Amrohi, Kamal (1918-93)

Originally Syed Amir Haider Kamal. Writer, poet (Hindi-Urdu) and director. Born in Amroha, UP. Early writing was within the Shakespearean contours of the Urdu Parsee Theatre (e.g. the script for Akhtar Hussain’s Romeo and Juliet, 1947). Went to Bombay in 1938; worked as writer for S. Modi (Jailor, 1938; Pukar, 1939; Bharosa, 1940), Kardar (Shahjehan, 1946), and K. Asif’s spectacular Mughal-e-Azam (1960), reinvigorating the Urdu historical genre. Scenarist at Bombay Talkies which produced his feature debut, Mahal. Established his own Kamal Pics (1953) and Kamalistan Studio in Bombay (1958), leasing the Mahal Studios mainly to make Pakeezah, one of the most successful Indian films ever and a classic Urdu melodrama. Its star, Meena Kumari, was his third wife. They separated in 1964 but she nevertheless finished the film in 1971. Scripted his own films. Other scripts include Yusuf Naqvi’s Shankar Hussain (1977), dialogues for Jagirdar’s Main Hari (1940), Zahur Raja’s Mazaaq (1943) and K. Asif’s Phool (1944). Also produced Kishore Sahu’s Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960).

FILMOGRAPHY: 1949: Mahal; 1953: Daera; 1971: Pakeezah; 1983: Razia Sultan.