Cinemaazi remembers Master Fida Hussain ‘Narsi’ on his birth anniversary
11 Mar 1899
Remembering Master Fida Hussain ‘Narsi’, actor, singer, director, and scriptwriter, born this day in 1899. Starting his career in Parsi theatre in 1918, he remained associated with it for 50 years. Running away from home at 19 to pursue his passion, he began as a singer and went on to play female roles, graduating to leading man in 1930. He also recorded music for HMV Calcutta. Taking charge of the Moonlight Theatres, Calcutta, he directed and acted the lead for 20 years. With the advent of talkies, he worked as an actor-singer in films starting with Ramayan (1934) followed by Insaf Ki Tope (1934), Kunwaari Ya Vidhwa (1935), Diljaani (1935), Dil Ki Pyaas (1935), Daku Ka Ladka (1935), Balidaan (1935), Khudaai Kitmadgaar (1937), Matwali Meera (1940), Bambaiwaali (1941), Arabian Nights (1946) and Toote Sapne (1946, Unreleased). In 1968 he retired to his hometown Moradabad, where he continued to be a resource person on theatre related studies and also taught classes and directed student productions at the National School of Drama. Conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1985, his autobiography titled Parsi Theatre Mein Pachas Baras recounts the history of professional theatre in India. Master Fida Hussain passed away in 1999.
