Remembering Pakistani Actor Kamal 1937-2009

Guest Post by Ras Siddiqui

Syed Kamal’s recent death (October 1, 2009) marks the near-closing of an era during which four male actors ruled Pakistan’s Urdu film industry. Waheed Murad died much too early and Mohammad Ali just a few years ago and now Kamal Sahib is gone too leaving Nadeem as the sole survivor. Kamal Sahib’s family and fans will continue to mourn his loss and news of his death reignited some long dormant brain cells here too from which this writing emerges.

A time of curiosity, hope and pride before the fateful year of 1971 still lives embedded in many memories. One remembers a time when being Pakistani was all about a new nation which started off like a ship in choppy waters that finally found some stability during the 1960’s, even though we learnt later that appearances can be deceiving, Pakistan’s nascent film industry did make its mark during that time and Syed Kamal was an important part of it.

I vaguely remember that the year was either 1964 or 1965. At the young age of 9 or 10, I had the opportunity of seeing my first Pakistani film in Rawalpindi with my family. The film was called “Aisa Bhi Hota Hai” starring Syed Kamal and the stunning Zeba plus not to forget comedian Lehri. Yes, it was a time for optimism in Pakistan, and somehow Syed Kamal in his usually happy go lucky character portrayals reflected just that very optimism. He was unlike Mohammad Ali who chose to play more serious roles. I remember seeing the movie “Kaneez” with Zeba, Waheed Murad and Mohammad Ali the same year, the sadness of which almost made one give up on Pakistani movies altogether. So for us kids at St. Marys School on Murree Road in Rawalpindi, copying Syed Kamal became a hobby. A comic hero was much easier to admire and follow at the time.

They say that Kamal Sahib had an easy entry into Pakistan’s film industry due to his uncanny resemblance to Indian acting hero Raj Kapoor. Since we did not know who Raj Kapoor was (but our parents did) it still does seem interesting today that Meerut (India) born Syed Kamal became an acting legend in Pakistan and Peshawar born Raj Kapoor became a legend in the Indian film industry. It appears that partition had exchanged its legends too.

Syed Kamal made many contributions to the Pakistani film industry, but being its first comic hero has to remain at the forefront. He acted in some very strange movies that made us cry a little but laugh a lot (and some were plain silly but extremely entertaining). Not many of his films were profitable and a few were complete flops. But his experimentation continued. Thandi Sarak (1956) was his first film in Pakistan.

Starting with Tauba and Ashiana in 1964, Joker in 1966, Behan Bhai and Khilona in 1968 and his super hit Nayi Laila Naya Majnoon in 1969, Kamal Sahib’s work carried on. His films Honeymoon and Love in Europe not to forget Road To Swat in 1970 also made quite an impact as did Roop Behroop and Night Club in 1971. That was also the year that devastated Pakistan’s film industry with the creation of Bangladesh. Some will say that Pakistan’s movie industry never really recovered after that year.

Kamal Sahib’s last major Urdu film which he also directed was Insaan Aur Gadha with the legendary Rangeela creating a great deal of controversy including (rumor has it) earning the ire of Z. A. Bhutto. But seriously Nayi Laila Neya Majnoon (1969) was his most successful film in which he teamed up with then East Pakistan’s Naseema Khan, who incidentally also later made Road To Swat more appealing in many ways.

1969 was a very big year for Pakistani Urdu cinema as Shamim Ara & Waheed Murad’s Salgirah; Shabnam in Andaleeb and Neelo’s legendary performance in Riaz Shahid’s Zarqa dominated the viewer ship. But even then the much lighter (in comparison) Nayi Laila Neya Majnoon was able to hold its ground. 1970 was another story. The late Mohammad Ali in Insaan Aur Aadmi along with Rani in Anjuman and the film Baazi (introducing Habib Wali Mohammad’s super hits) ruled the screens along with the Punjabi Super Hit Heer Ranjha. Syed Kamal’s films like Love in Europe just didn’t stand a chance that year with its focus on light entertainment.

Now as the years take their toll on the memory banks, let us get some much needed help here from Mazhar Iqbal in Denmark and Anis Shakur in New York who have both been carrying the torch of Pakistani film history on the internet for many years. Thanks to their efforts many people including this writer have been able to revive their own memories of the Pakistani entertainment industry. I want to acknowledge here that I am using their archives in this writing.

Most south-Asian films became memorable because of their songs which their viewers continue to remember for the longest time. Credit here must go back to the singers of those hits and in the case of Syed Kamal, singer S.B. John’s “Tu Jo Nahin Hai to Kuch Bhi Nahin Hai” from the film Savera in 1959 launched his career in every viewing household along with Mehdi Hasan’s “Hamain Koi Gham Nahin Tha Gham-e-Ashiqui Sey Pehlay” from the movie Shab Bakhair (1967). And not to forget the late Ahmad Rushdi whose songs launched just about every Pakistani hero in the 1960’s including Syed Kamal with catchy songs like “Hello Hello Mr. Abdul Ghani” (Behan Bhai 1968).

Part comic, part Charlie Chaplin, part romantic hero and part serious actor made up the whole of Syed Kamal that we as fans came to know and will not forget easily. We gloss over many things in Pakistan but there are some reminders that we have even come to regret lately. As I write this tribute to a memorable entertainer, Kamal Sahib’s film Road To Swat’s (1970) song “Chalain Hain Dil Wale Road To Swat, Piyaar Kay Bahaney Liye Apnay Saath..” (Masood Rana & Mala) resonates in the background. Some may consider it a mediocre film, but looking at the Swat valley of today and then back in time, even a “silly” film somehow becomes precious (as lives change to Aisa Bhi Hota Tha). Our cultural Kashkol today appears emptier than it once was due to the loss of Syed Kamal Sahib and one cannot leave this writing without appreciating those days of tears, smiles and many laughs for which we remain indebted to him.

Ras Siddiqui is a popular Pakistani-American writer from Sacramento, CA. He contributes to Pakistan Link, Dawn, Chowk.com and a variety of other publications.

Here is TV coverage in memory of Actor Kamal:



Here are two video clips of Kamal's films:





Related Links:

Syed Kamal's Biographical Information

Kamal's Films

Mazhar Iqbal on Pakistani Films

Anis Shakur on Pakistani Movies