Syed Kamal سیّد کمال | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1937-04-27)27 April 1937 |
| Died | 1 October 2009(2009-10-01) (aged 72) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1945 – 2002 |
| Awards | Special Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) fromNigar Awards in 2000 |
Syed Kamal (Urdu:سیّد کمال; (27 April 1937 – 1 October 2009), often just known asKamal, was a Pakistanifilm andTVactor,producer,director andscreenwriter.[1][2][3]
Popular in the 1960s and the 1970s, he worked in some 120 films.[2]
In 1998 he released his autobiography,Dastan-e-Kamal.[4][5]
Syed Kamal was born inMeerut,Uttar Pradesh,British India on 27 April 1937.[2][6][7] Following his secondary education at the Faiz-e-Aam school in Meerut, he earned aBachelor's degree fromAgra university.[4]
He moved to Pakistan alongside his family in 1956 despite having an offer to act inMehboob Khan's classicMother India, which released in 1957.[4] He had worked in fourHindi movies before migrating.[6]
Syed Kamal was a popular film star in the 1960s and the 1970s. Kamal, whose filmTauba (1963)[1] became a success at the box office, had a striking resemblance to theIndian filmstarRaj Kapoor, and he was not evasive about this issue.[1] He once said, "People used to mistake me for Raj Kapoor while I was inBombay and I enjoyed it". In fact, according to Pakistani script writerAli Sufyan Afaqi, Kamal used to practice Raj Kapoor's scenes in front of a mirror. Kamal's first appearance in hisPakistani movie by producerShabab KiranviThandi Sarak (1957) was meant to resemble Raj Kapoor.[1]
He has written, produced and directed over a dozen of films, includingInsaan Aur Gadha (1973).[8]
After retirement from films, he began acting inPakistan Television dramas at a fairly advanced age. His most notable TV appearance is in hit TV dramaKashkol (1993) in which he played a wealthy businessman whose son (played by his real life son, Ghalib Kamal) becomes addicted toheroin.
Syed Kamal died on 1 October 2009 atKarachi 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.[1]
Paying tributes to Syed Kamal, the president ofHum TV,Sultana Siddiqui said that Syed Kamal belonged to a respectable family and had encouraged many people to join thePakistan film industry. Film script writerPervaiz Kaleem, film director Aslam Dar, actressBabra Sharif and actorGhulam Mohiuddin also paid their tributes to Syed Kamal.[1]
Among his other activities, he founded theKarachi Film Guild and Pakistan Film and TV Academy.[7]
| Year | Title | Actor | Director | Producer | Screenwriter | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Thandi Sarak[2][1] | Yes | No | No | No | Urdu |
| 1959 | Sawera[1] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Apna Paraya[1] | Yes | No | No | No | ||
| 1961 | Zamana Kya Kahega[2] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1962 | Banjaran | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1963 | Tauba[1] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1964 | Ashiana[2][1] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1965 | Aisa Bhi Hota Hai[2][1] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1966 | Joker (Kamal's semi-autobiographical film)[2] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1968 | Behan Bhai[1] | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Shehnai[2][1] | 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[1] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1976 | Jat Kurian Tau Darda[1] | 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 |