Mushtaque B Barq
Death brings end to all. We live, we love, we fight and yet we weep, what a piece of art man is! Throughout our lives, we frequently fail to respond to things that are in front of us, and when they leave, a shadow follows them. Despite the fact that I must have met him four or five times, his appearance and stature were impressive to everyone, including me. Zahid Manzoor was a verbose observer who wore a handkerchief around his neck, a waste coat, polished shoes, and a grand smile on his face. Zahid Manzoor was utterly talkative and a serious observer. He accompanied me to two or three locations as I conducted interviews with notable TV performers for a series of research pieces as my contribution, and he gave a lot of the information needed for the work. I once requested his bio for writing about him, and when I asked him to send it, he responded straight up, saying, “My work on the mini screen is enough to keep me alive in the minds of the people who watched me behind the camera.” After that, he didn’t reply, but he kept asking me to write about Kashmiri theatre, which I still owe him.
Zahid Manzoor joined Doordarshan Srinagar in 1974 as a production assistant, and he worked there for over five decades. He rose quickly through the ranks thanks to his commitment, passion, and artistic vision, holding important positions as a Producer and Deputy Director in several Doordarshan Kendras, including those in Srinagar, Jalandhar, and Mumbai. He stood out from his contemporaries because of his remarkable storytelling skills and distinctive filmmaking approach, making him a well-known personality in the industry. Zahid Manzoor was the son of renowned official Mir Ghulam Ahmad Tawoos. His brothers are the engineer Khalid Muzaffar and the former DIG Niyaz Ahmad. After retiring, Zahid Manzoor entered the private sector by working for a Saudi Arabian production company. Later, he returned home and assumed control of the Take One channel.
Paying tribute to Zahid Manzoor Shabir Mujahid, an ace film maker remarked, “Today, a towering professional left us. Zahid initially used a 60 mm film camera, but he quickly advanced in both pace and technology to manage and oversee the usage of much larger machinery.”
“He was a morally upright individual. He repeatedly cast me in his productions, so I came to see him as a skilled producer who knew how to plan and invent the scene sequence. I thought he was both strict and friendly. We shared a delicate understanding that would keep us together and inspire us to perform to the best of our abilities. The greatest filmmaker has passed away.” Bashir Dada.
“I have lost a friend, a fantastic filmmaker, and most importantly, a jolly good companion, therefore it is a personal loss to me. He would draw on all of his expertise to create a distinctive show. His abilities, made possible by advancements, were enjoyable to observe. Dr. Ayash Arif.
“I have seen the great man ever dominant with his talks in any gathering. I have learned excellence in behaviour from him. Over all greatness and nobleness was flowing out of his personality. May Allah reward him over there for his service to humanity.” Mufti Reyaz.
“Shocked! We will miss you and your mischievous smile, dear Friend.” (Rajesh Kaul)——–
While paying tribute to Zahid Manzoor, Mir Mushtaq described him as a wonderful, loving man. He further added: “Until his final breath, he had not lost his love for his friends. An excellent coder and a highly effective professional. He was incredibly intelligent. In his youth, he was far ahead of his time. He constantly mixed flamboyance and flair in his dressing. It was a delight to listen to him because of his beautiful voice and knowledge of the English language. I sincerely mourn the untimely passing of Zahid Manzoor and pray that his soul may rest in peace.”
“The Director, who assisted me in developing my career, has left this world. Deeply Shocked” (Pt. Rajinder Tikko)
“He was the epitome of a gentleman and a true expert in his field. He always wished me well. My sincere condolences go out to the grieving family.” Nisar Gilani.
He always had a certain level of confidence in me, which helped me become well-known in Kashmir. We had some amazing and special moments even outside the studio that I will always cherish.
Jalil Rathor paying tribute to his friend added, “ Despite the fact that Zahid Sahib is not here today, whenever I walk into a studio for a show, I can feel Zahid Manzoor’s presence on the console, which signals to me that I should move on. An era of innovation, humour, and wit is now over. A brilliant programmer, a nice person, and unforgettable events will always stick in my memory.”
“He was a remarkable individual with a wide range of skills and attributes. May the bereaved be granted the patience to endure this unrecoverable loss.” Eng. Manzoor Nawchoo.
“For me, it is a loss personally. He served as a mentor to me during my time at Doordarshan. Our relationship persisted outside of Doordarshan and is still going strong now. Today marked the final day for this association after over 40 years. I struggle to put into words how he was, how he behaved, and how shocked I am by his passing.” Rashed Ahmad.
“He became well-known for the original films he made. Everyone mourned his passing, which was felt severely in the film and television sectors. He was a lovely fellow who liked to involve you in conversations. A genius filmmaker has passed away.” Mushtaq Bala.
“So sad. Artists in general and the television industry in particular have lost a famous figure, a capable programmer and a trustworthy senior official.” Farooq Sheikh.
“Most honourable, modest, clever, and kind individual. Life is so fragile and unpredictable.” Qurat ul Ain.
May Allah grant him highest place in Janna. Amen.
Mushtaq B.Barq is a Columnist, Poet and Fiction Writer. He is the author of “Feeble prisoner, “ Wings of Love” and many translation works are credited to the author like “ Verses Of Wahab
