M. Kumar

Biography

Kumar was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He belonged to a highly respected Lucknow families of Shia Syeds. His real name was Syed Ali Hasan Zaidi, but was affectionately called Mir Mujjan by relatives and close friends. He started his career in films from New Theatres, Calcutta. His first two movies were "Subah Ka Tara" and "Zinda Lash", in 1932. In these films, he played the second lead role, while the leads in both of them were Kundan Lal Saigal and actress Rattan Bai. In his third film, Pooran Bhagat, which also starred K. L. Saigal, he became popularly known as Kumar. His other films in India were Yahudi Kee Larki, Watan, Suhag, Shehr Ka Jadoo, Maa Ka Pyar, Mughal-e-Azam, Nek Parveen, Tarana, and Mahal. Kumar married a very well known actress of her days, Pramella, and both of them established their own film making house, called Silver House, making films like Naseeb, Jhankar, Barey Nawab Sahab and Devar. In 1963, Kumar migrated to Pakistan, and started to work in Pakistani films without any delay. His son, S. A. Hafiz, who made Tauba, later became one of the best and well known directors of the country. Kamal and Zeba played the lead in Tauba, which became a grand success. Kumar worked in quite a few Pakistani films, including Head Constable, Azad, Shabnam, Naela, Saiqa, Sajda (his own film), Hum Dono, Nadya Ke Paar, Ik Musaflr Ik Hasina, Baalam etc. Kumar died in 1982.