Sora Eshonto'rayeva

Prominent Uzbek actress and public figure Sora Eshontorayeva was born in 1911 in the village of Beshbulok, Yangikurgon district of Namangan region. From 1922 to 1925, she studied at the Zebunniso School in Tashkent. Interested in theater art from a young age, S. Eshontorayeva participated in a circle led by Ali Ardobus while still a student.

After studying at the Moscow Uzbek Drama Studio from 1925 to 1927 and diligently learning the secrets of stage art from masters such as R. Simonov, V. Kantsel, N. Basov, I. Tolchanov, and L. Sverdlin, she began her career in 1927 as an actress at the Uzbek State Drama Group (the current Hamza Uzbek State Drama Theater). S. Eshontorayeva also served as director of the Hamza Theater from 1943 to 1946 and from 1953 to 1960.

Tursunoy in Cholpon's «Hujum» (The Attack) and Beatrice in C. Goldoni's «Servant of Two Masters» were the first roles S. Eshontorayeva created on the theater stage. Starting in 1927, for 60 years, it was S. Eshontorayeva's destiny to be the first to play the leading roles in the main performances staged at the Hamza Theater.

By creating female images such as Jamila in «The Boy and the Servant» (1939), Guloyim in «Mukanna» (1942), Guli in «Alisher Navoi» (1945), and Hurriyat in «Hurriyat» (1958), she caught the attention of the cultural public and found her place in theatrical art. Each of these immortal images created by the actress has its own place, and one cannot be placed above the other.

However, in fairness, the images of Jamila and Guli hold a special place in the artist's work. Because it was the images of Jamila and Guli that first made S. Eshontorayeva famous among the people. In the actress's interpretation, Jamila grows from a naturally simple, pure-hearted girl into an independent person with a strong will who can distinguish good from evil and fight for her own happiness.

In the image of Guli, she skillfully uses the beauty of poetic language to reflect Guli's pure, poetic soul like a spring day, her delicate emotions, her spiritual elevation, and her loyalty to her love.

Not only these, but S. Eshontorayeva also had the honor of being the first to create the images of Ophelia (1935), Desdemona (1941), Goneril in the masterpieces of world and Russian classical drama such as «Hamlet», «Othello», «King Lear», and Katerina in A. Ostrovsky's «The Thunderstorm» (1939).

The Ophelia in the actress's interpretation is a chaste, graceful girl who thinks everyone has a pure heart like her own. In the character of Desdemona, along with grace, there are signs of determination and courage in the pursuit of her goal. Katerina is an ordinary, simple-hearted person who, at the same time, fights heroically for her freedom and independence.

In the 50s and 60s, the creative team of the Hamza Theater turned to the Eastern theme and successfully staged the works of several writers and playwrights. S. Eshontorayeva played the leading roles in them.

Roles such as Khatcha in the «Story about Turkey» by Turkish writer Nazim Hikmet (1953), Ayni in «Algeria is My Motherland» based on a novel by Arab writer Mohammed Dib (1957), Sedzu in «Stolen Life» by Japanese playwright Morimoto Kaoru (1965), and the Arab woman Oysha in S. Azimov's «Drama of the Time» were also appreciated by the audience in the actress's performance.

S. Eshontorayeva played leading roles in feature films shot at the «Uzbekfilm» film studio such as «The Boy and the Servant», «The Rakhmonova Sisters», and «The Hunter's Bell». She created the image of Shoista in the film-play «King Oedipus». She played the roles of Gulsum and Altinay in the television plays «Kutlug Qon» (Sacred Blood) by Oybek and «The First Teacher» by Ch. Aitmatov, and participated in many radio productions.

She constantly and enthusiastically taught the knowledge, skills, and experience she had accumulated over the years to young actors. She always observed them during the creative process, corrected their shortcomings, and rejoiced in their achievements.

S. Eshontorayeva created immortal images while working with her husband, the famous art master of our century Abror Hidoyatov, and raised children who are worthy of envy. Always dressed neatly, with a soft smile on her face, polite and highly cultured, this great artist was also active in public work.

S. Eshontorayeva's many years of productive work were worthily recognized with the honorary title of «People's Artist of Uzbekistan», «People's Artist of the USSR» (1957), and State Prizes in 1949, 1967, and 1977.
Sora Eshontorayeva passed away in Tashkent in 1998.