Zia Mohyeddin

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Zia Mohyeddin
HI SI
ضیاء محی الدین
Born(1931-06-20)20 June 1931
Lyallpur, Punjab, British India
Died13 February 2023(2023-02-13) (aged 91)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Citizenship
  • Pakistan
  • United Kingdom
Occupations
  • Television actor
  • producer
  • director
  • broadcaster
Years active1954–2022
TitleChairman of National Academy of Performing Arts, Karachi[1]
Spouse
​
(m. 1994)​
Children4

Zia Mohyeddin HI SI (Urdu: ضیاء محی الدین; 20 June 1931 – 13 February 2023) was a British-Pakistani film actor, producer, director, and television broadcaster who appeared in both Pakistani cinema and television, as well as in British cinema and television throughout his career.[1]

Mohyeddin became famous for his Pakistan Television talk show The Zia Mohyeddin Show (1969–1973).[2][3] He was also known for originating the role of Dr. Aziz in the stage play of A Passage to India. He also appeared in Lawrence of Arabia.[1][2]

Early life and career[edit]

Mohyeddin at the age of 7 (on the floor, left) with the Central Training College Dramatic Club, Lahore, circa 1939. His father, Khadim Mohyeddin, is seated second from right.

Zia Mohyeddin was born in Lyallpur, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan), to an Urdu-speaking family originally from Rohtak, East Punjab, British India (now in Haryana, India).[4] His father, Khadim Mohyeddin, was a mathematician, musicologist, playwright, and lyricist associated with various theatre groups.[5]

Zia spent his early life in Lahore. He was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London from 1953 to 1955. After stage roles in Long Day's Journey into Night[6] and Julius Caesar,[7] he made his West End debut as Dr. Aziz in A Passage to India[8] on 20 April 1960 at the Comedy Theatre.[9] The production continued for 302 performances. He reprised this role in the 1965 BBC television adaptation as well. He made his film debut in Lawrence of Arabia (1962), playing the role of Tafas (the Arab guide who is shot by Omar Sharif for drinking water from the wrong well).[8] He then made numerous TV and film appearances. As an actor, he worked for nearly 47 years in the United Kingdom.[3]

His first wife was Sarwar Zemani with whom he had two sons,[8] Minos Ameer and Risha Ameen.[10]

Return to Pakistan and later career[edit]

Mohyeddin returned to Pakistan in the late 1960s. Between 1969 and 1973, he hosted the popular television talk show The Zia Mohyeddin Show, best remembered for Mohyeddin's rap-style song segment, which he would introduce with his trademark phrase of "zara theka lagaiye".[11] He was also appointed director of the PIA Arts Academy. Around this time, he met and subsequently married the renowned Kathak dancer Nahid Siddiqui. Together they had a son,[2] the percussionist and music producer, Hassan "Moyo" Mohyeddin.[10]

Following differences with the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq, Mohyeddin returned to the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. During the 1980s Mohyeddin worked in Birmingham, UK, where he produced Central Television's flagship multicultural programme Here and Now (1986–1989), a weekly magazine program.[2] He also produced and starred in the first soap opera with a British Asian cast, Family Pride (1991–1992).[8]

While working in Britain in the 1980s, he was asked in an interview by a Pakistani news reporter whether he missed Pakistan. He replied that he did, that it was his home country, and that he missed his friends there and the people of Pakistan.[2]

Mohyeddin then travelled the world giving Urdu poetry and prose recitations,[8] as well as readings of English letters and literature. As a matter of practice, he emphasised that the metric structure of the entire poem must be studied by the reciter. He commented unfavourably on reciters who would habitually pause after every rhyming couplet, or "hammer" out the verses without regard for rhythm.[7]

Mohyeddin married his third wife Azra Bano Zaidi in 1994. They had one daughter, Aaliya,[10] who was born in 2002.[3]

In February 2005, the then-president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf invited Mohyeddin to form the National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi, of which Mohyeddin was president since its inception.[1]

Mohyeddin died on 13 February 2023, at the age of 91.[12][13]

Films[edit]

Selected television appearances[edit]

Books[edit]

  • A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflections, Ushba Publishing, Karachi, 2008[37]
  • Theatrics, National Academy of Performing Arts, Karachi, 2012[38]
  • The God of My Idolatry: Memories and Reflections, Pakistan Publishing House, Karachi, 2016[39]

Awards and recognition[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Muneeza Shamsie (10 April 2016). "Zia Mohyeddin: Theatre, film and the written word". Pakistan: Dawn. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Nadeem, Shahid (February 1984). "The social and cultural attitudes of medieval times have to be changed: Zia Mohyeddin". Pakistan: Dawn. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Celebrating Zia Mohyeddin". The Express Tribune. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Zia Mohyeddin in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)". The Friday Times – Naya Daur. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ^ Ahmed, Khaled (4 July 2012). "What makes Zia Mohyeddin tick?". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  6. ^ Chatterjee, Partha (3 July 2008). "Master of all trades". Frontline (magazine). Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b Anjum, Nawaid (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin: A thespian, a showman and a passionate storyteller". The Federal. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Zia Mohyeddin, actor who played Tafas in Lawrence of Arabia and devised Britain's first Asian TV soap opera – obituary". The Telegraph. 16 February 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  9. ^ Programme – A Passage to India. Wingate Productions Ltd. 20 April 1960. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Sarwar, Beena (17 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin: Mourning the passing away of a progressive Pakistani poet and theatre artiste". South Asia Monitor. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ^ Hashmi, Mira (14 February 2023). "The inimitable likeness of Zia Mohyeddin". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Zia Mohyeddin passes away at 91". Ary News. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Zia Mohyeddin, Legendary Artist and Former President Emeritus of National Academy of Performing Arts, Passes Away at 91". Lahore Herald. 13 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Rahguzar (1960) – Pakistani Urdu film". pakmag.net. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Zia Mohyeddin – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Goble, Alan. "Zia Mohyeddin". Complete Index to World Film. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "Zia Mohyeddin | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  18. ^ Suhayb, Muhammad (20 March 2022). "FLASHBACK: THE UNSOLVED CRIME". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  19. ^ Hasan, Mehreen (9 November 2017). "This new documentary takes a fresh look at the work of Zia Mohyeddin and Faiz". Pakistan: Dawn. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Visit to Spain (1962)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Someone Is Liable to Get Hurt (1966)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  22. ^ "The Mercenaries (1965)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Such Men Are Dangerous (1965)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  24. ^ "The Colonel's Daughter (1965)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  25. ^ The Avengers: Honey for the Prince (1961) – James Hill, Brian Clemens | Cast and Crew, AllMovie, retrieved 19 February 2023
  26. ^ "Adam Adamant Lives!: The Basardi Affair". Radio Times (2254). 21 January 1967.
  27. ^ "Jackanory: The Bird Talisman: Part 1: The Gift of the Ring". Radio Times (2258). 18 February 1967.
  28. ^ "Night Flight to Andorra (1968)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  29. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Champions, The (1969) Credits". screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Some You Win, Some You Lose (1969)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Hunt the Peacock (1969)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  32. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Gangsters (1976–78) Credits". screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Heavenly Host (1978)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  34. ^ "#2.10 Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy". minder.org. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Bergerac". Radio Times (3139). 7 January 1984.
  36. ^ Suhayb, Muhammad (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin, as I remember him". Images. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  37. ^ "REVIEW: A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflections". Dawn. 5 August 2012.
  38. ^ Farrukhi, Asif (2 December 2012). "REVIEW: Theatrics by Zia Mohyeddin". Dawn.
  39. ^ Shamsie, Muneeza (10 April 2016). "COVER STORY: Theatre, film and the written word". Dawn.
  40. ^ Zia Mohyeddin's Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award in 2012, info listed on Dawn (newspaper) Retrieved 10 February 2018
  41. ^ President to confer civil awards today Dawn (newspaper), Published 23 March 2003. Retrieved 10 February 2018
  42. ^ "Pakistani legend Zia Mohyeddin to perform in Dubai on Nov.29". Asian Lite UAE. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

External links[edit]

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