Zia Sarhadi

Zia Sarhadi (Urdu: ضیا سرحدی; born Fazl-e-Qadir Sethi[1] 1914 in Peshawar, North West Frontier Province – 27 January 1997 in Karachi, Sindh) was an Indian and Pakistani screenwriter and director in the Indian film industry, whose career spanned what is widely considered the Golden Age of Indian Cinema.

Career

Zia Sarhadi received his early education and a college degree from Peshawar.[2] While he was a student, he was interested in poetry and writing short stories.[2] He then moved to Bombay in 1933 tp pursue a film career forhimself.[2] He first worked for the 'East India Film Company' and some other companies for a while. Then he met the noted film director Mehboob Khan in Bombay. At Mehbbob's suggestion, he started writing screenplays and film stories for him.[2]

He was the father of TV and radio actor Khayyam Sarhadi and grandfather of actress Zhalay Sarhadi.[1][2] As a film director, he was probably best known for his films Hum Log (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952) and Footpath (1953).[3]

He was involved in writing the script as a consultant for the film Mother India (1957), considered one of the greatest Indian films of all time, but is rarely credited for his contribution.[4] Described as an "unaffiliated Marxist", his films were known for dealing with social issues of the period.[3] His film Footpath, for instance, dealt with issues of moral guilt in the 1950s India.[5]

Death and legacy

Zia Sarhadi died due to a heart attack in Madrid, Spain on 27 January 1997 at age 82. He was buried in his hometown Peshawar, Pakistan later.[2]

Filmography

Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes Ref.
1936 Bhole Bhale Yes
Deccan Queen Yes [3]
Manmohan Yes Actor and lyricist also [3][2]
1937 Jagirdar Yes [3][2]
Kokila Lyricist
1938 Madhur Milan Yes [2]
Abhilasha Yes Yes
Hum Tum Aur Woh Lyricist
Teen Sau Din Ke Baad Lyricist
Gramophone Singer Yes
1939 Seva Samaj Yes
Ladies Only Yes Lyricist also
Jeevan Sathi Yes [3]
1940 Sajani Yes Lyricist also
Ali Baba Yes
1941 Bahen Yes [3]
1943 Nadaan Yes [2]
1945 Yateem Yes
1947 Elaan Yes [2]
1948 Anokha Pyar Lyricist
Anokhi Ada Yes [2]
1951 Hum Log Yes [3][2]
1952 Baiju Bawra Yes [3][2]
1953 Footpath Yes Yes [6][2]
1956 Awaaz Yes [3]
1960 Rahguzar Yes
1964 Beti Yes dialogues only
1966 Insaan Yes
1967 Lakhon Mein Aik Yes [3][2]
1977 Naya Suraj Yes

References

  1. 1 2 Ahmad, Aftab. "Peshawar's contribution to subcontinent's cinema highlighted". The News International newspaper. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Zia Sarhadi profile and obituary". Encyclopedia Sindhiana.org website. Archived from the original on 19 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Obituary:Zia Sarhadi -The Last Reel". The Herald (magazine) - Dawn Group of Newspapers. December 1996. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Chatterjee, Gayatri (2002). Mother India. British Film Institute. pp. 31–2. ISBN 978-0-85170-917-8.
  5. ↑ Gokulsing, K. Moti; Dissanayake, Wimal (17 December 2008). Popular Culture in a Globalised India. Routledge. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-203-88406-5.
  6. ↑ Unnati Sharma (11 July 2021). "Footpath — the 1953 Dilip Kumar movie that still holds a mirror up to society". The Print. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
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