Raza Mir (1927 – 15 September 2002) was a Pakistani cinematographer, film producer and director.

Raza Mir
Born(1927-11-04)4 November 1927
Died15 September 2002(2002-09-15) (aged 74)
Calgary, Canada
Occupations
  • Cinematographer
  • director
  • actor
  • producer
Years active1943 – 2002
Spouse
(m. 1946; div. 1947)
[1]
ChildrenAsif Raza Mir (son)
RelativesAhad Raza Mir (grandson)
AwardsPride of Performance by the President of Pakistan (1999)[2]

He was the cinematographer of the Pakistan's first ever film Teri Yaad (1948). He is best known for Lakhon Mein Aik (1967), which was based on Hindu-Muslims relations.[3] His work as a cinematographer earned him three Nigar Awards.[4] He was also awarded with the President's Pride of Performance.[2]

Early life

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Mir was born in 1927 at Lahore, Punjab, British India.[2]

Career

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Mir first joined The Pancholi Studio as a cameraman in 1943.[5] Shehar Se Door (1946) is his only film as an actor, where he played the lead role opposite Meena Shorey.[2][6] He was the cinematographer of Pakistan's first ever film Teri Yaad (1949) in which Asha Posley and Nasir Khan were the leads. He had a difficult time while filming with the poor technology and cameras due to which the film received poor reviews.[7][8] His work as a director in Lakhon Mein Aik (1967) was met with mostly positive critical reception.[9][10]

Personal life

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Mir first married the actress Meena Shorey, however they divorced later, before the independence of Pakistan.[2][11] His son from second marriage, Asif Raza Mir is a famous television and film actor. Acclaimed actor Ahad Raza Mir is his grandson.[12][13]

Death

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Mir died on September 15, 2002, in Calgary, Canada, which became his final resting place.[2]

Filmography

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as an actor

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Year Film Language Ref.
1946 Shehar Se Door Urdu [2][14]

as a cinematographer

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Year Film Language Ref.
1948 Teri Yaad Urdu
1949 Pheray Punjabi
1950 Laray Punjabi
1958 Aakhri Nishan Urdu [15]
1959 Neend Urdu
1960 Rahguzar Urdu
1963 Seema Urdu
1966 Aag Ka Darya Urdu
1967 Zinda Laash Urdu

as a director

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Year Film Language Ref.
1964 Beti Urdu [5][16]
1967 Lakhon Mein Aik Urdu [16][17]
1969 Aasra Urdu [18]
1969 Aneela Urdu [19]
1971 Parai Aag Urdu
1972 Naag Muni Urdu
1973 Wichhria Sathi Punjabi
1975 Arzoo Urdu
1975 Professor Urdu
1976 Sohni Mehinwal Punjabi
1978 Dil Kay Daagh Urdu
1981 Posti Punjabi
1993 Anhoni Urdu [20]

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref(s).
1958 Nigar Awards Best Cinematographer Aakhri Nishan Won [4][21]
1963 Seema Won
1966 Aag Ka Darya Won
1999 Pride of Performance Award Arts Contribution to Pakistani cinema Won [2]

References

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  1. ^ Evacuee Cinema Bombay and Lahore in Partition Transit, 1940-1960. Cambridge University Press. p. 149.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Raza Mir profile and award (صدارتی تمغہ برائے حسن کارکردگی۔ رضا میر)". Tareekh-e-Pakistan. 14 August 1998. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. ^ "خوبصورت مسحور کُن موسیقی سے آراستہ فلم "لاکھوں میں ایک"". Jang News. 24 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards". Desi Movies Reviews. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b Cinema the World Over, Volumes 1-3. K. S. Hosain. 1975. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. ^ Screen World Publication's 75 Glorious Years of Indian Cinema: Complete Filmography of All Films (silent & Hindi) Produced Between 1913-1988. Screen World Publication. 1988.
  7. ^ Aqeel Abbas Jafari (7 August 2021). "'تیری یاد': نوے دن میں مکمل ہونے والی پاکستان کی پہلی فلم جو بُری طرح فلاپ ہوئی". BBC Urdu.
  8. ^ "Nasir Khan was one of Pakistan's first filmy hero". Daily Times. 12 May 2020.
  9. ^ Alamgir Kabir (1969). The Cinema in Pakistan. Sandhani. p. 87.
  10. ^ The Statesman. Vol. 12. 1967. p. 10. Director Raza Mir, a leading cinematographer, has acquitted himself well as the director though he could be more subtle in his handling.
  11. ^ "مختلف ادبی وفلمی شخصیات کے سکینڈلز۔ ۔ ۔ قسط نمبر 160". Daily Pakistan. 25 July 2017.
  12. ^ "The 'Raza Mir' Factor". Express Tribune. 4 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Asif Raza Mir working on new HBO series". Daily Times. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  14. ^ National Film Development Corporation (Pakistan) (1975). Cinema the World Over. Vol. 1–3. K. S. Hosain.
  15. ^ Trishla Goyal (1996). The Marketing of Films. Intertrade Publications (India). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b Being & Becoming, the Cinemas of Asia. Macmillan, 2002. 2002. ISBN 0333938208.
  17. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 109. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  18. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 263. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  19. ^ "Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan, Volume 21, Issues 40-52". Pakistan Herald Publications, 1969. 1969.
  20. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 337. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  21. ^ "List of Nigar awards from 1957 to 1971". The Hot Spot Online website. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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