Uzra Butt
Uzra Butt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Uzra Mumtaz May 22, 1917 |
| Died | May 31, 2010 (aged 93) |
| Occupation(s) | stage actor, dancer |
| Years active | 1937–2008 |
Uzra Butt (May 22, 1917 – May 31, 2010) was a theatre personality of the Indian sub-continent,[1] who moved to Pakistan in 1964. She was the sister of theatre and Bollywood film actress Zohra Sehgal, who, unlike her, lived in India.
Starting in 1937, breaking traditional barriers, she and her sister joined with Uday Shankar ballet company as actors and dancers and toured through Europe and the United States. When World War II ended their tour, she joined IPTA and subsequently remained the leading lady with Prithvi Theatre in the 1940s and 1950s. She migrated to Pakistan in 1964, where she joined Ajoka Theatre in 1984.
Early life
She was born as Uzra Mumtaz [2] in Rampur, India in a land-owning family of Rohilla Pathans, of Mumtazullah Khan and Natiqua Begum, belonging to Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. She was fourth of her seven siblings – Zakullah, Hajrah, Zohra (Zohra Sehgal), Ikramullah, Anna and Sabira, and grew up in Chakrata, near Dehradun.
Career
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She began her stage career with Uday Shankar's ballet company in 1937 and went on to become the leading lady of the famous Prithvi Theatre in 1940s and 50s.[2]
She entered Uday Shankar's ballet troupe as a dancer and also taught dance before joining the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in 1944 as an actress. Here Khwaja Ahmad Abbas cast her as the lead in the play Zubeda. Prithivi Raj Kapoor was impressed by her role and chose her as his lead heroine, Zohra too joined her. In the coming years, she played leading lady opposite Prithviraj Kapoor in Prithvi Theatre productions. She played a heroine's part in Sakuntala in 1944, partnering her sister in Ghaddar in 1948 and taking the lead role in Kisan and performed in 100 towns and cities all over India. Uzra Butt was also an art director of Prithvi theatre and worked for Prithvi theatre, till 1960, when it wrapped up.[2]
In 1964 she migrated to Pakistan with her husband, Hameed Butt. Here she formed a dance troupe in Rawalpindi, acted on stage and television from time to time and served the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
Later she moved to Lahore and became the leading lady of Ajoka Theatre in October 1985. Her first play with the group was 'Chaak Chakkar', subsequently she went on to act in plays like, Barri, Dukhini, Dukh Darya, Takey Da Tamasha, Talismati Tata, Teesri Dastak, Kali Ghata, Adhuri and Surak Gulaban Da Mousam and later began chairperson of the group.[3] In 1993, she did the play, Aik Thi Nani, with her sister Zohra Sehgal after 40 years. The leading roles of play were performed by the two sisters, along with their grandniece, Samiya Mumtaz and niece, Salima Raza. The play first opened in Lahore, in 2003 ubsequently performed across India, Pakistan and Britain, including a performance at the Prithvi theare in 2004.[1][4] [5] Uzra was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Acting (Urdu) in 1994 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists.[6]
Her last performance on stage was in 2008. She died in Lahore at the age of 93.[7]
References
- ^ a b Swarup, Harihar (24 August 2003). "Acting sisters — Zora and Uzra style". The Tribune. India. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ a b c Ali, Sarwat (June 2009). "Inspiration all along". The News on Sunday(Jang Group). Pakistan. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Legendary theatre actress Uzra Butt dead at 93". The Times of India. June 1, 2010.
- ^ "Real life drama". The Hindu. November 14, 2004.
- ^ "Theatre actress Uzra Butt, sister of Zohra Sehgal, dies at 93". DNA (newspaper). June 2, 2010.
- ^ "SNA: List of Akademi Awardees". Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website.
- ^ "Theatre actress Uzra Butt passes away". Sakaal Times. Press Trust of India. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.