- Neelam Ghar
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Neelam Ghar (Urdu: نیلام گھر) was a talk show and a general-knowledge quiz show hosted by Tariq Aziz on Pakistan Television from the 1970's to the 1990's. It was renamed the Tariq Aziz Show in 1997. It is currently called Bazm e Tariq Aziz. The name literally means "the Auction House" in Urdu. The show celebrated its thirtieth anniversary on October 12, 2010. It is hosted by Tariq Aziz. It was very popular in its day and involved extravagant prizes to guests who answered the questions correctly. Santosh Kumar, a famous Pakistani film star, once won a car on the show.
Neelam Ghar was the first television show in South Asia to have mass audience participation, commercial sponsorships for specific questions or question rounds, and extravagant prizes. Major corporations like Hitachi were prominent sponsors of the show.
Tariq Aziz's informal style of hosting the show was a departure from the formal tone of other Pakistani television hosts at the time. Aziz would frequently refer to audience members and guests as "merey dost" (my friend) or "merey bhai" (my brother).
Arif Rana was the creator and the first producer of Neelam Ghar.
Popular phrases
Some phrases routinely rendered by Tariq Aziz in a dramatic fashion have become popular expressions in Pakistan, as well as the adjoining regions of Northwestern India where the show was watched -
- Ibtada ha rab e jalil ka babarkut naam say jo dilon k bhaid khob janta hai! (Starting by the name of Almighty Allah who knows all the secrets buried in hearts)
- Dekhti ankho aur suntay kano apko Tariq Aziz ka salam pohnchay! (Watching eyes and Listening ears, greetings to you from Tariq Aziz)
- Jawab durust hai! ("That's the right answer!")
- Ghalati ra gunjaish nishta! ("You have no further room to make mistakes!")
- Yeh xyz aap ke sath jayega! ("This xyz (item name) will go home with you"))
- Electra aap ka hua! ("The Electra (a major sponsor which manufactured household appliances) is yours"))
- Watan-e-aziz ko dua
- Pakistan!!! Zinda Baad
Categories: Television in Pakistan
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