Munawar Zarif (Punjabi, Urdu: منور ظریف) (25 December 1940 – 29 April 1976) was a Pakistani film actor and comedian. His fans named him Shahenshah-e-Zarafat (Urdu: شہنشاہِ ﻇﺮﺍﻓﺖ), meaning The Emperor of Humor or the King of Humor.[3][1]
Munawar Zarif | |
|---|---|
منور ظریف | |
 Munawar Zarif in 1973 | |
| Born | Muhammad Munawar 2 February 1940[1] |
| Died | 29 April 1976 (aged 36) |
| Resting place | Bibi Pak Daman Cemetery, Lahore, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Other names | Shahenshah-e-Zarafat (Urdu: شہنشاہِ ﻇﺮﺍﻓﺖ) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1961 – 1976[1][2] |
| Known for | A versatile comedian |
| Works | Performances |
| Spouse | Bilquis Khanum |
| Children | 3, including Faisal Munawar Zarif |
| Relatives | Mohammad Zarif (brother) Munir Zarif (brother) Rasheed Zarif (brother) Majeed Zarif (brother) |
| Awards | 3 Nigar Awards |
He was one of the most popular and highest paid actors of the 1970s and is considered one of the greatest comedians of South Asia.[4]
Early life and career
editMunawar Zarif was born on 2 February 1940 in Gujranwala, Punjab.[1][2] He started his film career with a Punjabi film Dandian (1961). His breakthrough film was 1964's Hath Jori. After starting as a comedian, he was promoted to playing second leads starting with the film Parday Mein Rehnay Do (1973). Subsequently, he was cast as the lead actor in films such as Banarsi Thug (1973) and Jeera Blade (1973). Possibly his most popular role was in 1974's Naukar Wohti Da, which became a runaway hit.[5]
He received his first Nigar Award in "Special Award" category for his performance in Ishaq Deewana (1971). He won the Nigar Award in the "Best Comedian" category for Baharo Phool Barsao (1972) and Zeenat (1975). He appeared in more than 300 films in the span of just 15 years from 1961 to 1976.[6] He was well-known for his Ad-Lib dialogue delivery.
Personal life
editMunawar Zarif was the younger brother of comedian Mohammad Zarif (1926-1960), famous in the 50s for being the first comedian in Pakistan's cinema to play lead roles, while his other brothers Rasheed Zarif (1946-1974) and Majeed Zarif (1942-2012) were also comedians in movies. Another elder brother was Munir Zarif (1934-2014), a film and TV actor famous for his roles in serials like Sona Chandi, Aalif Laila and Ainak Wala Jin, who died in 2014.[7]
He was lifelong friend of fellow comedian Ali Ejaz.[8]
His only son Faisal Munawar Zarif debuted as an actor with Puttar Munawar Zareef Da in 1994, followed by other movies like Puttar Jeeray Blade Da (1996) and Khotay Sikay (1998), but he couldn't find success in the film industry, so he moved to England before relocating to Morocco after marrying a Moroccan woman, where he died in 2018 of cardiac arrest at the age of 44.[9]
Death
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Zarif's family announced his death in Pakistan, on 29 April 1976. He died in Lahore due to cirrhosis of the liver.[3] He was laid to rest at Bibi Pak Daman Cemetery, Lahore.[2][4]
Legacy
editMunawar Zarif is often regarded as one of the greatest comedians ever in Pakistani films.[6] Fellow comedian and friend Ali Ejaz recalled his ability to improvise lines on the spot and called him an 'extempore' comedian.[10] Radio Pakistan Multan programme manager Asif Khan Khaitran reminisced about the success of Munawar Zarif and said: "There was a time in his career when writers would develop script with Munawar Zarif's personality in mind."[11] Comedian Umer Shareef called him "Mount Everest" of comedy and said that "for attaining fame in the field of comedy one must follow Munwer Zareef’s School of thought."[12]
Filmography
edit1960s
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Dandiyan[1] | ||
| 1964 | Haath Jori[1][3] | Beeru | |
| 1965 | Malangi | ||
| 1966 | Bharia Mela | ||
| 1967 | Imam Din Gohavia | Shamaulu | |
| 1968 | Bau Jee | ||
| 1968 | Shahansha-e-Jahangir | ||
| 1968 | Taj Mahal | ||
| 1969 | Diya Aur Toofan | Abdullah |
1970s
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Heer Ranjha | Saida Khera | |
| Rangeela | Josheela | ||
| 1971 | Dil Aur Duniya | Parwana | |
| Khamosh Nigahen | Munawar | ||
| Ishq Deevana[2] | Maqbool "Qoola" Ahmed | Special Nigar Award | |
| 1972 | Baharo Phool Barsao[2] | Mirza | Nigar Award for Best Comedian |
| 1973 | Ziddi | Shaadi | |
| Parday Mein Rehnay Do | Qurban | ||
| Ajj Da Mehinwal | Izzat "Izzy" Baig | ||
| Banarsi Thug[2][3] | Sheeda | ||
| Khushia | Khushi | ||
| Rangeela Aur Munawar Zarif | Munawar Zarif / Khan Bahadur Ishtiaq Ali | ||
| Jeera Blade[2] | Shafqat / Jeera Blade | ||
| 1974 | Manji Kithay Dahwan | Rahmat | |
| Naukar Wohti Da | Bhola / Munawar | ||
| Chakkarbaz | Iqbal "Baala" Hassan | ||
| Hasday Aao Hasday Jao | Mhanna | ||
| 1975 | Pyar Ka Mousam | Munawar | |
| Zeenat | Shaukat | Nigar Award for Best Comedian | |
| Sharif Badmash | Misrri | ||
| Shararat | Sherwani | ||
| Sheeda Pastol | Sheeda Pastol / Jeeda | Double role | |
| Shoukan Melay Di | Bahadar | ||
| 1976 | Hukam Da Ghulam | Jani | |
| Jano Kapatti | Jano / Jani | ||
| Anjaam | Khaleel | ||
| Ustad Shagird | Jani | ||
| Chitra Tay Shera | Boota Singh | ||
| Badtameez | Afzal | ||
| Reshma Tay Shera | Jimmy | ||
| 1977 | Naya Suraj |
Awards and honours
edit- Nigar Awards 1971 - Special Award for Ishq Deevana[13][2]
- Nigar Awards 1972 - Best Comedian for Baharo Phool Barsao[2]
- Nigar Awards 1975 - Best Comedian for Zeenat[14][2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f (Associated Press of Pakistan) Munawar Zarif remembered The News International (newspaper), Published 30 April 2018, Retrieved 31 January 2022
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j In memory of comedian Munawar Zarif on his 42nd death anninversary Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 29 April 2018, Retrieved 31 January 2022
- ^ a b c d "'Remembering Munawwar Zarif', Profile and obituary". ARY News website. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ a b 39th death anniversary of Munawar Zarif today Dunya News, Published 29 April 2015, Retrieved 31 January 2022
- ^ "9 Most Iconic Films in the History Of Pakistani cinema". pakistanicinema.com. 31 January 2022.
- ^ a b Profile and filmography of Munawar Zarif on livetv.pk website Retrieved 31 January 2022
- ^ "Munir Zarif passes away". Dawn News. 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Comedian Ali Ejaz passes away". Dawn (newspaper). Pakistan. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Late comedian Munawar Zarif's son passes away in Morocco". Dawn News. 26 August 2019.
- ^ "Dunya News Special Documentary on Munwar Zareef". dailymotion.com website. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Chand Shakeel (29 April 2019). "Munawar Zarif Left an Indelible Impression on Film Industry". UrduPoint website. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Kamran Khamiso Khowaja (29 April 2021). "Remembering Munawar Zareef who had a unique comic disposition". Daily Times (newspaper). Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "The Nigar Awards 1957-71". www.thehotspotonline.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Nigar Awards (1972 - 1986)". The Hot Spot Online website. 5 January 2003. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2020.