Zikir Muhammadjonov

Theater and film actor Zikir Muhammadjonov was born in Tashkent in 1921. In 1951, he graduated from the Tashkent Theater and Art Institute named after A. N. Ostrovsky (now the Mannon Uighur Tashkent State Institute of Arts) while continuing to work.

Zikir Muhammadjonov had been working as an actor at the Hamza Uzbek State Academic Drama Theater since 1938. The role of Temur Malik in M. Shayxzoda's play "Jaloliddin" was Z. Muhammadjonov's first role in the theater. Since then, he has performed leading roles in numerous stage works staged at the Hamza Theater.

Ferdinand (F. Schiller's "Intrigue and Love"), Benvolio (W. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"), Horatio (W. Shakespeare's "Hamlet"), Dehqonboy (A. Qahhor's "Shohi so'zana"), Furqat (B. Avezov, T. Khojaev's "Furqat"), Abdulatif (M. Shayxzoda's "Mirzo Ulug'bek"), Orif (I. Sulton's "Imon"), Sintaro (M. Kaoru's "Stolen Life"), Samandar (A. Muxtor's "Samandar"), Beruni (Uyg'un's "Abu Rayhan Beruni"), Shokir aka (U. Umarbekov's "The First Day of Autumn"), and other characters are the results of Z. Muhammadjonov's long and productive creative work in theater art.

Creating the images of great historical figures such as Abu Rayhan Beruni, Mirzo Ulug'bek, Alisher Navoi, and Husayn Bayqaro holds a special place in the actor's work. His ability to portray figures who lived in different eras and held different worldviews—such as Furqat and Hamza, Y. Akhunbabaev and General S. Rahimov—as well as performing leading roles in the works of W. Shakespeare and F. Schiller, is clear evidence of Z. Muhammadjonov's great potential and talent as an actor.

"I am proud that I had the good fortune to create the images of people loved by the nation such as Navoi, Ulug'bek, Beruni, and Furqat in theater and film," says Z. Muhammadjonov. "In particular, the image of Navoi fascinated me the most. I worked on this role with all my soul and heart."

Z. Muhammadjonov was the first actor on the Uzbek stage after Shukur Burhonov to begin portraying famous statesmen. Relying on his own style, direction, and acting talent, he performed these roles accurately, vividly, and realistically with great success.

With a deep worldview, a wide range of interests, and his own place and voice in Uzbek art, Z. Muhammadjonov has also been active in film art for many years, creating memorable characters such as Maqsud (I. Sulton, Z. Sobitov's "Fidoiy"), Professor Karimov (H. Fayziev's "Mystery of the Universe"), Sobir Rahimov (K. Yashin, Z. Sobitov's "General Rahimov"), Bahrom (A. Hamraev's "Dilorom"), and Ahmedov (U. Nazarov's "An Event in Kokand").

He provided voice-overs for many films dubbed at the "Uzbekfilm" studio. In recent years, dozens of popular video films based on the works of famous Uzbek writers were produced for Uzbek television, and Z. Muhammadjonov performed leading roles in most of them.

His roles as Husayn Bayqaro in the "Navoi" video film, Mirzo Ulug'bek in "Ulug'bek's Treasure", Professor Komilov in "Imon", and Khondamir in "Bobur" are particularly noteworthy for their vitality, great appeal, and persuasive power. The artist also performed leading roles in most of the radio plays and productions prepared by the National Radio.

Muhammadjonov has for many years boldly raised important theoretical and practical problems of Uzbek theater and film art in the press. By writing articles on topics such as "Theater and Director," "Theater and Actor," and "Theater and Modernity," and about famous artists like Abror Hidoyatov, Obid Jalilov, H. Latipov, M. Qorieva, and M. Uighur, and by actively participating in theater and film programs on television and radio, he has contributed to the development of Uzbek theater and film art both practically and theoretically.

Muhammadjonov also participated actively in public affairs and headed the Uzbekistan Theater Society.
The versatile and rich creative work of the famous Uzbek theater and film actor Z. Muhammadjonov was awarded honorary titles of "People's Artist of Uzbekistan", "People's Artist" (1977), and State Awards.

In 1998, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Muhammadjonov was awarded the "Buyuk xizmatlari uchun" (For Distinguished Service) order.