Malik Qayumov

A recipient of the titles "People's Artist of Uzbekistan" and "Hero of Labor," as well as the "El-yurt hurmati" order, Malik Kayumov was a correspondent for "Soyuzkinoxronika" for the Central Asian republics. In his creative career, he created over 110 documentary films, becoming a monumental artist who introduced the history, culture, science, and art of the Uzbek people to the world; he founded the Uzbek documentary film industry and enriched Uzbek cinema with rare works.

A monumental figure of Uzbek cinema, Malik Kayumov was born in 1912 in Tashkent. He began his career in 1929 at the "Sharq Yulduzi" (Uzbek State Film) studio, working as an assistant cameraman in addition to acting in films such as "Bog’doddagi amirkon," "Ajoyib kun," "Qumlikdagi voha," "Qumdagi quduq," and others.

After returning from his studies in the cinematography department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow from 1930 to 1932, M. Kayumov began working as a cameraman at the Tashkent Newsreel Studio and as a correspondent for "Soyuzkinoxronika" for the Central Asian republics in 1932. During the Second World War, Malik Kayumov volunteered for the front, serving as a military cameraman for the Central Studio of Documentary Films. Upon returning from the war in 1946, he began working as a director, cameraman, and artistic director at the Tashkent Studio of Feature and Documentary-Newsreel Films ("Uzbekfilm"). From 1961, he served as the director and later as the artistic director of the Uzbekistan Scientific-Popular and Documentary Film Studio. At the IV Congress of Uzbekistan Cinematographers, Malik Kayumov was elected as the first secretary of the Union of Cinematographers of Uzbekistan.

During a creative career spanning over 60 years, Malik Kayumov created over 110 documentary films and earned respect and esteem as a monumental artist who introduced the history, culture, science, and art of the Uzbek people to the world, founded the Uzbek documentary film industry, and enriched Uzbek cinema with rare works.

Through his films, he showcased the wealth and beauty of our motherland to the world. In particular, his documentaries such as "Qudratli oqim," "Bizning O’zbekistonga keling," "Tinchlik va do’stlik kinofestivali," "Insonnyatning besh qo’li," "Qirq yil va bir kun," "Bahordan bahorgacha," "O’zbekiston bo’ylab sayohat," "Toshkent tinchlik shahri," "Toshkent, zilzila," "San’atga bag’ishlangan umr," "O’zbekiston san’ati," "13 qaldirg’och," and "Sharqda shunday saxiy shaxslar bor" are recognized as great achievements of Uzbek cinema. Films about foreign countries, such as "Hindiston tongi," "Vetnam - mening Vatanim," "Hindiqush bo’ylab yo’l," and "Oltin Bengaliya," hold a special place in the work of Malik Kayumov.

Many of his films were highly acclaimed at international and Soviet film festivals, winning prizes and diplomas. The film "Toshkent to’qimachilik kombinati" won a Grand Gold Medal at the 1938 World's Fair in New York, the film "Bizning O’zbekistonga keling" won a Grand Gold Medal at the International Film Festival in Venice, the film "O’zbekiston madaniyati obidalari" won a first-degree diploma at the Asian and African Film Festival, and the film "Bahordan bahorgacha" won a first-degree diploma at the 1964 film festival in Saint Petersburg.

Malik Kayumov was a jury member at the Moscow International Film Festival three times and twice served as the jury chairman at the Soviet Union Film Festival in Moscow in 1966 and 1977. His immense contributions to the development of Uzbek cinema were deservedly recognized.

He was awarded the Uzbekistan State Prize for the film "Bahordan bahorgacha." He held the titles of "People's Artist of Uzbekistan," "People's Artist," and "Hero of Labor." In 1999, he was awarded the "El-yurt hurmati" order.