Film-maker Shaukat Hussain Rizvi remembered

Lollywood fraternity looks back on achievements of ace director on his death anniversary

LAHORE: Revered and respected for his contribution to the Pakistani film industry, legendary producer, director and actor Shaukat Hussain Rizvi was remembered on the occasion of his death anniversary on Friday.

Counted among the pioneering film-makers in Lollywood, Shaukat is accredited for promoting some of the industry’s brightest stars, including Noor Jehan, Dilip Kumar, Muhammad Rafi, Pran and AR Kardar.

Not only was he known for his eye for talent and impeccable film-making skills, he also gave a number of emerging stars a platform to showcase their skills by establishing Pakistan’s very first studio in Lahore, called the Shah Noor Studio.

Khandan, Shaukat’s directorial debut, remains his biggest achievement and the most precious jewel in Lollywood’s crown, to date. “After the release of Khandan, competitors in both India and Pakistan stopped the release of their films because they knew it simply wasn’t possible to compete with something that big,” remarked film writer Parvaiz Rahi. “The industry hasn’t been able to produce a legend of his caliber … someone who is capable of bringing new talent into the limelight and creating movies that leave a lasting impact on viewers.”

He further added that Shaukat worked relentlessly to develop the Shah Noor Studio, which, following partition, became the only platform that helped project some of the most prominent names in the business.

Khandan may have been Shaukat’s directorial debut, but it starred two names that would later become the most sought-after actors on both sides of the border. The young Jehan and Pran played leading roles in the project, and both received immense recognition for their work.

Essentially, it was this movie that gave an identity to Pakistan’s beloved Malika-e-Tarannum. The director tied the knot with Noor in 1943, but due to a number of personal differences, the two eventually parted ways a decade and three children later. The former went on to marry film actor Yasmin, while the crooner settled down with Ejaz Durrani.

“My father dedicated his life and all his efforts to the Pakistani film industry,” shared the late film-maker’s son Shahenshah Hussain Rizvi. “Through his films he promoted people such as Dilip Kumar and Muhammd Rafi. After shifting to Pakistan following partition, it became his dream to do something great for Lollywood. Today, on the day of his death, we look back to his many contributions and services that formed the golden era of the industry.”

Senior director Altaf Hussain acknowledged Shaukat’s eye for detail and technical know-how. “Shaukat Hussain Rizvi was a blessing for Pakistan,” he said. “There was no one in the country that was as aware about film technology as he was. He strived to modernise the industry with the latest equipment back then, and trained amateur technicians, film-makers, actors and crew members along the way.”

Born in India in 1914, Shaukat began his film career in Calcutta as an assistant projectionist. He formally started his film editing business after moving to Lahore in 1938. He remained passionate about all things related to the film business for as long as he lived, and has hits such as Khandan, Naukar, Dost, Zeenat, Jugnu, Chanwey and Gulnar to his credit.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2016.

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