khuda Ki Basti and Tanhaiyan. His last play for PTV was Ba Adab Ba Mulahiza, after which he virtually retired from his acting career.
Remembering Subhani Ba Yunus for his character, Qazi Wajid said he never met anybody like Ba Yunus in show business. “I had a 40-year-old association with him. He was a great friend and actor,” he added. “We did several stage plays directed by Khwaja Moinuddin together. He was particularly punctual in offering his prayers.”
According to the veteran TV actor Mehmood Ali, Subhani Ba Yunus was an integral part of the cast, doing stage plays directed by Khwaja Moin.
He said Ba Yunus was a highly refined man who knew the art of drama very well. “For the last 40 years of friendship, I found him a caring friend and a gentle soul,” he added.
