AN acting legend from the formative years of Pakistan's film industry, Syed Kamal died in Karachi recently. Although he had also tried his talent in writing and directing films, acting remained his forte.

Joining the nascent local film industry in 1957, when there was dearth of suitable actors for the films, he had set a new trend of entertaining the public by adding hilarious dialogues and actions to the role of a hero.

Kamal's acting with songs was also different from the traditional style of his counterparts like Santosh Kumar, Habib and Sudhir as he was more expressive and would try to project the feelings depicted in the song's lyrics.

I saw Kamal's photograph for the first time in a poster of his first film in Pakistan made in 1957, named 'Thandi Sarak', which appeared in the Urdu weekly Lail-o-Nehar.

Initially I thought that it was a new Indian film release starring Raj Kapoor but then realised that he was the latter's look-alike.

I had the opportunity of meeting Syed Kamal in a music programme organised by the Talents Guild in the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, a few years back in which he was invited as the guest of honour.

All the singers, including me, sang film songs picturised on Syed Kamal.

The two songs which I sang were from his hit film Ashiana 'Jo Dil Ko Tortay Hein Un Ka Bhi Jawab Nahin' and from Doosri Maa 'Duniya Kay Ghamon Ko Thukra Do' composed by Lal Mohammad Iqbal.

When these songs were being sung, I could see the expressions on his face remembering the film sequence of those songs.

This music programme was preceded by speeches made by some other celebrity guests like actors Nadeem and Shakil, who paid glowing tribute to Syed Kamal, stating that he was the most intelligent and versatile actor ever who appeared on the local silver screen.

In his speech Syed Kamal had expressed great disappointment for not being awarded the 'Pride of Performance' by the government for unknown reasons.

While he had fully delivered to the people for them to enjoy whatever talent he had but has unfortunately left the world with the unfulfilled desire of getting the state recognition for his outstanding contributions in the field of cinema.

PARVEZ RAHIM
Karachi