Riaz Shahid (1927 – 1 October 1972) was a Pakistani filmmaker, film writer, and a journalist.

Riaz Shahid
ریاض شاہد
Born1927
Died1 October 1972(1972-10-01) (aged 44–45)
Lahore, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Occupations
  • Film Director
  • Screenwriter
  • Journalist
Years active1962–1972
Awards

Early life and career

edit

Riaz Shahid was born in 1927 in Quetta, British India. He belonged to an ethnic Kashmiri family.[1] He was the father of a famous Pakistani film star Shaan Shahid. Shaan was only one year old, when his father died.[2] His real name was Sheikh Riaz, but was called by his nickname Shahid. He was educated at Islamia College, Lahore, Pakistan. Riaz lived in Lahore where he started his career as a journalist for the newspaper Chataan and later joined Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Lail-o-Nihar. He also wrote a novel named Hazar Dastaan.[2][3]

Riaz Shahid was introduced as a story and dialogue writer to the Pakistani film industry by his friend, actor Allauddin, in film Bharosa (1958).[3] In 1962, Riaz started his film career as a director for the film Susraal (1962 film). Collaborating with the noted progressive poet, Habib Jalib, he went on to write or direct several films like Zarqa (1969), Shaheed (1962), Farangi (1964), Khamosh Raho (1964) and Yeh Aman (1971).[2][3]

Riaz Shahid was married to then famous actress Neelo and had three children. The first child was a daughter and was named Zarqa followed by two sons Shaan (actor), who is now a well-known Pakistani film actor and Sarosh, who also worked in a couple of Pakistani movies.[2][3]

Death and legacy

edit

Riaz Shahid died of leukemia on 1 October 1972 at Lahore, Pakistan.[2][3]

A noted Pakistani film actress and director Sangeeta is quoted as saying, "Riaz Shahid was a visionary. Whatever is happening in Kashmir today, he showed it well in the 60s. He was the top director of his period and we should be proud that such people were once a part of our industry".[2]

Another film producer Choudhry Ejaz Kamran reportedly said, "Riaz Shahid stood out for not just his craft but his contribution to meaningful cinema. Cinema that was both political and imppressive. Shahid directed super hit films that are now considered guide books for upcoming film-makers. While he dabbed into a variety of genres, he always preferred to do films based on serious and revolutionary ideas".[2]

Filmography

edit
Year Title Director Producer Screenwriter Ref.
1958 Bharosa  
1959 Neend   [4]
1960 Clerk   [5]
Susral       [5]
1962 Shaheed   [2][6]
1964 Khamosh Raho   [7][2]
Farangi  
1966

Aag Ka Darya

  [7]
Badnaam   [5][3]
1969 Zarqa       [5][6]
1971 Gharnata   [3][5]
Yeh Aman     [2][5]
1974 Bahisht   [5]
1978 Haider Ali  

Awards and recognition

edit

Best Script Writer

edit
  • Neend (1959)
  • Shaheed (1961)
  • Khamosh Raho (1964)
  • Zarqa (1969)
  • Bahisht (1974)
  • Haider Ali (1978)

Best Dialogues/Screenplay

edit
  • Shaheed (1961)
  • Shikwa (1963)
  • Firangi (1964)
  • Yeh Aman (1971)
  • Bahisht (1974)

Best Director

edit
  • Zarqa (1969)

References

edit
  1. ^ Malik, Asma (24 August 2019). "I can sacrifice my life if my country needs it: Shaan Shahid". Daily Pakistan.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Adnan Lodhi and Ather Ahmad (2 October 2020). "The magic and memories of Riaz Shahid". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Profile of Riaz Shahid". Pakistan Film Magazine website. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  4. ^ "فلمی نقاد اعجاز گُل کی منتخب کردہ دس بہترین پاکستانی فلمیں" (in Urdu). BBC News اردو. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Tribute to Riaz Shahid". The News International. Pakistan. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Filmography of Riaz Shahid". Pakistan Film Magazine website. 1 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b Eeshah Omer (21 March 2018). "Remembering Mohammad Ali – the legend of Pakistani films (includes info on films written by Riaz Shahid)". Daily Times (newspaper). Retrieved 8 February 2022.
edit