Nabi G'aniyev

One of the founders of national Uzbek cinema, film director Nabi Ganiyev, who dedicated his entire life to the art of cinema, was born in Tashkent in 1904. In 1921–1924, he enrolled in the workers' faculty of the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops, continuing his studies there from 1924 to 1925.

During that period, after the People's Commissariat of Education of Uzbekistan decided to establish the «Uzbekgoskino» trust, the «Sharq Yulduzi» (Eastern Star) film factory (the current «Uzbekfilm») was built. Once the film factory launched in 1925, N. Ganiyev worked there for the rest of his life. He began his career at the studio initially as a consultant and assistant to the film director.

At the same time, he played secondary roles in several films, such as «So'nggi Bek» (The Last Bek) and «Ikkinchi Xotin» (The Second Wife). From 1925 to 1930, he led a number of emerging Uzbek film workers and actors as the director of the film studio.

In the late 1920s, N. Ganiyev collected invaluable information from folk oral traditions, on the basis of which he wanted to create a film about the life of Namoz the Thief — he wanted to protect the poor and denounce merchants, courtiers, and landlords. The director thought about this idea for a long time and proposed an idea to adapt the «Alpomish» epic to the screen. However, this did not yield results, but his writings about Namoz the Thief were used in the film «Nasriddin's Adventures». After the Great Patriotic War ended, N. Ganiyev's film was finally released.

The first Uzbek director had to overcome several creative, technical, and organizational challenges. The work of the actors was very difficult. At that time, qualified Uzbek film actors had not yet emerged. After long searches, actors were invited who had little understanding of the lives of the characters, or collective farmers, and factory activists were brought in. Some of them even had no concept of cinema. The greatest difficulty was recruiting for women's roles. Due to religious fanaticism, apostates were against cinematography and cinematographers. Those who were particularly obsessed with religious fanaticism attacked Uzbek actresses – they had to remove their paranjas in front of the film camera and on stage. One of the Uzbek actresses, Nurxon, was brutally murdered by a superstitious person, even though the facets of her talent were just beginning to show.

In 1931, he created the film «Yuksalish» (Rise) based on a script by N. Klado; in 1932, he created the film «Ramazon» based on his own script; and in 1934, he created the film «Yigit» (The Lad). During the Second World War, the director worked on short films and in 1943 participated as a second director in Ya. A. Protazanov's film «Nasriddin in Bukhara».

The post-war years were a period of rise for Uzbek cinematic art. After N. Ganiyev created the film «Tohir and Zuhra» based on a folk legend, it achieved success not only in our republic but also in many countries around the world.

These films signaled that the director was a man of great talent.

Following this, N. Ganiyev created the feature film «Farg'ona Qizi» (Daughter of Fergana, 1948), and between 1949 and 1952, he created documentary films such as «Qoraqalpoqlar Diyorida» (In the Land of the Karakalpaks), «Kannash», «O'zbek Raqsi Ustalari» (Masters of Uzbek Dance), and «Farg'ona Vodiysi» (Fergana Valley). In these films, the life, work, and art of our republic's laborers were glorified and elevated.

Director N. Ganiyev's creative work and his contribution to the development of Uzbek cinema were recognized in 1944 with the honorary title of «Honored Art Worker of Uzbekistan».

 N. Ganiyev left this world early on October 29, 1952, living only 49 years; he was buried on Farobi Street in Tashkent. In 1965, the Tashkent Cinema College was named after N. Ganiyev. The director dedicated his entire conscious life to the art of cinema and left behind immortal cinematic works.