Shamim Ara

The actor Shamim Ara, who passed away at a London hospital on Friday in her late 70s once represented an era of grace and hope in the Pakistan film industry. She herself personified these traits, known as an artiste able to deport herself on all occasions with immense dignity and the professionalism for which she became known in the industry. Many who followed endeavoured to emulate her in every possible way. Indeed, she helped push aside the idea that the world of movies was somehow not appropriate for young women and as such inspired many to take up careers in the field. Sadly, Shamim Ara had left us many years ago. She had fallen into a coma in 2010 after a massive brain haemorrhage and had been under treatment overseas since then, attended by her immediate family. But through the years she had not been forgotten. Her movies such as ‘Naila’, Pakistan’s first motion colour film produced in 1965, remain a favourite with film aficionados even today. Shamim Ara brought a new energy, a new dynamism and a new sense of majesty with movies such as ‘Devdas’ and ‘Doraha’. Shahim Ara – who went on later in life to use her talents as a producer – will also be remembered as the actor around whom Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s famous ‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ was picturised for the film ‘Qaidi’. Shamim Ara possessed all the qualities necessary to depict the beauty and the depth of feeling inherent in the piece of poetry. She used these qualities superbly throughout her career. Her demise will be mourned by many who recall the best days of Lollywood.