Zia Mohyeddin

Zia Mohyeddin
HI SI
ضیاء محی الدین
Mohyeddin at a public gathering
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
  • Actor
  • producer
  • broadcaster
Years active1954 – 2023
TitleChairman of National Academy of Performing Arts, Karachi[1]
Spouse
​
(m. 1994)​
Children4

Zia Mohyeddin[a] (20 June 1931 – 13 February 2023) was a Pakistani and British actor and producer. Known for his distinctive voice, he is recognised as one of the greatest prose and poem reciters in the Urdu language, alongside also reciting in English. Mohyeddin served as the chairman of the National Academy of Performing Arts since its inception in 2005.

Born in Lyallpur, Punjab, he was trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He made his West End debut as Dr. Aziz in A Passage to India (1960) play. Mohyeddin made his film debut in Rahguzar (1960) and gained attention for his role as Tafas in Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He later appeared in Sammy Going South (1963), Behold a Pale Horse (1964) and Khartoum (1966). Mohyeddin became renowned for hosting his Pakistan Television talk show The Zia Mohyeddin Show (1969–1973).

Mohyeddin was also the author of three books; A Carrot is a Carrot (2008), Theatrics (2012) and The God of My Idolatry (2016). He was also known as one of the greatest prose recitors of the Urdu language. He died due to natural causes in Karachi in 2023.

Early life and career

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, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan) to a Punjabi family[2] belonging to the Chawla clan.[3] His family had origins in Rohtak, Punjab, British India (now in Haryana, India).[4] Zia Mohyeddin was fluent in four languages, Punjabi, Urdu, English and Persian.[5]

His father, Khadim Mohyeddin, was a mathematician, musicologist, playwright, and lyricist associated with various theatre groups.[6]

Zia spent his early life in Lahore, studying at the Government College, where he was a prize-winning Urdu debater for the college team.[7] He later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London from 1953 to 1955. On his return to Pakistan, he produced, directed, and acted in numerous plays.[8] After stage roles in Long Day's Journey into Night[9] and Julius Caesar,[10] he made his West End debut as Dr. Aziz in A Passage to India[11] on 20 April 1960 at the Comedy Theatre.[12] 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),[13][1][14][9] playing the role of Tafas (the Arab guide who is shot by Omar Sharif for drinking water from the wrong well).[11] He then made numerous TV and film appearances. As an actor, he worked for nearly 47 years in the United Kingdom.[13]

His first wife was Sarwar Zemani with whom he had two sons,[11] Minos Ameer and Risha Ameen.[15]

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".[7] 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,[14] the percussionist and music producer, Hassan "Moyo" Mohyeddin.[15]

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.[14] He also produced and starred in the first soap opera with a British Asian cast, Family Pride (1991–1992).[11]

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.[14]

Mohyeddin then travelled the world giving Urdu poetry and prose recitations,[11] 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.[10]

Mohyeddin married his third wife Azra Bano Zaidi in 1994. They had one daughter, Aaliya,[15] who was born in 2002.[13]

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.[16][17]

Films

Selected television appearances

Books

  • A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflections, Ushba Publishing, Karachi, 2008[41]
  • Theatrics, National Academy of Performing Arts, Karachi, 2012[42]
  • The God of My Idolatry: Memories and Reflections, Pakistan Publishing House, Karachi, 2016[43]

Awards and recognition

Notes

  1. ↑ Urdu: ضیاء محی الدین

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Muneeza Shamsie (10 April 2016). "Zia Mohyeddin: Theatre, film and the written word". Pakistan: Dawn. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Chaudhry, Javed (26 February 2023). "ہمارے ضیاء محی الدین" [Our Zia Mohyeddin]. Express News (in Urdu). Retrieved 1 June 2026. [Zia Mohyeddin Sahib was of Punjabi origin. He grew up in a Punjabi background but both English and Urdu languages were his forte]
  3. ↑ "ضیا محی الدین: جنہوں نے صدا کاری کو فنکاری بنا دیا". Independent Urdu (in Urdu). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2026. The family was part of the Punjabi Chawla confederation of Rohtak
  4. ↑ Waseem, Qasim (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin". Books Square. Retrieved 21 May 2026. Zia was born to a Punjabi family originally from Rohtak, East Punjab
  5. ↑ Tribune.com.pk (11 January 2016). "The unparalleled Zia Mohyeddin | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Ahmed, Khaled (4 July 2012). "What makes Zia Mohyeddin tick?". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. 1 2 Hashmi, Mira (14 February 2023). "The inimitable likeness of Zia Mohyeddin". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Zia Mohyeddin | Karachi Literature Festival". Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 Partha Chatterjee (4 July 2008). "Master of all trades (Zia Mohyeddin profile)". Frontline - India's National Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  10. 1 2 Anjum, Nawaid (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin: A thespian, a showman and a passionate storyteller". The Federal. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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.
  12. ↑ Programme – A Passage to India. Wingate Productions Ltd. 20 April 1960. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "Celebrating Zia Mohyeddin". The Express Tribune. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Nadeem, Shahid (February 1984). "The social and cultural attitudes of medieval times have to be changed: Zia Mohyeddin". Pakistan: Dawn. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 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.
  16. ↑ "Zia Mohyeddin passes away at 91". Ary News. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Zia Mohyeddin, Legendary Artist and Former President Emeritus of National Academy of Performing Arts, Passes Away at 91". Lahore Herald. 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Zia Mohyeddin – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 Goble, Alan. "Zia Mohyeddin". Complete Index to World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 "Zia Mohyeddin | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  21. ↑ Suhayb, Muhammad (20 March 2022). "FLASHBACK: THE UNSOLVED CRIME". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  22. ↑ Suhayb, Muhammad (25 March 2022). "The curious case of Zia Mohyeddin's unsuccessful launch as a Lollywood film 'hero'". Images. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ "Visit to Spain (1962)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  25. ↑ "Someone Is Liable to Get Hurt (1966)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "The Mercenaries (1965)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  27. ↑ "Such Men Are Dangerous (1965)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  28. ↑ "The Colonel's Daughter (1965)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  29. ↑ The Avengers: Honey for the Prince (1961) – James Hill, Brian Clemens | Cast and Crew, AllMovie, retrieved 19 February 2023
  30. ↑ "Adam Adamant Lives!: The Basardi Affair". Radio Times (2254). 21 January 1967. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023.
  31. ↑ "Jackanory: The Bird Talisman: Part 1: The Gift of the Ring". Radio Times (2258). 18 February 1967. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023.
  32. ↑ "Night Flight to Andorra (1968)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  33. ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Champions, The (1969) Credits". screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  34. ↑ "Some You Win, Some You Lose (1969)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  35. ↑ "Hunt the Peacock (1969)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  36. ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Gangsters (1976–78) Credits". screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  37. ↑ "Heavenly Host (1978)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  38. ↑ "#2.10 Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy". minder.org. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  39. ↑ "Bergerac". Radio Times (3139). 7 January 1984. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023.
  40. ↑ Suhayb, Muhammad (14 February 2023). "Zia Mohyeddin, as I remember him". Images. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  41. ↑ "REVIEW: A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflections". Dawn. 5 August 2012.
  42. ↑ Farrukhi, Asif (2 December 2012). "REVIEW: Theatrics by Zia Mohyeddin". Dawn.
  43. ↑ Shamsie, Muneeza (10 April 2016). "COVER STORY: Theatre, film and the written word". Dawn.
  44. ↑ Zia Mohyeddin's Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award in 2012, info listed on Dawn newspaper Retrieved 10 February 2018
  45. ↑ President to confer civil awards today Dawn (newspaper), Published 23 March 2003. Retrieved 10 February 2018
  46. ↑ "Pakistani legend Zia Mohyeddin to perform in Dubai on Nov.29". Asian Lite UAE. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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