Rozina: Romantic, respectful Rozina

By Anis Ahmed Shakur

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.

Rozi was proactive, decent and charming from her earliest days. Most importantly, she was determined to make her way to the Pakistani cinema.

In the early 1960s, she lived with her mother at Pakistan Chowk, Karachi.

Talents alone does not guarantee success. Hence, apart from talents, Rozi had a good attitude towards every one she encountered in her daily life.

Additionally, she never hesitated to be the first one to say ‘Thank You’ for every little favor she received from others.

Likewise, she always said ‘Sorry’ for every little mistake on her part.

Such praise- worthy acts became one of her great personal strengths.

As time passed by, she earned tremendous respect and admiration for herself.

What a wonderful thing it is to have that kind of impact on another person’s life.

She got her start in the movies in 1962.

Touched by her immense acting potential and beauty, actor- director, Butt Kashir, signed Rozi for his film ‘Hamay jeenay do’. (‘Hamay jeenay do’ happened to be the first and last film of Butt Kashir as director).

Thus, Rozi became Rozina and debuted from ‘Hamay jeenay do’ in 1962, as supporting actress. It launched her into filmdom. Zamarrud and Hanif played the lead roles.

Rozina’s performance in her first film was enough to stir interest in genre among Pakistani film directors.

Her first leading role came in the film ‘Chori chupay’, directed by Jameel Akhtar. A new comer, actor- comedian, Sethi, played the hero opposite Rozina.

Stiff challenges from her co-workers spurred Rozina to be more competitive.

In 1965, she appeared in the film ‘Ishq-e-Habib’. She worked opposite Mohsin, who also happened to be a new comer. Talat  Siddiqui and Ibrahim Nafees played the lead roles. Popular Qawwali, ‘Bhar day jholi’, by Sabri Qawwal, composer, Zafar Khurshid.

Quickly thereafter, Rozina’s identity as an actress began to emerge. An insatiable drive for success led her to more hard work.

She made her mark in the Pakistani cinema as a romancing girl as well.

She appeared as supporting actress in director Iqbal Rizvi’s film ‘Azadi ya maut’. Tarannum and Hanif played the lead roles.

Moviegoers had been watching her for quite sometime. But she became forever etched in their minds with her most memorable role of ‘Dolly’ in one of the greatest movie of all time, ‘Armaan’.

She had no idea how many people eventually would watch the movie and be profoundly affected. With the theatrical release of  ‘Armaan’, Rozina’s popularity increased with astonishing rapidity.

She was paired on numerous occasions with the great Waheed Murad. Consistent efforts on Rozina’s side led to more successful movies.

She was cast with Waheed Murad in ‘Josh’, 1966, directed by Iqbal Yusuf. Starring, Waheed Murad, Zeba, Rozina, Sudhir. ‘Josh’ successfully completed golden jubilee.

‘Ehsaan’, 1967, director Pervez Malik, cast, Waheed Murad, Zeba, Rozina.

‘Samandar’, 1968, director Rafiq Rizvi, stars, Waheed Murad, Shabnam, Rozina. Silver Jubilee.

In the late 1960s, Rozina gained enormous popularity for her ever popular, and splendidly filmed ‘Lipton’ tea jingle for Pakistan television.

Acting had been the most pleasing occupation of her life and the most congenial to her temperament.

Talking of movies, she brought out all her emotions in the three films below:

‘Ishara’, 1969, director, Waheed Murad, starring, Waheed Murad, Deeba, Rozina.

‘Tum he ho mehbub meray’, 1969, director, Shabab Kiranvi, cast, Waheed Murad, Deeba, Rozina, Saqi. Silver Jubilee.

‘Afsana’, 1970, director Luqman, stars, Waheed Murad, Deeba, Rozina. Silver Jubilee.

Brimming with romantic tunes and interesting characters, the following three films certainly delivered the goods:

‘Phir chand niklay ga’, 1970, director, Shore Lukhnavi, cast, Waheed Murad, Rozina, Nadeem.

‘Rim Jhim’, 1971, director Qamar Zaidi, starring, Waheed Murad, Rozina, Zamarrud.

Rozina unleashed her power to succeed. It was the faith of movie buffs in her ability that kept her going. She made a splash in the three films below:

‘Khamosh nigahain’, 1971, director Jameel Akhtar, stars, Waheed Murad, Rozina, Munawwar Zareef. Silver Jubilee.

‘Daulat aur duniya’, 1972, directed by Khalifa Saeed, starring, Waheed Murad, Aaliya, Rozina, Nanha. Golden Jubilee.

‘Esay dekha esay chaha’, 1974, Pervez Malik, cast, Waheed Murad, Rozina, Arsh-e-Muneer.

The way Rozina romanticized her roles is a feat in modern film- making. Below are six movies, which takes a realistic approach to the romanticism, both in scenery and characterization:

‘Saza’, ‘Sheeshay ka ghar’, ‘Saughaat’, ‘Anila’, ‘Saat saheliyaan’, ‘Jaisay jaantay nahi’.

Her movies exhibit astonishing range and power. Treat your self to the films that enlighten as well as entertain you.

Her achievement in the following three films similarly was impressive:

‘Do patara anaran day’, ‘Hameeda’, ‘Beti beta’.

Her past performances are indisputably alive. Already well known in the 1960s and 1970s, she gradually reached the top.

Rozina, who was all beauty and splendor, played her character with great effect in the six movies below:

‘Waaris’, ‘Tha’, ‘Khabardaar’, ‘Mardan hath maidan’, ‘Sar dhar dee baazi, ‘Heera’.

In her twenty-three year movie career, 1962 to 1985, she worked in one hundred movies. That helped Rozina to shape her own destiny.

Further, she also served as a medium, to reduce the gap between the old and the new generation.

It is the precious link between the old and the new that binds generations. What could be a better example of this link, other than Rozina.

Reverting to the films, her six sumptuous and stimulating movies are listed below:

‘Ghairat da nishaan’, ‘Perdaisi’, ‘Gharnata’, ‘Pyar ki jeet’, ‘Aao pyar karain’, ‘paraye beti’.

Furthermore, her romancing-girl characters created one of Pakistan film industry’s most enduring and beloved personas.

Rozina’s lovely acting of bygone days will surely survive. She is truly once-in-a-lifetime actress.

Movies like the six below will be Rozina’s legacy:

‘Kirdaar’, ‘Love in Europe’, ‘Jaltay suraj kay neechay’, ‘Baharain phir bhi Aa ain gee’, ‘Qasam us waqt ki’, ‘Alif laila’.

Her movies take a realistic approach to the tragedy both in scenery and characterization. She received applause from the public for more movies, like the five below:

‘Funtoosh’, ‘Manzil dooor nahi’, ‘Ustadoan kay ustaad’, ‘Azmat’, ‘Dukh sajna day.’

Memory feeds imagination. The following five movies will apparently refresh our memory of the good old days:

‘Professor’, ‘Insaan aur gadha’, ‘Buddha sheir’, ‘Japani guddi’, ‘Allah meri tauba.’

The last film of Rozina was ‘Mashriq maghrib’, which was shown at theaters in 1985.

Rozina won the Nigar Award for best supporting actress in 1968 for the film ‘Ishara’.

Rozina married sound specialist, Riffat Qureshi, hoping for a happy married life. Bad luck, Riffat left her half way.

Riffat died on September 21, 1995, in Karachi and Rozina was left alone.

As for the films, she called it quits eighteen years ago and lives a retired life.

She stayed at defense housing society, phase 5, for a while. Later, she moved elsewhere.

Rozina could reach beyond time and mortality with this message of love to her loyal fans: ‘Thank You’.