Karim Zokirov

People's Artist of Uzbekistan, Uzbek singer, opera soloist, and actor Karim Zokirov worked at the Uzbek State Drama Theater and the Worker-Youth Theater. As a soloist of the Uzbek State Musical Theater in Tashkent and a soloist of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Navoi, he created more than 40 characters.

The founder of the Zokirov dynasty, the mature Uzbek singer and opera soloist Karim Zokirov, was born in Tashkent in 1912. He studied at the Uzbek Opera Studio at the Moscow State Conservatory from 1934 to 1936. He began his creative career in 1928 as a dramatic actor.

K. Zokirov played his first roles in 1929 at the Uzbek State Drama Theater and in 1930-1931 at the Worker-Youth Theater.
From 1936 to 1938, he was a soloist at the Uzbek State Musical Theater in Tashkent, and from 1939, a soloist at the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater, creating over 40 characters. He performed roles such as Farhod and Qays in Khurshid's musical dramas «Farhod and Shirin» and «Layli and Majnun», Botir in S. Abdulla's «The Storm», and in operas such as Boron in S. Vasilenko and M. Ashrafiy's «Boron», Hamza in S. Boboyev's «Hamza», Mulladost in S. Yudakov's «Maysara's Mishap», and others. The character of Mulladost created by the actor stands out for its vitality and naturalness. K. Zokirov was also a melodious singer held in high regard by the people. His art of singing is organically linked with Uzbek folk professional performance traditions. The rare classical songs he sang, such as «Ishq boshqa, havas boshqa», «Ko‘cha bog‘i-2», «Chorgoh-1-2-3», «Ul kun jonon», «Xush kelibsiz», «Navbahor», «Diloromimga ayt», «Dilbar», «Girya», «Mustahzod», «Ilg‘or», «Istarman», «Suvora», and «Safti chorgoh», captivated art lovers and brought them aesthetic pleasure.

K. Zokirov created his own school and was a kind father and dear mentor to his children, who dedicated their lives to art, including Botir, Luiza, Farruh, Navfal, Jamshid, and Ravshan, who continued this school. The contributions of Botir and Farruh Zokirov were immense in raising the art of Uzbek variety singing to great heights.

K. Zokirov's productive and multifaceted career was duly rewarded. In 1939, he was awarded the title of «People's Artist of Uzbekistan».
Karim Zokirov passed away in Tashkent in 1977.

Karim Zokirov holds his own place in the history of Uzbek theater and opera as a masterful performer of roles such as Farhod, Qays, and Mulladost in musical dramas and operas, as well as a number of classical and lyrical songs.