Zia Sarhadi (Urdu: ضیا سرحدی; born Fazl-e-Qadir Sethi[1] 1914 in Peshawar, North West Frontier Province – 27 January 1997 in Karachi, Sindh) was an Indian and Pakistani screenwriter and director of films in the Indian Film Industry, whose career spanned what is widely considered the Golden Age of Indian Cinema.

Career

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He was the father of TV and radio actor Khayyam Sarhadi and grandfather of actress Zhalay Sarhadi.[1] As a director, he was probably best known for his films Humlog (1951), Baiju Bawara (1952) and Footpath (1953).[2]

He was involved in writing the script as a consultant for the film Mother India (1957), considered one of the greatest Indian films of all time, but is rarely credited for his contribution.[3] Described as an"unaffiliated Marxist", his films were known for dealing with social issues of the period.[2] His film Footpath, for instance, dealt with issues of moral guilt in the 1950s India.[4]

Filmography

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Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes Ref.
1936 Bhole Bhale  
Deccan Queen   [2]
Manmohan   Actor and lyricist also [2]
1937 Jagirdar   [2]
Kokila Lyricist
1938 Madhur Milan  
Abhilasha    
Hum Tum Aur Woh Lyricist
Teen Sau Din Ke Baad Lyricist
Gramophone Singer  
1939 Seva Samaj  
Ladies Only   Lyricist also
Jeevan Sathi   [2]
1940 Sajani   Lyricist also
Ali Baba  
1941 Bahen   [2]
1943 Nadaan  
1945 Yateem  
1947 Elaan  
1948 Anokha Pyar Lyricist
Anokhi Ada  
1951 Hum Log   [2]
1952 Baiju Bawra   [2]
1953 Footpath     [5]
1956 Awaaz   [2]
1960 Rahguzar  
1964 Beti   dialogues only
1966 Insaan  
1967 Lakhon Mein Aik     [2]
1977 Naya Suraj  

References

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  1. ^ a b "Peshawar's contribution to subcontinent's cinema highlighted". The News International (newspaper). Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Obituary:Zia Sarhadi". The Herald (magazine). Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  3. ^ Chatterjee, Gayatri (2002). Mother India. British Film Institute. pp. 31–2. ISBN 978-0-85170-917-8.
  4. ^ Gokulsing, K. Moti; Dissanayake, Wimal (17 December 2008). Popular Culture in a Globalised India. Routledge. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-203-88406-5. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Footpath — the 1953 Dilip Kumar movie that still holds a mirror up to society". The Print. 11 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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