Mohammad Saeed Khan (1 January 1937 – 24 May 2005), better known as Rangeela, was a Pakistani

Lollywood Lollywood ( ur, , translit=lâli vuḍ) refers to Pakistan's film industry based in Lahore, previously the base for both Punjabi and Urdu language film production. Lahore has been the center of Pakistani cinema since the partition of ...

actor, singer and director. He is regarded as one of the finest

comedians A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting foolish (as in slapstick), or employing prop comedy. A comedian who addresses an audience dir ...

of the

Pakistani film industry Cinema of Pakistan, popularly known as Lollywood ( ur, ), refers to the filmmaking industry in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to several film studios centres, primarily located in its three largest cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. ...

. He performed in over 300 films in his career spanning over 4 decades.

Early life and career

His birth name was Mohammad Saeed Khan and he was born in Nangarhar Province,

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

. His family moved to

Peshawar Peshawar (; ps, پېښور ; hnd, ; ; ur, ) is the sixth most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 2.3 million. It is situated in the north-west of the country, close to the International border with Afghanistan. It is ...

, Pakistan when he was very young. He took a keen interest in bodybuilding and physical exercises as a teenager. He moved to

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...

at a young age and earned his livelihood by painting billboards for the

. Once, when the shooting of a film was taking place, an actor for the film's jolly character role was needed. The film director asked Mohammad Saeed Khan to play the part which he did. All those present during the shooting were amused by his acting style and he became an actor through sheer luck. Rangeela made his professional cinematic debut in a 1958

Punjabi film Punjabi cinema, sometimes metonymously referred to as Pollywood or Punjwood is the Punjabi-language film industry centered around the Indian state of Punjab, and based in Amritsar and Mohali. The cinema of Punjab has its beginnings with the ...

''Jatti'', directed by ''M. J. Rana''. He started playing humorous roles in movies and, to everybody's surprise, became highly popular. In 1969, he formed 'Rangeela Productions' to produce his own movies. He not only produced films but also directed his productions, sang songs, and wrote some scripts as well. His movies, to the surprise of many film industry stalwarts, attracted a large number of viewers. The film '' Diya Aur Toofan'', released on 9 May 1969, was Rangeela's directional debut. He directed numerous movies under the banner of Rangeela Productions. His acting was showcased in the film ''Rangeela'' (1970), in which he played the title role. His third consecutive hit film was ''Dil Aur Dunya'' (1971), starring

Habib Habib ( ar, حبيب, ''ḥabīb''; ), sometimes written as Habeeb, is an Arabic masculine given name, occasional surname, and honorific, with the meaning "beloved" or "my love", or "darling". It also forms the famous Arabic word ‘''Habibi’'' ...

Aasia Aasia Begum, better known as simply Aasia, (13 November 1952 – 9 March 2013) was a Pakistani film actress who was active in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Early life Aasia was born in 1952 as Firdous in Patiala, Punjab, India. She emigrated f ...

and Rangeela. He brought to the film ''Dil Aur Dunya'', a sobering sense of a director's prowess which is the opposite to his celluloid persona.11th death anniversary of film director Rangeela observed
Dunya TV News, Published 24 May 2016, Retrieved 27 June 2021 When Rangeela produced film ''Dia Aur Toofan'', he sang a song ''Gaa mere manwa gata ja re, janaa hai hamka duur'' under the music direction of Kamal Ahmed. People of the film industry were taken aback to know Rangeela was producing a film. The film attracted a large number of movie-goers. His song also became very popular.

Family

His daughter Farah Deeba is a politician from

while his sons Kamran and Jahanzaib acted in some movies.

Death

Rangeela died of a cardiac arrest on 24 May 2005 at the age of 68. Rangeela was a dominant actor in Pakistani cinema for over forty years. He was married three times and had eight daughters and six sons. One of his daughters is a CPA accountant in America and the other daughter was a member of parliament in Pakistan.(Associated Press of Pakistan
11th death anniversary of legendary comedian Rangeela observed
Daily Times (newspaper), Published 24 May 2016, Retrieved 27 June 2021

Awards

Nigar Award The Nigar Awards ( ur, , translit=Inʿām Negār, lit=Picture Awards) were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The Nigar Awards a ...

for best screenwriter, for film ''Rangeela'' in 1970 *

for best comedian, in the film ''Dil Aur Dunya'' in 1971 *

for best comedian, in the film ''Insaan Aur Gadha'' in 1973 *Special award from

Nigar Awards The Nigar Awards ( ur, , translit=Inʿām Negār, lit=Picture Awards) were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The Nigar Awards a ...

for simultaneously playing three roles in the film ''Meri Zindigi Hai Naghma'' in 1972 *Special award from

for his comic role in the film ''Naukar tay Maalik'' in 1982 *

for best story- writer, in the film ''Sona chandi'' in 1983 *

for best director in the film ''Sona Chandi'' in 1983 *

for best comedian in the film ''Miss Colombo'' in 1984 *

for best comedian in the film ''Baghi Qaidi'' in 1986 *

for best comedian in the film ''Teen yakkay teen chakkay'' in 1991 *

Special Awards, Millennium Award in 1999 *

Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance ( ur, ), officially known as Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sports, an ...

Award in 2005 by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Pakistan film industry Cinema of Pakistan, popularly known as Lollywood ( ur, ), refers to the filmmaking industry in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to several film studios centres, primarily located in its three largest cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. ...

'Remembering legendary Rangeela on his 10th death anniversary'
ARY TV News website, Published 24 May 2015, Retrieved 27 June 2021

Filmography

As a Director

*'' Amanat'' (1981) *''Aurat Raj'' (1979) *''Kubra Ashiq'' (1973) *''Dil Aur Duniya'' (1971) *''Rangeela'' (1970) *'' Diya Aur Toofan'' (1969) *''Meri Mohabbat Teray Hawalay'' *''Ickey ickey wacha'' *''Subha Ka Tara'' *''Ganwaar'' *''Jahaiz'' *''Namak Halal'' *''Kaka Jee'' *''Raja Rani'' *''Sahab Bahadur'' *''Quli''

Producer

*''

Aurat Raj ''Aurat Raj'' (1979) is one of first Pakistani feminist movies. It was produced and directed by Rangeela. It is a satirical movie and was produced during the grim times for women under the conservative dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq's, socio-p ...

'' (1979) *''Kubra Ashiq'' (1973) *''Dil Aur Duniya'' (1971) *''Rangeela'' (1970) *'' Diya Aur Toofan'' (1969)

Playback songs

* 1969 (Film: ''Dia Aur Toofan'' - Urdu) ... ''Ga Meray Manwa, Gata Ja Ray, Jana Hay Ham Ka Door'', Music: Kamal Ahmed, Poet: Rangeela * 1971 (Film: ''Dil Aur Dunya'' - Urdu) ... ''Bata A Dunya Walay, Yeh Kaisi Teri Basti Hay'', Music: Kemal Ahmad, Poet: Kaleem Usmani * 1971 (Film: ''Dil Aur Dunya'' - Urdu) ... ''Lay Chal Ray Chhailva, Sajania Kay Gaun Mein'', Music: Kemal Ahmad, Poet: Kemal Ahmad * 1972 (Film: ''Main Bhi To Insaan Hon'' - Urdu) ... ''Mera Mehboob Meray Pyar Ka Qatil Nikla'', Music: M. Ashraf, Poet:

Shabab Kiranwi Shabab Kiranwi (born Nazir Ahmed; 1925 5 November 1982) was a Pakistani film director, producer, and occasional screenwriter, lyricist and a novelist. He debuted in the Pakistani film industry as a producer and lyricist with ''Jalwa'' (1955) wh ...

Screenwriter

*''Rangeela'' (1970) *''Aurat Raj'' (1979)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rangeela, Saeed Khan 1937 births 2005 deaths Nigar Award winners Recipients of the Pride of Performance Pakistani male comedians Pakistani male film actors Pakistani film producers Pakistani playback singers Afghan emigrants to Pakistan Pashtun people Film directors from Lahore 20th-century Pakistani male singers 20th-century comedians People from Lahore