'''Amrohi, Kamal (1918-93)''' [[Embed(youtube=03DXW_rV54U)]] 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.