Sultana Siddiqui | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Other names | Sultana Apa |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | President and Founder ofHum Network Limited |
| Notable work | 3 |
| Relatives | Jahangir Siddiqui (brother) Momina Duraid (daughter-in-law) Ali Jehangir Siddiqui (nephew) Sheheryar Munawar (nephew) |
Sultana Siddiqui also known asSultana Apa (Sindhi: سلطانا آپي) is a Pakistanimedia mogul, television director, and producer who is the founder ofHum Network Limited.[1][2][3]
Siddiqui is an active director ofHum Network Limited and the president ofHum Network Limited. By virtue of that she became the first woman in Pakistan to establish a TV station.[2][4]
Sultana was born inHyderabad, Sindh, into aSindhiqazis (Muslim judges) family living there, Sultana being the seventh of ten children.[1] She received her early education from government schools in Hyderabad.[5]
"Siddiqui was a tomboy. She would climb trees, challenge bullies and at times play truant. People who know her from those heady days say that she was the undisputed leader of kids in the neighbourhood".[1]
She aimed to do herMaster's incomparative religion but stopped due to her marriage in 1966, which would end in a divorce after 7 years, and she would return to her family home with her three sons.[1][6]
Sultana started her career fromPTV as a producer inKarachi in 1974.[6] Following a brief acting career, she concentrated on direction and production in both Sindhi and Urdu, her first Urdu-language production beingRung Barung (1981), a musical show for kids.[1]
Siddiqui directedSindhi playMarvi, which was written byNoorul Huda Shah and starredSakina Samo as Marvi. The commercial success of the series motivate Siddiqui to adapt the series in Urdu,[1] in which Ghazal Siddique played Marvi, a rural girl who manages to get the education in the city despite the obstacles. Sultana reached popular success with the series and since then has directed or produced many appreciated television serials.[1][6] Siddiqui has also produced children's television, musical performances, television films, serials and documentaries.[6]
In 2004 she foundedEye Television Network, now known as under which her own four cable channels are working, including "Hum TV". Under her direction Hum TV has received Pakistan'sLux Style Awards four years in a row.[2] She is the only woman in Asia who started or owned a TV channel.[7]
As a director, she remained inactive for ten years before her latest drama serialZindagi Gulzar Hai (2012-2013), which is a romantic drama focusing on women, portraying equality of the girl child and importance of a career for women.[8] a critically acclaimed[9] serial that has been praised for "breaking the ice across the borders of Pakistan and India in current times"[10] featuringFawad Khan andSanam Saeed.[6][10]
In 2025, Sultana Siddiqui resides inNorth Nazimabad Town in Karachi, Pakistan.[1] She is now reportedly in her late 70s. She launchedHum TV in 2005. Sultana Siddiqui's TV shows tend to portray progressive and women-empowering point of view.[11]
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,
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]
As a public speaker, Sultana has spoken on many local and international platforms, including the 2013 US Islamic World Forum[2] held inDoha, Qatar and the 2014 Women Leadership Forum held inSilicon Valley, California.[17]
Siddiqui founded theKarachi 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).[18]
In 2018, Sultana Siddiqui collaborated with Zac Chaudhri from theUniversity of The Arts London to produce the first set of books on Pakistani Fashion to be held in a major western Arts university library. The books are titledFashion Uncovered and are an introduction to Pakistani Fashion.[19]
Sultana Siddiqui is credited for first discovering:
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Zara Si Aurat |  | PTV | |
| 1993 | Marvi[6] | | ||
| 1997 | Yeh Zindagi[6] | | ||
| 1999 | Doosri Dunya[6] | | ||
| 2000 | Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai | | ||
| 2001 | Wafa Kay Mausam | | ||
| 2002 | Jannat | | ||
| 2003 | Shayad Kay Bahar Aaye | | ||
| 2004 | Anjaane Raaste | | ||
| 2012 | Zindagi Gulzar Hai (Life Is A Beautiful Garden)[1][6][11] | | Hum TV | |
| 2016 | Udaari (on child sexual abuse)[6][11] | | Hum TV | |
| 2024 | Mann Jogi (with 9 episodes)[11] | | ||
| Nadaan (with 8 episodes)[11] | | |||
| Tan Man Neel o Neel (with 11 episodes)[11][20] | |