A who’s who of the Pakistani television industry converged on Dubai for the third Hum TV Awards at World Trade Centre on Friday – the first time the ceremony has been staged outside of Pakistan.
The big winners of the night were the period drama series Sadqay Tumhare, which bagged 10 out of the 16 awards in the television category; and Pakistani actor, host, writer and satirist Anwar Maqsood, who was presented with the lifetime achievement award.
VIP ticket holders were given access to the red carpet, transforming it into an informal meet-and-greet.
Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, one of the event’s hosts, was immediately mobbed by a group of young female fans, while model, actress and singer Mehwish Hayat, one of the last guests to arrive and clearly in a hurry, graciously stopped to hand out autographs and indulge requests for photos.
The evening was hosted by Abbasi, actress Sanam Jung, and actors Vasay Chaudhry and Ahmed Ali Butt. Abbasi opened the ceremony along with Jung, who made her debut in the series Dil-e-Muztar (2013) on Hum TV.
Halfway through the show, the reins were taken over by Chaudhry and Butt.
While Abbasi and Jung's segment was more ceremonial, Chaudhry and Butt decided to take the comedic route: they made their entrance while dancing to the song Hum Jesa Koi Nahi, and made several jokes at the expense of some of the stars seated upfront.
Hayat led the performances on the night with a sequence set to her famous song Billi from the movie Namaloom Afraad (2014), and arrived on stage in a costume designed by Dubai's own Amato.
Also in the line-up was actress Sajal Ali, who danced to a medley of Bollywood songs, while actor Shehroz Sabzwari and his wife, the actress Syra, brought the house down with a well-choreographed number.
Director, producer and entrepreneur Sultana Siddqiui, the head of Hum Network and the first woman to launch a TV channel in Pakistan, later gave a speech on the importance of women’s empowerment.
Some stars who attended the event were later seen around Dubai – Hayat was spotted shopping in Mall of the Emirates, while actor Adanan Siddiqui attended the Middle East Film and Comic Con.
The award winners
Television
Best Drama Serial (Popular): Sadqay Tumhare
Best Drama (Jury): Bunty I Love You
Best Actor Female (Popular): Mahira Khan for Sadqay Tumhare
Best Actor Male (Popular): Mikaal Zulfiqar for Muhabbat Subh Ka Sitara Hai
Best Actor Female (Jury): Saba Qamar
Best Actor Male (Jury): Ahsan Khan
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female: Mansha Pasha for Muhabbat Subh Ka Sitara Hai
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male: Rehan Sheikh for Sadqay Tumhare
Best Writer – Drama Serial: Khalil Ur Rehman for Sadqay Tumhare
Best Director Drama Serial: Ehtesham Ud Din for Sadqay Tumhare
Best Actor in a Negative Role: Samia Mumtaz for Sadqay Tumhare
Most Impactful Character: Samia Mumtaz for Sadqay Tumhare
Best Actor Female – Soap: Zarnish for Susral Mera
Best Actor Male – Soap: Danish Taimoor for Hum Tehray Gunehgar
Best Telefilm: Main Cuckoo Aur Woh by Showcase Communication
Best Sitcom: Uff Meri Family by M&M Productions
Fashion
Best Model Male (Popular): Shahzad Noor
Best Model Female (Popular): Cybil Chaudhry
Music
Best Music Single (Popular): Roiyaan by Farhan Saeed
Best Music Video (Popular): Ghalti Mein by Shahab Qamar
Excellence awards
Excellence in music: Abida Parveen
Excellence in TV: Samina Peerzada
Lifetime Achievement award
Anwar Maqsood
artslife@thenational.ae
