Obid Jalilov

The renowned theater and film actor Obid Jalilov was born in Tashkent in 1896. He began his creative career in 1920 in a drama troupe organized by Mannon Uygur.

From 1927 until the end of his life, Obid Jalilov was a leading artist at the Hamza Uzbek State Academic Drama Theater. The first role he created on its stage was Podkolesin in the Russian writer Gogol's «Marriage» (1926). He further honed his acting skills with roles such as Yoldoshev (U. Ismoilov, «Cotton Thieves», 1930), Tolipov (Z. Fatkhullin, «Prospect», 1933), and Polatov (K. Yashin, «Honor and Love», 1934).

In 1939, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the death of Hamza Hakimzoda Niyoziy, the play «Rich and Servant» was restaged by the prominent Uzbek theater director Yetim Bobojonov. The role of Solihboy, embodied by O. Jalilov in this production, held a special significance in his career. Through this character, he expertly and vividly revealed the socio-political views of that era and the negative aspects of the ruling class.

Obid Jalilov's performances in works during and after World War II, such as Majididdin in the drama «Alisher Navoi» (1945) by Uygur and I. Sultan, Komilov in Uygur's «Navbahor» (1949), and Mavlon in Abdulla Qahhor's «The Silent Silk» (1953), were indicators of the great actor's ever-growing mastery.

The work «Alisher Navoi» by Uygur and Izzat Sultan was written in 1941 and staged in 1945 at the Hamza Uzbek State Academic Theater by Mannon Uygur, with the role of Majididdin entrusted to Obid Jalilov. While creating this character, the artist aimed to clearly and authentically portray a typical representative of those who opposed the spirituality and culture during the era of the sultan of poets, Hazrat Alisher Navoi.

Along with his work in theater, Obid Jalilov was a figure who made a significant contribution to the development of Uzbek cinema. His roles as the Vizier in the film «Tohir and Zuhra», Ogabek in «The Adventures of Nasriddin», Majididdin in «Alisher Navoi», Solihboy in «Rich and Servant», and the blacksmith Mahkam ota in «You Are Not an Orphan» are among the famous characters born in Uzbek cinema.

Through these characters, the actor was able to express the virtues of humanism, patriotism, and self-sacrifice of our people with high skill and passionate emotion.

Obid Jalilov, who became known as one of the founders of the theater due to his love for the art form since the beginning of the 20th century—much like other mature Uzbek art figures such as Abror Hidoyatov, Mannon Uygur, and Masuma Qoriyeva—also received appropriate recognition for his service.

In 1938, he was awarded the honorary title of «People's Artist of Uzbekistan», and in 1948 he won a State Prize, in addition to being the recipient of numerous orders and medals. Through his immortal characters like Solihboy and Majididdin, he left an indelible mark on the history of Uzbek theater and cinema as a skilled performer of negative roles.

Obid Jalilov died in Tashkent in 1963.