Syed Kamal

This article is about the actor. For the British politician, see Syed Kamall.

Syed Kamal
سیّد کمال
Born(1937-04-27)27 April 1937
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, British India
Died1 October 2009(2009-10-01) (aged 72)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Screenwriter
Years active1945–2002
AwardsSpecial Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) from Nigar Awards in 2000

Syed Kamal (Urdu: سیّد کمال; (27 April 1937 – 1 October 2009), often just known as Kamal, was a Pakistani film and TV actor, producer and director.[1][2]

He had worked in 4 Bollywood films before migrating to Pakistan in 1956.[3]

Popular in the 60s and the 70s, he worked in some 120 films.

Early life and career

Syed Kamal was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, British India on 27 April 1937.[3][4] Syed Kamal was a popular film star in the 1960s and the 1970s. Kamal, whose film Tauba (1963)[1] became a success at the box office, had a striking resemblance to the Indian filmstar Raj Kapoor, and he was not evasive about this issue.[1] He once said, "People used to mistake me for Raj Kapoor while I was in Bombay and I enjoyed it". In fact, according to Pakistani script writer Ali Sufyan Afaqi, Kamal used to practice Raj Kapoor's scenes in front of a mirror. Kamal's first appearance in his Pakistani movie by producer Shabab Keranvi Thandi Sarak (1957) was meant to resemble Raj Kapoor.[1]

He has produced and directed over a dozen of films including Insaan Aur Gadha (1973).[5]

Achievements and awards

Among his other activities, he founded the Karachi Film Guild and Pakistan Film and TV Academy.[4]

After retirement from films, he began acting in Pakistan Television dramas at a fairly advanced age. His most notable TV appearance is in hit TV drama Kashkol in which he played a wealthy businessman whose son (played by his real life son, Ghalib Kamal) becomes addicted to heroin.

Death and legacy

Syed Kamal died on 1 October 2009 at Karachi after a lingering illness at age 72. He had been a heart patient for many years and had fallen accidentally at his home about a month ago. He was bedridden since his fall. His survivors include his wife, his son Ghalib Kamal and three daughters.[7][1]

Paying tributes to Syed Kamal, the president of Hum TV, Sultana Siddiqui said that Syed Kamal belonged to a respectable family and had encouraged many people to join the Pakistan film industry. Film script writer Pervaiz Kaleem, film director Aslam Dar, actress Babra Sharif and actor Ghulam Mohiuddin also paid their tributes to Syed Kamal.[1]

Selected filmography

Year Title Actor Director Producer Screenwriter Language
1957 Thandi Sarak Yes No No No Urdu
1959 Sawera Yes No No No
Apna Paraya Yes No No No
1961 Zamana Kya Kahega Yes No No No
1962 Banjaran Yes No No No
1963 Tauba Yes No No No
1964 Ashiana Yes No No No
1965 Aisa Bhi Hota Hai Yes No No No
1968 Behan Bhai Yes No No No
Shehnai Yes Yes Yes No
1969 Nai Laila Naya Majnu Yes No No No
1970 Road To Swat Yes No No No
Honeymoon Yes Yes Yes No
1971 Roop Behroop Yes No Yes No
1973 Farz Yes No No No
Insan Aur Gadha Yes Yes Yes Yes
1976 Jat Kuryan Tau Darda Yes Yes Yes Yes Punjabi
1977 Aj Diyan Kurrian Yes Yes Yes Yes
1978 Kal De Munday Yes Yes Yes Yes
1984 Jat Kamala Gaya Dubai Yes Yes Yes Yes
1986 Siyasat Yes Yes Yes Yes Urdu

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Film star Syed Kamal passes away Dawn (newspaper), Published 2 Oct 2009, Retrieved 3 July 2021
  2. ^ "Syed Kamal's filmography (Archived)". Complete Index To World Film website. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b Actor Kamal dies The Nation (newspaper), Published 2 October 2009, Retrieved 3 July 2021
  4. ^ a b c Syed Kamal 1937 – 2009 The News International (newspaper), Published 2 October 2009, Retrieved 3 July 2021
  5. ^ The Herald. Vol. 40. Pakistan Herald Publications. 2009.
  6. ^ "1968 Special Nigar Award for Syed Kamal for film Behan Bhai (1968)". Cineplot.com website. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Famous actor Syed Kamal passes away- Koolstars.com News". 2 October 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2021.