Munawar Zarif

Munawar Zarif was born on 2 February 1940 in Gujranwala, Punjab.^[1][4] He started his film career with the Punjabi film Dandian (1961). His breakthrough film was 1964's Hath Jori. After starting as a comedian, he was promoted to playing second leads starting with the film Parday Mein Rehnay Do (1973). Subsequently, he was cast as the lead actor in films such as Banarsi Thug (1973) and Jeera Blade (1973). Possibly his most popular role was in 1974's Naukar Wohti Da, which became a runaway hit.^[5]

He received his first Nigar Award in "Special Award" category for his performance in Ishaq Deewana (1971). He won the Nigar Award in the "Best Comedian" category for Baharo Phool Barsao (1972) and Zeenat (1975 film). He appeared in more than 300 films from 1961 to 1976. He was well-known for his Ad-Lib dialogue delivery.^[3][6]

Munawar Zarif was the younger brother of comedian Mohammad Zarif (1926-1960), famous in the 1950s for being the first comedian in Pakistan's cinema to play lead roles, while his other brothers Rasheed Zarif (1946-1974) and Majeed Zarif (1942-2012) were also comedians in movies.^[3] Eldest brother was Munir Zarif (1934 - 2014), a film and TV actor famous for his roles in serials like Sona Chandi, Aalif Laila and Ainak Wala Jin, who died in 2014 at age 75.^[7]

He was lifelong friend of fellow comedian Ali Ejaz.^[8]

Munawar Zarif got married through a traditional arranged marriage within his extended family.^[3] His only son Faisal Munawar Zarif debuted as an actor with Puttar Munawar Zareef Da in 1994, followed by other movies like Puttar Jeeray Blade Da (1996) and Khotay Sikay (1998), but he couldn't find success in the film industry, so he moved to England before relocating to Morocco after marrying a Moroccan woman, where he died in 2019 of cardiac arrest at the age of 44.^[9]

Zarif's family announced his death in Pakistan, on 29 April 1976 at the age of 36.^[3][6] He died in Lahore due to cirrhosis of the liver and a sudden heart attack.^[3][2] He was laid to rest at Bibi Pak Daman Cemetery, Lahore.^[3][4][6]

Munawar Zarif is often regarded as one of the greatest comedians ever in Pakistani films.^[3] Fellow comedian and friend Ali Ejaz recalled his ability to improvise lines on the spot and called him an 'extempore' comedian.^[10]

Radio Pakistan Multan programme manager Asif Khan Khaitran reminisced about the success of Munawar Zarif and said: "There was a time in his career when writers would develop script with Munawar Zarif's personality in mind."^[11]

According to a major English-language newspaper of Pakistan, other noted Pakistani comedians Umer Shareef, Moin Akhter and Sohail Ahmed copied his spontaneous and well-timed style before they became famous.^[6]

Comedian Umer Shareef called him the "Mount Everest" of comedy and said that "for attaining fame in the field of comedy one must follow Munawar Zarif’s school of thought."^[6]

Nigar Awards

• Nigar Awards 1971 - Special Award for Ishq Deevana^[12][4]
• Nigar Awards 1972 - Best Comedian for Baharo Phool Barsao^[4]
• Nigar Awards 1975 - Best Comedian for Zeenat (1975 film)^[13][4]

• List of Pakistani actors