P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Dustmatov, Zohir

Tajik actor and director Zohir Dustmatov was born in Khujand on

February 10, 1914. He joined the CPSU in 1950.

After finishing his education, he worked in the public education

system. From 1931 to 1936, he served as the secretary for the education

division of the city, and established the Pushkin Comedy-Musical

Theater in Leninabad, playing several roles in that theater. These roles

included: Vali in Orshin Mololon (Arshin Malalan), by U. Hojibekov;

Mirzosharof in Hukm (Sentence), by M. Tursunzoda; and Sardori

Qalandaron in Halima (Halima), by Gh. Zafari.

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Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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From 1936 to 1941, Dustmatov worked at the new Lunacharskii In-

stitute of Dramatic Arts. From there he moved to the Lahuti State Acad-

emy of Dramatic Arts (1941-42), to the Pushkin Theater of Leninabad

(1942-45). Here, he brought a number of plays by writers from Soviet

republics other than Tajikistan to the stage. From 1945 to the end of his

life, he worked at the Lahuti State Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Dustmatov played both dramatic and comic roles with absolute sincer-

ity. He was a master in adding local color to certain comic roles. Here

are some of those roles: Abdulin in Mufattish (Inspector), by N. V.

Gogol, 1946; Ivan Shadrin in Odami Miltiqdor (Man with a Rifle), by

N. Pogodin, 1947; Shmata in Gunahkoroni Bigunoh (Guiltless Sinners),

by A. Ostrovskii, 1962; Azimshoh in Dokhunda (Dokhunda), by J.

Ikromi, 1954; Yormat Komondir in Tufon (Storm), by Gh. Abdullo and

Sh. Qiomov, 1957; and others.

In addition, Dustmatov has played several noteworthy roles in films.

These include Qalandar in Nasriddin dar Khujand (Nasriddin in

Khujand, 1959), court poet in Qismati Sho'ir (The Poet's Lot, 1959),

Blacksmith in Bairaqi Ohangar (The Blacksmith's Banner, 1962), and

Ishkamba in Margi Sudkhur (The Death of the Money Lender, 1966).

This latter is recognized as his most prominent achievement.

Dustmatov became a People's Artist of Tajikistan in 1957. He also

received the Red Banner of Labor, the Badge of Honor, and the Order

of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan.

Dustmatov died in Dushanbe on February 6, 1967.