Legendary actor Kamal Rizvi's 3rd death anniversary observed

LAHORE: The 3rd death anniversary of legendary television actor and playwright Kamal Ahmed Rizvi was observed yesterday. Members of the artist community paid him a tribute for his excellent contribution to the industry. According to his colleagues, Rizvi highlighted issues and evils present in society through his acting and writing. Fellow artists believe his work should be praised and showcased as it is an asset for the nation.

The Alif Noon star was dearly missed on his death anniversary by many, including friends, family and colleagues alike. "Kamal Ahmad Rizvi was a teacher; a master of humour and satire. But it's sad to know that he was forgotten by the fraternity during his last few years," actor Bushra Ansari told The Express Tribune. "I had the opportunity to design a show for a private TV channel with him. I still remember how the team was unaware of his calibre but once they started working with him, they were so impressed. Sadly, he passed away three months later."

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She continued, "He was a great theatre actor and writer. He also trained a lot of senior actors such as Samina Ahmad, Salman Shahid and Rafi Khawar. I am very grateful to God that I could make him happy before his departure. May his soul rest in peace."

Rizvi was born in Bihar, India, and later migrated to Karachi before moving to Lahore. He spent quality time with famed writer Saddat Hassan Manto as he was impressed with the Progressive Writers Movement of that era. He spent time with other great writers associated with the movement too and gained interest in reading and editing during that time, which led to him working on some digests. He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award in 1989.

The actor began his career at Radio Pakistan, where he got a chance to work in Julius Caesar for BBC Urdu. This opened numerous doors for Rizvi allowing him opportunities in theatre and television.

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He dominated the small screen during the 70s and 80s with various shows, including the critically acclaimed comedy series Alif Noon. "The show was amazing and I appreciate the fact that there will now be a feature film on Alif Noon. It will truly serve as a tribute to Kamal Rizvi's services," stated senior actor Qavi Khan.

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He continued, "Back in 1961, when I came to Lahore from Peshawar, there was an era of great actors. I learnt a lot from the people of that era and Kamal Ahmed Rizvi was among one of those people. He appreciated me and was a supporter of my work and talent."

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Khan went on to state that Rizvi was very talented, with many qualities, the best one being his ability to fluently deliver his dialogues. "Rizvi was an expert at dialogues... he was able to deliver them all without having to write them down or read them from a script. He would even make some up on the spot, depending on the situation. Working with Kamal Rizvi was a real asset for me and spending time with him, learning from him supported my whole career," concluded Khan.

Rizvi passed away on December 17, 2015, in Karachi due to a heart attack.

Edited by Ramsha Vistro.

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