Vilayet Jafri, a reputed name in the literary, theatre and entertainment field is pride of Lucknow. He has a long association with all these activities. Being well versed in Hindi, Urdu, English, Sanskrit, Persian, Punjabi & Arabic is the key tool with him. Worked as Controller of Programmes Directorate General Doordarshan New Delhi & retired as Director Doordarshan. A special programme has been produced on Mr. Jafri as a writer, theatre worker and a Man of Light & Sound Programmes for BBC London. Member of Script Committee, National Film Development Corporation, India Council for Cultural Relations, International Jury ‘Golden Prague’ Czechoslovakia (TV Festival -July, 1989), etc. He belongs to an illustrious family of patriots who stood against the Britishers in 1857. His great grand father was sentenced to death while his grand father was imprisoned in jail for the freedom struggle.
Mr Jafri has been bestowed with many awards like Urdu Academy Award (New Delhi) on the play Zaher Kaun Piye, Communal Harmony Award, Bharat Jyoti Award, Kala Shree Award, Kabir Award, Canara Bank’s 90th year Celebration Award, Urdu Hindi Sahitya Award, Urdu Academy Award (UP) on the Book Gustakhiyan, Helpage International (India) Award, All India Conference of Intellectual’s UP Ratna Award, Bhartiya Fankar Society –Fun Shree Award, Rangyatra’s Rang Shiromani Award, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Sanket Samman, Tulsi Samman, Acharya Mahavir Prasad Divedi Yug Samman, etc.
He has contributed a lot in television writing for Serials like Neem Ka Paed (24 episodes were written by Dr Rahi Masom Raza and 34 episodes were written by Vilayet Jafri), Aaram, Kala Chor, Aadha Gaon( an adaptation of a famous novel of Dr Rahi Masoom Reza was made into 12 episodes ), Sher Shah Suri, etc. He is writing for All India Radio for the past five decades like Eik Gaon Ki Kahani, Sitaro Se Aage, Delhi Ki Akhri Shama and many more. Some of his popular writing for theatre are Zaher Kaun Piye, Mitti Ki Khushbu, Aagam, Doctor Radio, Hum Tum Aur Who, Kala Chor, Ghoonghat Ulto, Chat Mangni Pat Biyah, Delhi Ki Akhri Shama, Nahi Nahi Kuch Bhi Nahi, Eik Din, Eik Jama Do. Mr Jafri is associated with theatre since more than 5 decades and some of his renowned works are Aagam, Sarai Ke Bahar, Rustam Sohrab, Mirza Shohrat, Adhere Se Ujale Tak, Shahjahan, Delhi Ki Akhri Shama, Zaher Kaun Piye, Shatranj Ke Mohre, Eik Din, Eik Jama Do, etc. He has also written lyrics for film with Ravinder Jain and Raghunath Seth.
He is also a very popular figure or rather as one of the founders for organizing Light & Sound shows in India, some of his unique contributions are Panoramic Spectacle of Freedom Movements, History of Punjab, Badhte Qadam, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Mirza Ghalib, Anarkali, Dewa Mela, Kal Aaj Aur Kal, Apni Katha, etc. His published works are Thaki Yadein, Jahan Khoon Bikta Hai, Zaher Kaun Piye, Neelam Pari, Dhool Mein Phool, Chandi Ki Kirchein, Dahekta Avadh, Gustakhiya.
Founder LUCKNOW Society was privilege to discuss the achievements of Jafri Sb. LUCKNOW Society Salutes Vilayet Jafri for being the proud of TV, Radio, Theatre & Literary works. Even a research has been commissioned at Lucknow University to study the contributions of Mr. Jafri. He is obviously the inspiration for the youths. We wish him all the very best for his career & health.