Sultana Siddiqui

Sultana Siddiqui (Urdu: سُلطانہ صدیقی‎), also known as Sultana Apa (Urdu: سُلطانہ آپا‎), is a Pakistani media mogul, television director, and producer who is the founder of Hum Network Limited.[1][2]

Sultana Siddiqui
Born
Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
Other namesSultana Apa
OccupationTV director, producer and businessperson
Known forPresident and Founder of Hum Network Limited
Notable work
Zindagi Gulzar Hai
ChildrenDuraid Qureshi
RelativesMomina Duraid (daughter-in-law)
Sheheryar Munawar (nephew)

Siddiqui is an active director of Hum Network Limited and the president of Hum Network Limited. By virtue of that she became the first woman in South Asia to establish a TV station.[3][4]

Personal life

She was born in Hyderabad, Sindh, into a Siddiqui family domiciled therein, one of ten children.[5] She received her early education from government schools in Hyderabad.[6]

Career

Sultana started her career from PTV as a producer in Karachi in 1974. In 2004 she founded Eye Television Network, now known as "Hum Network Limited" under which her own four cable channels are working, including "Hum TV.".[7] Under her direction HUM TV has received Pakistan's Lux Style Awards four years in a row.[3] She is the only woman in Asia who started or owned a TV channel.[8]

As a director she remained inactive ten years before her latest drama serial Zindagi Gulzar Hai,[9] a critically acclaimed[10] serial that has been praised for "breaking the ice across the borders of Pakistan and India in current times"[11] featuring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed. Siddiqui has also produced children's television, musical performances, television films, serials and documentaries.

As a public speaker, Sultana has spoken on many local and international platforms, including the 2013 US Islamic World Forum[3] held in Doha, Qatar and the 2014 Women Leadership Forum held in Silicon Valley, California[12]

Sultana has won numerous awards, including the Best Producer of a Drama Serial, Best Producer of a Music Production, the Hazrat Khadijat ul Kubra Award, Women of Vision Award, Nigar Award, the Gold Medal Award, Sindh Graduates Association Award, and the Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan. Her work is well known for its attention to social issues and its focus on female empowerment. Siddiqui has represented Pakistan in numerous international workshops and seminars.[13]

In 2014, Sultana Siddiqui was awarded the "Leadership Award 2014" by CEO Club & Manager Today Magazine, recognising her work as a "true entrepreneur and leader of Pakistan who is steering the nation and nurturing the upcoming generation with hope and professionalism".[14] During this year Sultana Siddiqui was also featured in the best-selling book, "100 Performing CEOs & Leaders of Pakistan". [15] In January 2015, Sultana Siddiqui was recognised for the contribution to the entertainment industry with the Scroll of Honour award at the 5th GR8! Women Awards held in Dubai. The awards ceremony is held every year by the Indian Television Academy to celebrate the contributions made by women in various fields, including art, cinema, environment, entrepreneurship and education.[16]

Siddiqui founded the Karachi Film Society (KFS) in 2017. The nonprofit society hosts seminars, workshops, and festivals to promote film and drive the Pakistani film industry in new and creative ways. KFS is also the parent body of the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF).[17]

Television
  • Marvi – Director
  • Zara Si Aurat – Director
  • Dil Da Mamla – Director
  • Yeh Zindagi – Director
  • Doosri Dunya – Director
  • Qismat Ke Sitaray – Director
  • Sassi Punno – Director
  • Thori Si Mohabbat – Director
  • Anjaane Raaste – Producer
  • Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai – Producer
  • Janat – Producer
  • Wafa Kay Mausam – Producer
  • Shayad Kay Bahar Aaye – Producer
  • Zindagi Gulzar Hai – Director – 2012–2013

References
  1. کراچی, شمائلہ خان بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام،. "'چینلز آ گئے لیکن تکنیکی عملہ نہیں'". BBC Urdu.
  2. "An interview with Sultana by Mag4You". Mag4You. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  3. "2013 U.S.-Islamic World Forum Speakers". The Brookings Institution. The Brookings Institution. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  4. "The returning back of a famous director and head of Hum TV". The Express Tribune. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  5. Asif Noorani (24 June 2013), "No challenge is too great: Sultana Siddiqi", Dawn News. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  6. https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/03/07/pakistans-only-powerful-women-in-business/
  7. https://www.humnetwork.tv/Company_Profile.html
  8. "Advisory council of DGF-Pakistan". Dawood Global Foundation. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  9. "Sultana returns with the direction of Zindagi Gulzar Hai". Dawn. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  10. Shetty Bali, Rashma. "Zindagi Gulzar Hai: 5 reasons we will miss Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed's show!". Bollywood Life. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  11. "India uses cinema to tell its stories, we use TV, says Kashaf of Zindagi Gulzar Hai". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  12. "Women Leadership Forum 2014". Open Silicon Valley. Open Silicon Valley. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  13. "Board of Directors". FI Foundation. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  14. Zafar, Naqi. "President HUM Network Sultana Siddiqui Wins "Leadership Award 2014". BrandSynario. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  15. Haider, Ali. "Importance of leadership stressed". Dawn. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  16. Chawla, Nimrat. "Sultana Siddiqui Honoured at 5th GR8! Women Awards". Breaking News Pakistan. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  17. http://karachifilmsociety.org/about-2/
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