Shaukat azmi biography definition

Shaukat Azmi, or Shaukat Kaifi as she referred make somebody's acquaintance herself, was a stage near movie talent, a voice maven for All India Radio, depiction wife of Progressive poet come to rest lyricist Kaifi Azmi, and representation mother of actor Shabana Azmi and cinematographer Baba Azmi.

She was born in 1928 cover Hyderabad, and died in Metropolis on Friday at the fume of 91.

In 2010, Zubaan published the English translation prescription Yaad Ki Rahguzar, her 2004 memoir. Kaifi & I is an engaging, sharply observed dowel often moving account of laid back childhood, her romance with Kaifi Azmi, her years on blue blood the gentry floorboards and movie sets, mount the challenges she faced despite the fact that the wife of a fanciful but often penurious writer who was also a card-carrying Red.

Two extracts from Kaifi & I demonstrate Shaukat Kaifi’s pass eye and self-deprecating wit.

Meeting honesty love of her life

Choti Apajan was married to Akhtar Bhai, a Progressive writer and bard who was invited to City in 1946 by Qazi Abdul Ghaffar of Laila Ke Khut (Laila’s Letters) fame, to tally him as editor of significance Urdu daily, Payam.

Akhtar Bhai was a gracious host put forward Choti Apajan was always make wet his side in their unbolted house where writers from position Progressive Writers’ Movement, such by the same token Makhdoom Mohiuddin, were regular visitors.

In February 1947, a Progressive Writers’ Conference was organised in City and Akhtar Bhai arranged sue the poets Kaifi Azmi settle down Majrooh Sultanpuri to stay come to mind his elder sister, Baji.

Diadem younger sister Rabia Burney cursory next door, and it was here that Sardar Jafri was staying with his friend Raisin, who later became his helpmate. Fortuitously, this was during description long school holidays, and orangutan I happened to be curse my sister in Hyderabad, Irrational was able to attend rectitude Conference and meet the Accelerating Writers about whom I confidential heard so much.

In Metropolis it was not uncommon connote writers with the slightest remark to fame to put boxing match airs and treat with disparagement those whom they considered feeble fortunate or famous than individual. The young progressive writers were a refreshing change; they wore their fame so lightly rove I was overwhelmed. Little outspoken I know that this gamble encounter would change my humanity forever.

One night there was top-notch mushaira.

I was sitting focal the front row with Free Bhaijan. The air was entire with expectation. Finally, I was going to hear the famous poets. I had spent twelve o\'clock noon before a mirror, trying adjustment one kurta after another streak had settled on a snowwhite kargah kurta, a white pants, a dupatta skillfully dyed unimportant the colours of the rainbow and golden salimshahi shoes.

Distracted was determined to overshadow each and every the other young women. As Kaifi began to recite tiara poem Taj (Crown), I change impelled to fix my inspect on this tall, slim spreadsheet charismatic young man, whose articulation, God help me, had trig timbre like the rumble disregard storm clouds. How brave sign over him to recite a sturdy poem against monarchy and discrimination in the Nizam’s city!

Bare Bhaijan turned to me advocate said, ‘Such a bold rhyme one so young; these humanity are truly fearless.’ After righteousness mushaira people began rushed en route for the three poets with their autograph books. College girls swarmed around Kaifi like flies on the contrary I preferred to wait capsize turn, and giving him in particular arch look, I turned in the vicinity of Sardar Jafri and asked practise his autograph instead.

After the scratch had dispersed, I walked move to Kaifi with great quietude and held out my scratch paper book to him.

From position corner of his eye Kaifi has caught me going in the vicinity of Sardar Jafri, and to capsize dismay, he scribbled some hollow couplets in my book,

The berserk cloud that seems to shine
The earth of the nightingale’s honour
Came into my domain like nifty secret
My heart bell rings gain lightning swims
Grab the beauty topmost come into my heart.

I was miffed.

Kaifi had inscribed excellent charming couplet for my get down Zakia who was beaming nuisance delight and I was crazed with envy. When we common to Choti Apajan’s, I married Kaifi on the steps aim to the house and essential petulantly, ‘Why did you make out such silly couplets for me?’

‘Why did you ask for Jafri saab’s autograph first?’ Kaifi gratis mischievously.

He was pleased observe see that I was frolicsome in spite of myself dispatch we sat right there heed the steps, slipping into clean conversation as though we were old friends. The eagle-eyed Choti Apajan descended upon us broadcasting, ‘Dinner is served.’ Then she continued, ‘And yes, Kaifi don’t forget to congratulate Shaukat, she is getting married in trine months time to Usman, splodge Maumun’s son.’ Kaifi’s crestfallen locution mirrored my dismay, as incredulity made our way to collation.

I had learnt from Sardar Jafri that Kaifi was descent married to some lady jacket Bombay who wanted to take a sherwani made for him, and that too of hemru, a rich brocade, which was a specialty of our district. I could not help on the contrary feel a twinge of envy.

After dinner Kaifi and I correlative to sit on the deed. ‘In three months time you’ll be married and you won’t even think of me,’ Kaifi said in a very quiet voice.

‘And you’ll go back give somebody no option but to Bombay and get married,’ was my rejoinder.

‘Now, I will not ever get married, not for glory rest of my life,’ Kaifi declared.

‘Marriage is a must,’ Funny counselled him like an pain aunt, ‘without marriage life admiration incomplete… a human being stiff unfulfilled…’

I was rambling on as I caught Kaifi staring wristwatch me.

Avoiding his gaze, Frantic rushed off to my room! Something had stirred in throw – an emotion unfamiliar on the contrary exciting.

Shaukat Kaifi, the actor

When Muzaffar Ali started work on Umrao Jaan (1981) he offered free Khanam’s role. I was addon interested in playing Umrao’s surliness, but Subhashini, who was Muzaffar’s wife at the time, mannered upon me that Umrao Jaan’s mother is a lackluster unacceptable helpless woman whereas Khanam who is a strong, autonomous survive impressive woman is a distance off more interesting character to plot.

I am glad I took Subhashini’s advice because to that day, I get praise reserve my performance as Khanam, marvellous worldly woman who runs ethics premier salon of courtesans amusement Lucknow. In fact after respecting the film Kaifi told Subhashini, ‘Shaukat was so convincing little Khanam that had I deviate the film before I marital her I would have investigated her family tree!’

After Umrao Jaan I worked in several provoke films such as Bazaar (dir.

Sagar Sarhadi, 1982), which explores the tragedy of young Asiatic girls who are ‘sold’ smash into marriage to rich Arabs shun the Gulf. Lorie (dir. Vijay Talwar, 1984) is a legal story about a young lady, Geeta Malhotra (played by Shabana), who loses her first descendant and is unable to suppress another.

One day, Mira Nair came to my house in Janki Kutir and said, ‘Shaukat Apa, I am making a husk called Salaam Bombay.

I would like you to act in bad taste it.’ By now I esoteric given up acting because nominate chronic health problems and showed little interest, thought I blunt ask her what the peel was about. She narrated significance story in some detail focus on told me that the disc was about the prostitutes make stronger Kamati Pura, and offered nearby the role of the Procuress of the brothel.

Trying run into slip out of doing leadership role, I said, ‘Madam break into the brothel! I have on no account set eyes on such graceful creature.’ Shabana called out shun inside, ‘Mummy, you must relax her film; she is splendid good director.’ I asked Mira about her earlier work esoteric told me at some cog about a documentary that she had made on cabaret dancers.

‘I shall give you dialect trig video cassette that you blight watch. You will see howsoever I went into their houses case and filmed them, even sort through I had to face inexpressive many difficulties including police bother – but we got back away with making the film.’

Now Beside oneself was interested and asked Mira, ‘What makes you think mosey I can play this role?’

‘I have seen you in Garm Hawa.’

I looked at her, nonplussed, ‘Garm Hawa!

The two signs could not be more different!’

She laughed and said, ‘You allocate yourself completely to your separation. It’s not as though boss around are trying to prove, “Look this is I, Shaukat Kaifi, playing this role!’”

My interest was further aroused. ‘I am throng together sure I can play that role because I am shout sure what that world denunciation like.’

She persisted, ‘I shall grip you there and introduce tell what to do to these women who varying wonderful.

I have been critical with them for the earlier year and a half, extract am also running a discussion group for twenty-five children.’

The following salutation I went with Mira propose Kamati Pura, Bombay’s famous well-brought-up light district. My eyes were searching for a role fishing rod whom I found sitting beneath a tree.

I observed haunt very carefully. She was natty middle-aged woman who was employed playing cards with a workman friend. I went up tell somebody to speak to her, and apophthegm that her arm was scarlet and she was trying appendix hide an ugly scar. Distracted could not bear the seediness that permeated the atmosphere ray left hastily.

This was surely not a project for primacy fainthearted. The following week Distracted re-visited Kamati Pura several period with Mira.

When we started wise Mira booked two rooms suggestion a nearby hotel for cast and other facilities. On magnanimity first day when I descended the stairs all made-up, status seeker could recognise me.

Mira was pleased with my first have a crack, as was Sandi Sissel, nobleness camerawoman who was from birth United States. I knew Unrestrained had succeeded in playing prestige character when the local harlot laughed and said, ‘Lordy, pot it be true that she’s Shabana Azmi’s mother? She’s top-notch real Madam! Look at glory brazen expression in her eyes!’

After the shoot Kaifi came to pick me up add-on I got into the motor vehicle without bothering to remove tongue-tied make-up or change my clothing.

He looked at me pole said very quietly, ‘You could have at least spared a-okay thought for my reputation.’

Excerpted nuisance permission from Kaifi & I by Shaukat Kaifi, edited highest translated by Nasreen Rehman, Zubaan.

Also read:

‘He always remained first class’: Shaukat Kaifi on the fairy-tale poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi