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Syed
Kamal
(Pakistan's
legendary
film actor)
by
Anis Ahmed Shakur
anisshakur@hotmail.com
Syed Kamal hails from Meerut, Uttar Pardesh, India.
He migrated to Pakistan in 1956 and made his film debut with
"Thandi Sarak". (Released in 1957, under the banner of "super hit movies", producer: Shabab
Kiranvi, director: A.Hameed, starring: Kamal, Musarrat Nazeer)
Kamal is popularly known as the Raj Kapoor of Pakistan, because of his
resemblance to Indian actor, Raj Kapoor.
His second film was "Aaj kal", which proved to be a flop. (1958, director:
Munawwar H.Qasim, starring: Kamal, Sabiha Khanum.)
An undeterred Kamal, dressed to Perform, worked in two more movies in
1959.
Both were directed by Rafiq Rizvi (Bapu): The film "Sawera"opposite Shamim
Ara, popular song: "Tu jo nahi hai"singer: S.B.John and the film
"Apna paraya" opposite actress Rehana.
By sheer determination he drove himself constantly forward.
His feelings for his film crew were strong, which were all the more visible
in director Luqman's semi-historical movie "Ayaz." (starring:
Habib, Kamal, Nayyar Sultana).
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Kamal's fans had faith in his ability that kept him going.
Moreover, Kamal's single- minded devotion to his profession led to
successful movies:
The film "Murad" (Director: Dawood Chand, starring: Kamal, Yasmeen).
The film "Watan" (Director: Anwar Kamal Pasha). The film "Dil-e-Nadaan" (Director: Najam Naqui, starring: Kamal, Musarrat
Nazeer) |
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Kamal continually strived to make a difference to improve his creative work
on the successive films:
The three films directed by S.M.Yusuf:
"Suhagan" (cast: Kamal, Zeba), "Aashiyana" (Kamal, Zeba, popular song:
"Baray sung dil ho")
"Shareek-e-Hayat" (Kamal,Shabnam)
Sequential movies brought him fame greater than ever-the taste of the
sweetest cupcake.
The following five films were directed by Iqbal Yusuf:
"Daal mein kala" (Kamal- Bahar)
"Zamana kya kahay ga" (Kamal-Shamim Ara)
"Nehlay pay dehla" (Kamal-Neelo)
"Night club" (Kamal-shamim Ara)
"Jokar"
Kamal captured the spotlight through his role in the following two movies
directed by Al-Hamid:
"Hum dono" (Kamal-Deeba)
"Khilona" (Kamal-Shamim Ara)
He immediately won accolades for his versatile talent in director Humayun
Mirza's film "Dakoo ki larki" (Kamal-Nayyar Sultana).
Director Wazir Ali's two movies "Aik dil do diwanay" (Kamal-Rani) and the
film "Albela" (Kamal-Ghazala)
He scaled the heights of popularity through his intelligent commitment to
his profession.
He deserves credit for his role in the film "Jalay na kyon perwana",
(Director:Shaukat Hashmi)
The film "Gulfarosh" (Director: Zahoor Raja)
The film "Farz" (Director: Laeeq Akhtar, cast: Kamal, Shamim Ara)
Given here below are movies which offer a glimpse of his stardom:
The film "Paraye beti" (Director: Iqbal Rizvi, starring: Kamal-Rozina)
The film :Insaaf" (Director: A.H.Siddiqui, starring: Kamal-Neelo)
The film "Choti Behan" (Director: A.H.Siddiqui, starring: Kamal-Rani)
With the passage of time, Kamal's elegant simplicity influenced innumerable
admirers.
The realization of his acting potential were all the more visible in the
three movies directed by Munawwar Rasheed:
"Nai laila naya mujnu" (Kamal-Naseema Khan)
"Kaun kisi ka" (Kamal-Husna)
"Rotha na karo" (Kamal-Shabnam)
Kamal's authoritative acting and his consistent efforts paid dividends:
The film "Shab Bakhair" (Director: Nazeer Ajmeri, cast: Kamal-Rani)
The film "Banjaran" (Director: Hasan Tariq, cast: Kamal-Neelo)
The film "Qatal kay baad" (Director: Hasan Tariq, cast: Kamal-Neelo)
Screen legend, Kamal, lit up cinema screens in the 50s and the sixties. No
statistics could measure the fame he achieved through movies:
The film "Aurat aur zamana" (Director: Jafar Bukhari, starring: Kamal-Husna)
The film "Subha kaheen shaam kaheen" (Kamal-Neelo)
The film "Jaadu gar" (Kamal-Bahar)
The film "Sartaj" (Director: Munshi Dal, starring: Kamal-Deeba)
The film "Love in Europe" (Director: Jameel Akhtar)
One marvels at his uncanny ability and plenty of zest with which he worked
in the following films:
The film "Tauba" (Director: S.A.Hafiz,starring: Kamal-Zeba, popular Qawwali:
"Meri tauba Ya Rab,meri tauba,tauba")
The film "Sanam" (Director: S.A.Hafiz, starring: Kamal-Rani)
The film "Shabnam" Director: S.A.Hafiz, starring: Kamal-Rani)
The film "Dil day kay dekho" (Director: S.A.Hafiz, starring: Kamal-Deeba)
The following films were directed by Kamal:
"Shehnai" (Kamal-Deeba)
"Insaan aur gadha" (Kamal-Nisho-Rozina)
"Yahan say wahan tak" (Kamal-Mumtaz)
"Honey moon" (Kamal-Husna-Rozina)
"Roop Behroop" (producer-director-actor Kamal opposite Nisho)
"Doosri maan" (Kamal-Shamim Ara)
"Meray bacchay meri Aankhein" (Kamal-Deeba)
"Dard-e-dil" (Kamal-Zeba)
"Aaliya" (Kamal-Shamim Ara)
Let us look at his Punjabi films:
The film "Ik wohati teen laray" (Director: Rangeela,, starring: Kamal)
Kamal was the actor, director and producer of the following four Punjabi
films:
"Jut kuryan toon darda"
"Deyan kuryan"
"Kal day munday"
"Jut kamala gaya Dubai (starring: Kamal, Neelo, Najma, Nisho and Nadia
Hasan)
Kamal won the Nigar award for best actor for the film "Behan bhai" in 1968.
He won the Nigar award for best producer for the Punjabi film "Uj deyan
kuryan" in 1977.
In fact, Kamal was the first comedy hero of the Pakistani cinema.
He participated in the 1985 (non-party) elections conducted during the tenure of Zia-ul-Haq. He could not succeed at the polls.
Consequently, he produced the film "Siyasat", which was a failure, as well.
("Siyasat":producer-director: Kamal, starring: Nisho, Sakina Sammo)
At the peak of his acting career, he produced an entertainment program from
the Karachi television center: "Kamal ka show".
Additionally, he marked his presence in the Pakistan television's drama serial
"Kashkol".
Kamal's son had a close resemblance to his father. He lived in the long shadow of his strong, successful dad.
However, the latter could not click in the films. He did appear in modeling.
Kamal, a people person, had entered into the sunset of his life.
A look back at his past achievement makes us feel that the resilience of the
human spirit will continue to glow in his persona for very many years.
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