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.

---

Iraj Bashiri

74
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.