Zia Mohyeddin

Early life and career

Zia Mohyeddin was born in Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan) to a Punjabi family originally from Rohtak, Punjab, British India (now in Haryana, India). His father, Khadim Mohyeddin, was a mathematician, musicologist, playwright, and lyricist associated with various theatre groups.

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 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). He then made numerous TV and film appearances. As an actor, he worked for nearly 47 years in the United Kingdom.

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

Return to Pakistan and later career

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". 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, the percussionist and music producer, Hassan "Moyo" Mohyeddin.

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. He also produced and starred in the first soap opera with a British Asian cast, Family Pride (1991–1992).

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.

Mohyeddin then travelled the world giving Urdu poetry and prose recitations, 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.

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

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.

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

Films

• Rahguzar (1960)
• Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Tafas
• Sammy Going South (1963) – The Syrian
• Behold a Pale Horse (1964) – Luis, Guide of Paco
• Khartoum (1966) – Zobeir Pasha Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur
• Deadlier Than the Male (1966) – King Fedra
• The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967) – Noori
• They Came from Beyond Space (1967) – Farge
• Work Is a Four-Letter Word (1968) – Dr. Aly Narayana
• Bombay Talkie (1970) – Hari
• Mujrim Kaun (1970)
• Suhag (1972)
• Ashanti (1979) – Djamil
• The Assam Garden (1985) – Mr. Lal
• Partition (1987)
• Immaculate Conception (1992) – Shehzada
• Some Lover to Some Beloved (documentary, 2017; Mohyeddin portrays himself)

Selected television appearances

• The Adventures of Sir Francis Drake (episode "Visit to Spain", 1962) – King Philip of Spain
• Danger Man (four episodes, 1964–1966) – Dr. Savari / Sinclair Jones / Mr. Sen / Khan
• The Avengers (episode "Honey for the Prince", 1966) – Prince Ali
• Adam Adamant Lives! (episode "The Basardi Affair", 1967) – Sheikh Abdul
• Jackanory (story "The Bird Talisman", 1967) – Storyteller
• Man in a Suitcase (episode "Night Flight to Andorra", 1968) – Rafael
• The Champions (episode "Shadow of the Panther", 1969) – Prengo
• Hadleigh (episode "Some You Win Some You Lose", 1969) – Major Savvas Stylianos
• Detective (episode "Hunt the Peacock", 1969) – Inspector Ghote
• Gangsters (four episodes, 1978) – Iqbal Khan
• Z-Cars (episode "Heavenly Host", 1978) – Anwar Chowdry
• Minder (episode "Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy", 1980) – Tajvir
• Death of a Princess (1980) – Marwan Shaheen
• The Jewel in the Crown (1984) – Mohammad Ali 'Mak' Kasim
• Bergerac (episode "A Touch of Eastern Promise", 1984) – Adnan Rashid
• Family Pride (1991–92) – Balbir "BB" Bedi
• Dhun Hamari Tumharay Naam Hui (1990s)

Books

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

Awards and recognition

• Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2012 by the President of Pakistan.
• Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2003 by the Government of Pakistan.
• Lifetime Achievement Award on 29 November 2017, presented by the Pakistani community living in Dubai & given by the Pakistan Ambassador in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Zia Mohyeddin Flyover, Gulistan-e-Johar 23rd of March 2023.

Notes

References

References

1. Nadeem, Shahid. (February 1984). "The social and cultural attitudes of medieval times have to be changed: Zia Mohyeddin". Dawn.
2. (8 December 2013). "Celebrating Zia Mohyeddin". [[The Express Tribune]].
3. Muneeza Shamsie. (10 April 2016). "Zia Mohyeddin: Theatre, film and the written word". Dawn.
4. Partha Chatterjee. (4 July 2008). "Master of all trades (Zia Mohyeddin profile)". Frontline - India's National Magazine.
5. (2023-02-13). "A tribute to Zia Mohiuddin: A Legend Passes Away".
6. Ahmed, Khaled. (4 July 2012). "What makes Zia Mohyeddin tick?". The Express Tribune.
7. (20 April 1960). "Programme – A Passage to India". Wingate Productions Ltd..
8. (16 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin, actor who played Tafas in Lawrence of Arabia and devised Britain's first Asian TV soap opera – obituary". The Telegraph.
9. Sarwar, Beena. (17 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin: Mourning the passing away of a progressive Pakistani poet and theatre artiste".
10. Hashmi, Mira. (14 February 2023). "The inimitable likeness of Zia Mohyeddin".
11. Anjum, Nawaid. (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin: A thespian, a showman and a passionate storyteller".
12. (13 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin passes away at 91". Ary News.
13. (13 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin, Legendary Artist and Former President Emeritus of National Academy of Performing Arts, Passes Away at 91".
14. "Zia Mohyeddin – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
15. "Zia Mohyeddin {{!}} Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
16. Suhayb, Muhammad. (20 March 2022). "FLASHBACK: THE UNSOLVED CRIME".
17. Hasan, Mehreen. (9 November 2017). "This new documentary takes a fresh look at the work of Zia Mohyeddin and Faiz". Dawn.
18. "Visit to Spain (1962)". [[British Film Institute]].
19. "Someone Is Liable to Get Hurt (1966)". British Film Institute.
20. "The Mercenaries (1965)". British Film Institute.
21. "Such Men Are Dangerous (1965)". British Film Institute.
22. "The Colonel's Daughter (1965)". British Film Institute.
23. "The Avengers: Honey for the Prince (1961) – James Hill, Brian Clemens {{!}} Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
24. (21 January 1967). "Adam Adamant Lives!: The Basardi Affair". [[Radio Times]].
25. (18 February 1967). "Jackanory: The Bird Talisman: Part 1: The Gift of the Ring". Radio Times.
26. "Night Flight to Andorra (1968)". British Film Institute.
27. "BFI Screenonline: Champions, The (1969) Credits".
28. "Some You Win, Some You Lose (1969)". British Film Institute.
29. "Hunt the Peacock (1969)". British Film Institute.
30. "BFI Screenonline: Gangsters (1976–78) Credits".
31. "Heavenly Host (1978)". British Film Institute.
32. "#2.10 Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy".
33. Goble, Alan. "Zia Mohyeddin".
34. (7 January 1984). "Bergerac". Radio Times.
35. Suhayb, Muhammad. (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin, as I remember him".
36. (5 August 2012). "REVIEW: A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflections".
37. Farrukhi, Asif. (2 December 2012). "REVIEW: Theatrics by Zia Mohyeddin".
38. Shamsie, Muneeza. (10 April 2016). "COVER STORY: Theatre, film and the written word".
39. [http://www.dawn.com/news/742068/abida-parveen-aleem-dar-among-winners-posthumous-awards-for-manto-mehdi-Hassan Zia Mohyeddin's ''Hilal-i-Imtiaz'' Award in 2012, info listed on Dawn newspaper] Retrieved 10 February 2018
40. [https://www.dawn.com/news/89069 President to confer civil awards today] Dawn (newspaper), Published 23 March 2003. Retrieved 10 February 2018
41. (21 November 2017). "Pakistani legend Zia Mohyeddin to perform in Dubai on Nov.29".