P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Prominent Tajik Figures of the Twentieth Century

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Sobirov graduated from the Tashkent Acting and Painting Institute

in 1951, and from the State Theater of Dramatic Arts Named After
Lunacharskii in 1956. He began his movie career in such roles as Tagi
in Roh (Road), for MosFilm in 1955; Sakhat in Bahori Takror Nasha-
vanda (Unrepeatable Spring), also for MosFilm, 1956; Yodgor in
Dokhunda, 1957); Olim in Man bo Dukhtari Vokhurdam (I Met a Girl,
1957); and Shohzodai Maftun in Nasriddin dar Khujand (Nasriddin in
Khujand, 1960). He was an Assistant Director in many films.
Sobirov's other contributions include Vaqti Zangirii Pisaram Rasid
(Time for My Son's Wedding Is Here, 1960); Fidokoron (The Devotees,
1962); Margi Sudkhur (The Death of the Money Lender, 1968); Khionat
(Treason, 1967); and others.
In later years, Sobirov was attracted to the works of S. Aini. Based
on Aini's Ghulomon (Slaves) and Yoddoshtho (Reminiscences), Sobirov
created the first six-part color film entitled Hejbudagon Har Chiz
Gardand (The Nobodies Become Somebody). From 1962 to 1966, he
was Director of the Association of Cinematographers of Tajikistan.
Sobirov became a People's Artist of Tajikistan in 1966, and received
the Rudaki State Prize in 1980. He was the recipient of the Badge of
Honor and a number of other medals.
Sobirova, Malika
Tajik actor and ballerina Malika Abdurahmonovna Sobirova was
born into a family of musicians in Dushanbe on May 22, 1942.
Between 1953 and 1961, she studied at the Leningrad Choreography
Academy. Then, from 1963 to the end of her life she was a soloist artist
at the Aini Theater for Opera and Ballet. She worked at the Great Soviet
Theater in 1962 and 1963 under the direction of G. Ulanova and per-
fected her skills. She was one of the outstanding representatives of the
Russian school of classical dance. Her characters were complete and
multi-dimensional. They included the loyal and hurt Odette, cunning
and ravishing Odila, and coquettish and carefree Liza. She also created
a series of distinct characters for the national ballet. For expanding
character's horizons, she combined classical elements with traditional
ones. Because of her ability to combine technique with knowledge of
acting, she could perform romantic roles with ease. These roles ap-
peared in Zhizel', Shurali, Romeo va Julietta, Laili va Majnun, Temur-
malik, and others.

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