When I sat down to write my first doopatti.com blog for this post, I suddenly realized that there are so many other one liners that can be appropriate for the title of this blog. One liners that would trigger the same sentiments in me, you and everyone else who is so Pakistani …over the 60’s 70’s and 80’s there have been slogans, clichés and one liners from TV dramas, stage show hosts or TV commercials that each one of us individually can relate to a particular event or time of our lives being in Pakistan. Here is my list of top 15, feel free to add your own.15) Bhai Amjad… kiyon confuse kar rahe ho… famous line used as ‘takiya kalaam’ by veteran actor Nisar Qadri (late) in his role as editor of a news magazine in one of all time top rated drama serial… the line takes me back to my early school days with my friends… the line was a daily mention in common gossip to make a point… Qadri also used another little less famous line in the same serial… “maachis hogi aapke paas”.

14) Apne Naanaa kee jaan Qamroo… The serial was “Jhok Sayaal” and Qamroo was Anwar Iqbal… so sad we don’t have actors any more that can become characters they play. 13) Nee-naa nee ding dong.. Tahnda thanda lag rahaa hoga… A classic Mr. Jeddy of Hello Hello. Ather Shah Khan in his role as Mr. Jeddy delivered some memorable well timed performances. Never again could one eat or drink something (while not sharing with others around) and someone whispering from a corner…. Nee-naa nee ding dong… thanda thanda. 12) Kar loh jo karna hai… “Kaliyaan” went on air as a program targeted to children but became popular in adults equally. From Uncle Surgum to Hegaa, Maasi Musibate, and Chacha Connection, Faroque Qaiser created puppets that were larger then life. ‘Noni-Paa’, a young boy with a black dog ‘Hadd-hraam’ would use the tagline… and we would use it to tease our friends as it became the one liner for all brats.

11) Tino-paal ka lashkaraa… Clothes whitener soap advertisement ran on ptv in early 80’s gave this one liner that became the best way to describe a make-over. 10) Nawey aaey ho sohniya … Trade-mark line from veteran actor Mustafa Qureshi in his famous villain role in Maula Jutt the movie.

9) Fand Ailmaa Oolma Eeelma… Munshi Bandey Ali ordering the last rites for the many enemies including brave Mungoo in tv dramatization by Qasim Jalali of the novel “Mera naam Mungoo hey”. 8.) Kachoo kooma… is one word describing anything that does not have a description otherwise. Irfan Khosat used the words in Hazaroon Rastey quickly making them popular among masses. 7) Chaakku hey meray paas… Veteran actor late Jamshed Ansari played many memorable characters for ptv drama serials no-coincidence that many were for Haseena Moeen’s writing including; Ankhai, Kiran Kahani, Uncle Urfi among others… His role of Hasnaat Bhai from one of these epics was brilliant in dimensions and on the dot for timing and dialogue delivery.

6) Qataee-nahin Qataee-nahin… Another of Hasnaat Bhai’s ‘takiya kalaam’ by Jamshed Ansari from “Uncle Urfi” that became famous in every day work and common business.

5) Chai chaheyee… konsee janaab… jingle from the Lipton tea advertisement was the best way to ask for tea in a friends gathering. 4) Pangaa mat laina… Street comedy king legendary Umer Sharif is credited with changing the language of comedy and giving so many new words and lines to the Urdu dictionary. Of course before “Pangaa” there was no shortest word that existed in common language to describe… errr… hmmm… “pangaa”. 3) Pappu yaar tang naa kar… The line has been famous for years as part of our bus and rickshaws culture but become even more famous in last few years when adopted by the legendary rock band “Junoon” in their last album single with the name “Pappu yaar tang na kar”.

2) Baat samajh aagaee hey… phir kis ko keh rahe ho… another famous ‘takiya kalaam” turned famous line used by actor Abid Kashmiri in the drama serial ‘Samundar’ by created by famous writer/poet Amjad Islam Amjad… The line became part of daily language and was used by people at work, schools, colleges and daily interactions. I still remember using it all the time when making a point with friends while someone is asking a silly question. 1) Kiya keh rahey ho bhai… theek keh rahey hain bhai… the most viewed show of all times “Fifty-Fifty” gave many famous comics, characters, jokes and lines.. but this one line which was always the last line for the series of skits done by Majid Jehangir and Ismail Tara playing two bihaari babwa friends and doing satire on political and social issues… they would end the above lines with the last tag “ajab keh rahey ho bhai” just takes me back to the wonderful 70s and 80’s and all that was wonderful in media, life in Pakistan and the days spent with family and friends.

Fifty-Fifty is regarded by many as one the greatest (if not the Greatest) PTV show of all times. The show ran from late 70’s to early 80s and was a take off of US comedy show Saturday Night Live. Anwar Maqsod’s brilliant writing, Shoaib Mansoor’s outstanding production and amazing talents of Zeba Shehnaz, Ismail Tara, Ashraf Khan, Majid Jehangir among others contributed to the success.