Tag Archives: Moosa Moosa – Avalon Group – South Africa

US based philanthropist Dr. Qutubuddin holds felicitation ceremony to honor ‘the makers of Narayanpet’

Narayanpet, TELANGANA / U.S.A:

Nagu Rao Namoji senior BJP leader addressing the gatherings.

US-based philanthropist Dr Mohammad Qutubuddin held a felicitation ceremony in honour of the people who struggled to realize the dream of making Narayanpet a district, which was announced on 17th February 2017.

The ceremony, organized in collaboration with the Indian chapter of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin (AFMI) and Hayat Foundation USA, was held in Narayanpet district, Telangana.

Dr. Qutbuddin, who remained the key figure in organizing the event, lauded the role of politicians, regardless of their political affiliations, and common people who campaigned for making Narayanpet a district. He thanked the residents of the district for their contribution.

“I might live in the USA but my heart yearns for Narayanpet,” said Dr. Qutbuddin, expressing hope that the new district would flourish in future.

On the occasion, local MLA S. Rajender Reddy pledged to transform Narayanpet’s landscape over the next three years and take the district to new heights of prosperity.

Narayanpet MLA S. Rajinder Reddy presenting Shawl to Dr Qutubuddin.

Reddy lauded Dr. Qutbuddin for his efforts and said that his “immense love for Narayanpet and his tireless efforts for the development of the district prove that he’s a visionary leader”.

Editor of noted Urdu daily Siasat, Zahid Ali Khan spoke about his family’s root in Mehboobnagar and Narayanpet. Ali, who was chief guest on the occasion, recalled that his father Abid Ali Khan was born and raised in this region.

He said that his family understands the region and the community’s intellectual, artistic, and literary endeavors as well as the sincere attitudes of its residents have always given them great heartfelt satisfaction.

Dr. Qutbuddin played a prominent role in representing the people of the region, he said while thanking the efforts he made in the development of the people’s life.

Nagu Rao Namaji, a senior state BJP leader, claimed that he has consistently been in the forefront when it comes to preserving peace and harmony in Narayanpet and vowed to maintain it in future. He pleaded with the MLA to link Narayanpet to the Railways as the Center was prepared to do so. In addition, he stressed the necessity of Reddy’s pledge to complete irrigation projects.

AFMI’s regional president, Prof. Sana Qutbuddin also addressed the gathering and said that her father Dr. Qutbuddin is passionate about his native district Narayanpet. “My father has promised that he will devote more of his time towards the development of the district in the future,” she said.

In this ceremony, Nagu Rao Namaji, K Sudarshan Reddy Principal, Muhammad Nawazi, Moosa, Abdul Saleem Adv, Ameeruddin Adv, Dr. Tabrez Hussain Taj, Mohammad Taqi Chand, Abdul Qadar Maisoori Mujahid Siddiqui, Hafiz Mohammad Taqi and others were felicitated.

The editor-in-chief of the weekly Gawaah, Fazil Hussain Pervez, prominent personality of Arungabad, Maulana Mirza Abdul Qayyum Nadvi, Journalist Sadiq Ali, Rasheed, Telugu speaker, Maulana Abdul Qavi and others participated in the event as special guests. MLA S. Rajinder Reddy was presented with the Narayanpet Seva Ratna Award in recognition of his services.

The proceeding of the event was conducted by Abdul Saleem Advocate while the program ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Tabrez Hussain Taj.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Network / February 25th, 2023

South African Indian cinema mogul Moosa Moosa passes away

Johanessburg, SOUTH AFRICA :

South African Indian cinema doyen Moosa Moosa has passed away. He was 75. Moosa succumbed to a heart attack on Sunday after undergoing surgery.

He was buried in Johannesburg on Monday according to Muslim rites.

Moosa had earned the title of being the longest-serving cinema group executive in the world, adding to the company’s reputation of having the longest relationship with Hollywood production house 20th Century Fox for almost eight decades now.

In 2007, Moosa received the South African Film and Television Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tributes from all across the world continued to pour in for Moosa as the news of his demise spread.

Family and friends recalled how Moosa had taken over the family cinema business of the Avalon Group, started by his father 79 years ago as the first and still only Indian-owned cinema group in South Africa, after most of the 18 cinemas in the group were shut down by the draconian apartheid-era laws restricting property ownership in city centres to the minority white community.

Undeterred by this as the Avalon Group continued with just one cinema in an area designated for Indians in Durban, Moosa took on the seemingly impossible task of challenging the monopolies of white-owned major national cinema chains and won legal battles in the new democratic South Africa headed by President Nelson Mandela.

Moosa then started rebuilding the business as his son Aboobaker, popularly known as AB, also joined the business as the chief executive officer.

Currently they have cinemas in three major South African cities where new Bollywood releases play alongside Hollywood titles every week.

“My father showed tenacity and strength in keeping alive the Avalon dream through the tough times,” AB Moosa said in paying tribute to his father.

“When many had already begun to write the company’s obituary, my father’s resolve never wavered,” he added.

Many community leaders also paid tribute to Moosa for his support of community initiatives.

“He was always willing to support a variety of important social justice issues and always availed Avalon cinema venues for such events at no charge,” said Lubna Nadvi, from the University of KwaZulu Natal’s School of Social Science.

“Moosa will be justly remembered as a courageous and articulate businessman who was determined in his challenge of white monopolies in the 1980’s,” businessman Nirode Bramdaw recalled.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> International / by PTI / June 26th, 2018