Noor Mohammed Charlie

2021-04-16T11:51:10Z

2409:4050:E1F:88FE:F465:1581:C258:F845:

{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Noor Mohammed Charlie
| image = CharlieMusafir_(1940).jpg
| caption = Charlie in ''[[Musafir (1940 film)|Musafir]]'' (1940)
| birth_date = 1 July 1911
| birth_place = Ranavav village, [[Porbandar]], [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1983|6|30|1911|7|1}}
| death_place = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], Pakistan
| birth_name = Noor Mohammed Memon
| years_active = 1925–1969
| spouse =
| occupation = Actor, singer, director
| children = 12
| relatives =
}}
'''Noor Mohammed Charlie''' (1911–1983), popularly known as Charlie was an Indian actor who later moved to Pakistan born on 1 July 1911 in Ranavav village, [[Porbandar]], [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], India.<ref name=mazhardk>{{cite web|title=Noor Mohammed Charlie|url=http://mazhar.dk/film/artists/details.php?pid=2840|website=mazhar.dk|publisher=mazhar.dk|access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=imprints>{{cite web|last1=Babu|first1=Sathish|title=Noor Mohammed Charlie|url=http://imprintsonindianfilmscreen.blogspot.in/2014/04/noor-mohammed-charlie.html|website=imprintsonindianfilmsreen.blogspot.in|access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> Best known for his comedy roles, he was the first 'star' comedian and has been referred to as India's first comedy king.<ref name=TOI>{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Saeed|title=India's 1st comedy king|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Indias-1st-comedy-king/articleshow/14542206.cms|access-date=23 August 2014|agency=TOI|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd|date=1 July 2012}}</ref> He acted with several top actresses of those days as a comic hero. Being a great fan of [[Charlie Chaplin]], he took the name "Charlie" as his screen name following the release of his popular film ''The Indian Charlie'' (1933).<ref name=Crest>{{cite news|last1=Roychoudhury|first1=Amborish|title=Laughing Out Loud|url=http://www.timescrest.com/culture/laughing-out-loud-10364|access-date=23 August 2014|agency=The Times of India Crest Edition|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd|date=18 May 2013}}</ref> He had a successful career in [[Partition of India|pre-partition India]] from 1925–1946. His shift to [[Pakistan]] following partition saw his career going down with less than 12 films.<ref name="TOI"/> He shifted to the US to live with his son and returned later to Pakistan where he died in 1983.<ref name="mazhardk"/>

==Early years==
Noor Mohammed was born into a [[Memons|Memon]] family.<ref name=cineplot>{{cite web|last1=Shahid|first1=Zulqarnain|title=Charlie|url=http://cineplot.com/charlie/|website=cineplot.com|publisher=cineplot|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> Hating school as a young boy, Noor Mohammed often played truant to visit cinema theatres. At an early age he started working at repairing broken umbrellas.<ref name="TOI"/> In 1925 he was employed by the [[Imperial Film Company]] at Rs. 40 a month when he walked boldly in announcing that he could sing.<ref name="TOI"/>

==Career==
Charlie made his debut in Krishna Film Company's ''Akalna Bardan'' (1928) directed by [[Prafulla Ghosh]]. At this time he was billed as Noor Mohammed and did other films like ''Lekh Par Mekh'' and ''Vasant Leela''. In 1929 he was signed up by Elfin Film Company for ''The Indian Charlie'' which was however not released till 1933.<ref name="Narwekar">{{cite book|last1=Narwekar|first1=Sanjit|title=The Story of Hindi Film Comedy –The Indian Charlie|date=2005|publisher=Rupa Publications|location=India|isbn=9788129108593|pages=21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ya2CRt7wPXUC&pg=PA1911|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> His [[Ezra Mir]] directed film ''Zarina'' in 1932 with the advent of Talkies made him a popular actor. He acted under Ezra Mir in one more film ''Premi Pagal'' (1933) and with Sarvottam Badami in [[Chandrahasa (1933 film)|Chandrahasa]] (1933). These films made him very popular with the audience.<ref name="TOI"/> Finally, in 1933 ''The Indian Charlie'' was released which "became such a huge sensation", catapulting him to stardom.<ref name="Crest"/> The success of the film was the reason for the change of name to Noor Mohammed "Charlie", and in later films as just "Charlie".

In 1934, Charlie joined Ranjit Film Company acting in successful films like ''Toofani Taruni'' (1934), ''Toofan Mail'' (1934) and ''Barrister's Wife'' (1935). He often co-starred with other famous comedians like [[Dixit (actor)|Dixit]] and Ghory.<ref name="Narwekar p. 23">Narwekar, p. 23</ref> The 1940s saw him acting in several hit films. ''[[Musafir (1940 film)|Musafir]]'' (1940), directed by [[Chaturbhuj Doshi]], in which Charlie played a foreign-returned prince who on his return finds his kingdom in a mess, became very popular. Other films of this time include ''[[Dhandora]]'' (1941), which he directed, A. R. Kardar's ''Pagal'' (1941), [[Jayant Desai]]'s ''[[Bansari (1943 film)|Bansari]]'' (1943), [[Mehboob Khan]]'s [[Taqdeer (1943 film)|Taqdeer]] (1943), [[Jayant Desai]]'s ''Manorama'' (1944), Mahesh Chandra's ''Chand Tara'' (1945), [[Zia Sarhadi]]'s ''Yateem'' (1945) and [[Phani Majumdar]]'s ''Insaaf'' (1946).<ref name="Crest"/> He starred with top actresses like Swarnalata, Mehtab and [[Leela Chitnis]]. He sang with artists like [[Suraiya]] and [[Amirbai Karnataki]]. At the height of his success he charged more than [[Prithviraj Kapoor]] and other top stars of that time.<ref name="TOI"/>

==Career in Pakistan==
Following the [[Partition of India]] in 1947, Charlie opted to live in [[Pakistan]]. His first film in Pakistan was the Daud Chand directed ''Mundri'' (1949) in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]. He then did Nazeer Ajmeri's ''Beqarar'' (1950), both films were well appreciated.<ref name="cineplot"/> Though he went on to act in about a dozen [[Urdu]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] and Punjabi films in Pakistan, not all were successful.<ref name="mazhardk"/><ref name="Crest"/> He came back to India in 1960 and acted in three films; ''Zameen Ke Taare'' (1960), ''Zamana Badal Gaya'' (1961) and ''Akeli Mat Jaiyo'' (1963). According to Sanjit Narwekar in his book Eena Meena Deeka: The Story of Hindi Film Comedy, the Indian Government at that time refused Charlie citizenship and he had to return to Pakistan. After acting in a few more [[Lollywood]] films, Charlie went to US to join his son.<ref name="Narwekar p. 29">Narwekar, p. 29</ref>

==Family and death==
Noor Mohammed Charlie had six sons and six daughters. He returned to Pakistan from US and died on 30 June 1983 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.<ref name="mazhardk"/> His one son was a renowned film and TV actor, Latif Charlie, who died on 19 July 2011 at the age of 75.<ref name="Dawn">{{cite news|title=Latif Charlie will be missed|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/648176/|access-date=23 August 2014|agency=Dawn Media Group|issue=Inpaper Magazine|publisher=Dawn.com|date=30 July 2011}}</ref> Noor Mohammed's grandson (Latif Charlie's Son) is Yawar Charlie, who was a former actor having acted in TV episodes of ''JAG'' and ''General Hospital'' and now specialises in West Hollywood CA Homes and Property Listings.<ref name=Aerogram>{{cite web|last1=Yalamanchili|first1=Pavani|title=Hot News Mix|url=http://theaerogram.com/hot-news-mix-the-sherwani-clad-groom-at-the-grammys-speaks-out-and-indias-skiers-finally-get-new-skis-for-the-olympics/|website=theaerogram.com|publisher=The Aerogram|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=Yawar>{{cite web|last1=Charlie|first1=Yawar|title=Yawar Charlie|url=http://www.yawarcharlie.com/|website=yawarcharle.com|publisher=PropertyMinder|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> Another grandson, through Latif Charlie, is RJ Dino Ali.<ref>Rabia Mushtaq (07 Oct - 13 Oct, 2017), [http://www.magtheweekly.com/detail/297-dino-ali-keeping-his-scene-on "DINO ALI - Keeping His Scene On"], ''MagTheWeekly''. Retrieved 22 March 2019.</ref>
his other grandson through another son, Noorarash Charlie, is a designer/theater actor based in Tehran.<ref>https://www.magland.ir/magazine/12/issue/810/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-1130</ref>

==Influences==
[[Chandulal Shah]], the owner of [[Ranjit Studios|Ranjit Film Company]] stated in one of his interviews that Charlie "ruled the roost" among comedians.<ref name="Narwekar p. 27">Narwekar, p. 27</ref> According to film historian Harish Raghuvanshi as quoted in [[Times of India]], "Noor Mohammed developed a style of comedy of his own, which influenced great comedians like [[Johnny Walker (actor)|Johnny Walker]] and [[Mehmood Ali|Mehmood]]."<ref name="TOI"/> [[Abrar Alvi]] mentions that Johnny Walker was a "great admirer" of Charlie and copied his body style and "mannerisms".<ref name=Saran>{{cite book|last1=Saran, Alvi.|first1=Sathya, Abrar.|title=Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey|date=2008|publisher=Penguin Books India|location=India|isbn=9780670082216|pages=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JVD7dajMt3YC&q=Noor+Mohammed+Charlie}}</ref>

He was the first comedian to have songs picturised on him. His "Palat Tera Dhyan Kidhar Hai", under the music direction of [[Naushad]] and with lyrics by Arshad Gujarati remains popular with copies in later films. His other popular song was "Zindagi Hai Fareb Fareb Se Nibhaaye Jaa" from ''Chand Tara'' (1945).<ref name="Narwekar p. 26">Narwekar, p. 26</ref> This trend of a singing comedian was later picked up by Johnny Walker and Mehmood. His film ''Barrister's Wife'' (1935) had the first [[filmi qawwali]] picturised on him to appear in Indian Cinema, "Nazariya Taane Hai Teer Kaman", composed by Rewashankar, and "Banne Khan", with lyrics by Pandit Narayan Prasad Betaab.<ref name=Singh>{{cite web|last1=Singh|first1=Surjit|title=1935 Article|url=http://hindi-films-songs.com/articles/1935.html|website=hindi-film-songs.com|publisher=Surjit Singh|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===India===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Director
|-
| 1932 || ''Sharafi Loot'' || [[D. N. Madhok]]
|-
| 1932 || ''Zarina'' || [[Ezra Mir]]
|-
| 1932 || ''Premi Pagal'' || Ezra Mir
|-
| 1933 || ''The Indian Charlie'' ||
|-
| 1933 || ''[[Chandrahasa (1933 film)|Chandrahasa]]'' || [[Sarvottam Badami]]
|-
| 1934 || ''[[Mohabbat Ki Kasauti]]'' || [[P. C. Barua]]
|-
| 1934 || ''Toofan Mail'' || [[Jayant Desai]]
|-
| 1934 || ''Toofani Taruni'' || [[Chandulal Shah]]
|-
| 1934 || ''Sitamgarh'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1934 || ''Farzand-e-Hind'' aka ''[[Leatherface (1939 film)|Leatherface]]'' || [[Vijay Bhatt]]
|-
| 1934 || ''Nadira'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1935 || ''Noor-e-Watan'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1935 || ''Keemti Aansu'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1935 || ''Raat Ki Rani'' ||
|-
| || ''College Kanya'' ||
|-
| 1935 || ''Barrister's Wife'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1935 || ''Desh Dasi'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1936 || ''Sipahi Ki Sajni'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1936 || ''Laheri Laila'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1936 || ''Rangila Raja'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1936 || ''Raj Ramani'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1936 || ''Jwalamukhi'' || D. N. Madhok
|-
| 1936 || ''Chalak Chor'' || Raja Sandow
|-
| 1936 || ''Matlabi Duniya'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1936 || ''Dil Ka Daku'' || D. N. Madhok
|-
| 1937 || ''Dil Farosh'' || D. N. Madhok
|-
| 1937 || ''Pardesi Pankhi'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1937 || ''Shama Parwana'' || D. N. Madhok
|-
| 1937 || ''Zambo'' || M. D. Bhavnani
|-
| || ''Zameen Ka Chand'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1938 || ''[[Secretary (1938 film)|Secretary]]'' || Chaturbhuj Doshi
|-
| 1938 || ''Ghunghatwali'' || Kanjibhai Rathod
|-
| 1938 || ''Rikshawala'' || Ezra Mir
|-
| 1938 || ''Bazigar'' || Manibhai Vyas
|-
| 1939 || ''Ban Ki Chidiya'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1939 || ''Nadi Kinare'' || Manibhai Vyas
|-
| 1939 || ''[[Thokar]]'' || [[A. R. Kardar]]
|-
| 1940 || ''[[Aaj Ka Hindustan]]'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1940 || ''[[Achhut]]'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1940 || ''[[Musafir (1940 film)|Musafir]]'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1941 || ''[[Dhandora]]'' || Charlie
|-
| 1941 || ''[[Pagal (film)|Pagal]]'' || A. R. Kardar
|-
| 1943 || ''[[Taqdeer (1943 film)|Taqdeer]]'' || Mehboob Khan
|-
| 1943 || ''[[Sanjog (1943 film)|Sanjog]]'' || A. R. Kardar
|-
| 1943 || ''[[Bansari (1943 film)|Bansari]]'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1943 || ''[[Pagli]]'' || Shankar Mehta
|-
| 1944 || ''[[Raunaq]]'' || Dwarka Khosla
|-
| 1944 || ''Manorama'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1944 || ''Us Paar'' || Chimanlal M. Luhar
|-
| 1945 || ''Ghazal'' || Zahur Raja
|-
| 1945 || ''Chand Tara'' || Mahesh Chandra
|-
| 1945 || ''Yateem'' || Zia Sarhadi
|-
| 1946 || ''Aayi Bahar'' || Shankar Mehta
|-
| 1946 || ''Dulha'' || Manibhai Vyas
|-
| 1946 || ''Insaf'' || [[Phani Majumdar]]
|-
| 1960 || ''Zameen Ke Taare'' || Chandulal Shah
|-
| 1961 || ''Zamana Badal Gaya'' || Jayant Desai
|-
| 1963 || ''Akeli Mat Jaiyo'' || Nandlal Jaswantlal
|}

===Pakistan===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Language !! Director
|-
| 1950 || ''Beqarar'' || Urdu || Nazir Ajmeri
|-
| 1951 || ''Akeli'' || Urdu || M. M. Mehra
|-
| 1956 || ''Umar Marvi'' || Sindhi || Sheikh Hassan
|-
| 1958 || ''Pardesi'' || Sindhi || S. A. Ghaffar
|-
| 1958 || ''Sitaron Ki Dunya'' || Urdu || M. H. Mohib
|-
| 1958 || ''Prai Zamin'' || Urdu || Sheikh Hassan
|-
| 1965 || ''Pilpili Sahib'' || Urdu || Aslam Irani
|-
| 1967 || ''Kafir'' || Urdu || M. Saleem
|-
| 1969 || ''Pyar Ki Jeet'' || Urdu || Jameel Mirza
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|3825140}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQnvah1Uq0 Palat Tera Dhyan Kidhar Hai] YouTube

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charlie}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Pakistani male film actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Urdu cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Sindhi cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani male actors]]
[[Category:Memon people]]

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Noor Mohammed Charlie