Umera Ahmad

Umera Ahmad (born 10 December 1976, Sialkot) is an author and screenwriter from Pakistan. She is one of the most acclaimed and successful writer's of the country, with many of her projects being critically acclaimed and blockbusters. Most of her novels have been adapted into television series, and she has established a name in the Indian subcontinent.[1][2]

Umera Ahmad
Born10th December, 1976
Sialkot, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Alma materMurray College
OccupationFiction writer, screenwriter

Education

Ahmad completed her Master’s in English literature from Murray College, Sialkot[3] Ahmad has remained an English teacher at Army Public School, Sialkot, where she taught middle school and High school students. However, Umera wanted to pursue her writing career fulltime, so she quit her job as a teacher and started writing for Urdu Magazines.[3]

Career

Writing

Ahmad started writing at an early age. Her stories were often published in monthly Urdu Digest magazines. Soon she started publishing books as well. Umera has written more than 30 books in her career, some novels other compilations of short stories. Her most famous work, and the one that heightened her career was Peer-e-Kamil and Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan. Umera started her writing career in 1998 when she started publishing stories in the monthly Urdu magazines. Her first story written for the digest magazine was Zindagi Gulzar Hai.[4][5] The story captured the interest of readers and Umera was soon asked to write a full length novel. She was 21 when she wrote the story. In 2012, the novel was serialized into a popular drama with the same name.[6] The drama starred Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan as the lead actors.[7] In an interview Umera said that the character of the lead female, Kashaf in the novel is based on her own character. Umera’s stories often revolve around men-women relationships, societal issues and pressures.[8] Her stories depict women as the central theme. [9][10] Ahmad is also the writer of many other novels that have been serialized into dramas. Her other popular works are Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan for which Ahmed has won the ‘Best Writer’ Award at the 10th Lux Style Awards.[11] The novel was also converted into a drama with the same name. The drama gained much popularity and in 2014, it was also aired in India under the name, Kesi Yeh Qayamat.[9]

Ahmad has also written novels on religion and spirituality. Pir-e-Kamil (2004), Shehr-e-Zaat (2012) and Alif (2019)[12], are some of her novels that focus on spirituality.[13] Her novel Alif, was dramatized into a popular series that starred Hamza Ali Abbassi, Sajal Aly and Kubra Khan.[14]Shehr-e-zaat was also a popular drama starring Mahira Khan.[15][16] Ahmad has written more than 35 books in her career. Over 22 of her books have been converted into drama series. Her books have also been translated into English and Arabic languages. Juggernaut books translated Ahmad's works into Hindi as well.[17]

Screenwriting

Many of Ahmad's novels have been created into drama series. However, Ahmad has also written stories specifically for dramas and movies. She has collaborated with the director Mehreen Jabbar to produce drama serials that have gained widespread popularity. Recently, she collaborated again to bring a web-series called Aik Jhooti Love Story.[18][19]The series is a comedy revolving around a couple in Karachi.[20][21] It stars Billal Abbas Khan and Madiha Imam as lead actors. [22]Aik Jhooti Love Story was released on 30th October, 2020 and was launched on ZEE5; a digital entertainment platform.[23]

Ahmad also wrote a screenplay Baaghi, which is based on the late Pakistani model, Qandeel Baloch.[24] [25]The play starred Saba Qamar as the lead actress in it.[26][27][28] Ahmad has also worked on Netflix projects. Her recent work underway is a series about cyberbullying. The series revolve around a female detective investigating and interrogating a crime. This was the first thriller series by Umera. In an interview Umera said “This one comes straight from the heart, because I’ve seen so many people suffer because of it. I know how trolling can destroy lives!”[29]

Alif Kitab

In 2016, Ahmad created Alif Kitab; a digital platform for budding writers to share their work and monetize it. The platform aims to provide editorial guidance to new writers by allowing them to interact with experts. The platform also allows them to submit their writings to media and production houses.[30][31]

Selected work

Books

Dramas

Telefilms and web-series

References
  1. admin. "An Interview with the Prestigious Umera Ahmed". Reviewit.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  2. "Zindagi Gulzar Hai has the power to transform you". Daily Times. 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  3. "Umera Ahmed". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  4. admin. "An Interview with the Prestigious Umera Ahmed". Reviewit.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  5. "Zindagi Gulzar Hai has the power to transform you". Daily Times. 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  6. "'Zindagi Gulzar Hai' reflective of problems and prejudices young people face: Writer Umera Ahmed". The Indian Express. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  7. "'Zindagi Gulzar Hai' Reflective Of Problems And Prejudices Young People Face: Writer Umera Ahmed". News18. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  8. "I give words to people's journeys: Writer Umera Ahmed". The Indian Express. 2014-09-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  9. https://www.youlinmagazine.com, Youlin Magazine. "Umera Ahmed: The Queen of TV Dramas - Hareem Zafar - Youlin Magazine". www.youlinmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  10. Saleem, Muhammad (2020-03-04). "'AAN' Upcoming Blockbuster of Haseeb Hasan & Umera Ahmed". Daily The Azb. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  11. "Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan is a tale of immense tragedy". Daily Times. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  12. Nayyar, Nasir Abbas (2019-09-22). "FICTION: A BULWARK AGAINST SECULAR ART". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  13. Haider, Sadaf (2020-03-17). "Alif is one of the most artistically pleasing dramas to grace our screens in years". Images. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  14. "Umera Ahmed's much-anticipated novel 'Alif' is all set to release this month". Something Haute. 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  15. "Shehr-e-Zaat and its misplaced knowledge of Islam". The Express Tribune. 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  16. "Shehr-e-Zaat — a tale of obsession and pride". Daily Times. 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  17. "Umera Ahmed". HuffPost India. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  18. "Umera Ahmed and Mehreen Jabbar re-unite for a web-series". Daily Times. 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  19. NewsBytes. "Mehreen Jabbar's web-series to be called Aik Jhooti Love Story". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  20. "Mehreen Jabbar & Umera Ahmed's Project 'Aik Jhooti Love Story' on ZEE5". FUCHSIA. 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  21. NewsBytes. "Mehreen Jabbar's web-series to be called Aik Jhooti Love Story". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  22. Rehman, Maliha (2020-10-30). "Bilal Abbas, Madiha Imam's new webseries for Zee5 is not your average love story". Images. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  23. "The lighter side of story telling | Instep | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  24. Hasan, Mehreen (2017-07-28). "Qandeel's family gave us complete creative liberty to tell this story, say Baaghi's writers". Images. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  25. "Is 'Baaghi' a disservice to the real-life Qandeel Baloch?". The Express Tribune. 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  26. "Umera Ahmed's latest novel 'Alif' to release this month". The Express Tribune. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  27. Desk, Entertainment (2014-07-17). "Zindagi Gulzar Hai: Pakistani drama serials win hearts in India". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  28. "Hamza Ali Abbasi, Sajal Aly and Kubra Khan to star in 'Alif'". The Express Tribune. 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  29. "Umera Ahmad gets into crime thriller mode". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  30. "Umera Ahmed to launch platform for commercial writers". The Express Tribune. 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  31. "Umera Ahmed to launch platform for commercial writers | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  32. "Zindagi Gulzar hai: Liberating women in different ways". The Express Tribune. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  33. "Zindagi Gulzar Hai". Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  34. Isani, Aamna Haider. "Alif and its message". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  35. "Kankar: Standing up for the abused woman". The Express Tribune. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
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  37. http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/19281/kankar-standing-up-for-the-abused-woman/
  38. "Umera's endeavour to promote Urdu among children - Daily Times". Daily Times. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
  39. "Hamza Ali Abbasi, Sajal Aly and Kubra Khan to star in 'Alif' - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
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  41. HumTv. "Digest Writer".
  42. "Jhoot". Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  43. Awan, Fatima. "Drama Of The Week : Durr-e-Shahwar". Reviewit.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  44. "Maat HUM TV Serial | HUM TV - Watch Dramas Online". 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  45. "If Baaghi is based on a true story then Qandeel Baloch did not deserve this". The Nation. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  46. "Mohabbat Subh Ka Sitara Hai Episode 14 HUM TV Drama | HUM TV - Watch Dramas Online". 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  47. "Mohabat Subh Ka Sitara Hai: From The Pens of Umera Ahmed". Hum TV. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  48. "BEHADD starring Nadia Jamil and Sajal Ali, alongside Fawad Khan will be coming on 8th June on HUM TV". FUCHSIA weekly. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  49. "Telefilm 'Laal' tugs at our heartstrings with its sheer brilliance". Daily Times. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
  50. "Mehreen Jabbar & Umera Ahmed's Project 'Aik Jhooti Love Story' on ZEE5". FUCHSIA. 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  51. "Haseeb Hasan shares details on Dhoop Ki Deewar". September 2020.
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