Shama Zaidi (born 25 September 1938) is an Indian screenplay writer, costume designer, art director, theatre person, art critic, and documentary film maker. She is married to director M. S. Sathyu. Shama Zaidi Was Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at ICA - International Cultural Artifact Film Festival in 2021.

Background

Shama Zaidi is the daughter of

Bashir Hussain Zaidi Sayyid Bashir Hussain Zaidi, CIE, MP (30 July 1898 – 29 March 1992) was a member of the first Lok Sabha and the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 1956 to 1962. He also served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of ...

, a politician and educationist, and his wife Qudsia Zaidi. Her mother Qudsia was an associate of

Habib Tanvir Habib Tanvir (1 September 1923 – 8 June 2009) was one of the most popular Indian Urdu, Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet and actor. He was the writer of plays such as, ''Agra Bazar'' (1954) and '' Charandas Chor'' (1975). A pi ...

, the

communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, ...

ideologue and theatre personality. Shama was the only daughter of the couple and she has two brothers. Both her parents were closely associated with the "progressive" communist movement in India, and Shama grew up in a strongly

left-wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...

environment. She was educated at

Woodstock School Woodstock School is an international coeducational residential school located in Landour, a small hill station contiguous with the town of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Woodstock is one of the oldest residen ...

Mussoorie Mussoorie is a hill station and a municipal board, near Dehradun city in the Dehradun district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is about from the state capital of Dehradun and north of the national capital of New Delhi. The hill s ...

, and then at Miranda House,

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Hous ...

. She has a bachelor's degree in English from

Delhi University Delhi University (DU), formally the University of Delhi, is a collegiate central university located in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1922 by an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly and is recognized as an Institute of Eminence (IoE) ...

, and a diploma in stage design from the

Slade School of Art The UCL Slade School of Fine Art (informally The Slade) is the art school of University College London (UCL) and is based in London, England. It has been ranked as the UK's top art and design educational institution. The school is organised as ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. She is praised for her excellent screen writing in T.V serial "Bharat Ek Khoj" .

Career

Journalism

* Art critic for '' The Statesman'', '' The Patriot'' and ''

Shankar's Weekly ''Shankar's Weekly'' was an Indian satirical magazine published between 1948 and 1975. It was founded and run by Keshav Shankar Pillai, a pioneering political cartoonist. The magazine has been compared to the UK's ''Punch''. The weekly printed i ...

'', New Delhi. * Written numerous articles on film, theatre, and television for ''Cinema Vision'', ''Cinema in India'', etc., and other journals and newspapers.

Theatre

Zaidi became interested in costume design while in school at Woodstock, Mussoorie, which had extensive theatre activities. Also due to the influence of her mother Qudsia Zaidi, who started the Hindustani Theatre in the late 1950s with Habib Tanvir and other friends. In her college days at Miranda House she started helping out with the stage productions there, apart from taking an active interest in Hindustani Theatre. After her B.A., Shama went to

, London, for a one-year course in stage and costume design. She then worked in Germany at the Frankfurt Municipal Theatre as an apprentice and for some time as an observer in the

Berliner Ensemble The Berliner Ensemble () is a German theatre company established by actress Helene Weigel and her husband, playwright Bertolt Brecht, in January 1949 in East Berlin. In the time after Brecht's exile, the company first worked at Wolfgang Langho ...

. (Apprentice in stage, film and TV design to Herr Hein Heckroth,

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on it ...

am Main,

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 ...

. Herr Heckroth was the designer of Red Shoes Hoffman's Tales, etc.) She returned to Delhi in 1961 and designed costumes for Hindustani Theatre before shifting to Bombay in 1965 where she worked as Writer, Designer, Performer and Director for

Indian People's Theatre Association Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) is the oldest association of theatre-artists in India. IPTA was formed in 1943 during the British rule in India, and promoted themes related to the Indian freedom struggle. Its goal was to bring cultu ...

(IPTA), Mumbai. Since 1980 she has designed more for films and television than theatre. She worked as a writer, director, costume designer or art director for the following stage productions –

Stage productions

* ''Chou En-lai'', a historical costume pageant at Lodi Gardens, New Delhi

Hindustani Theatre

* Shakuntala (1958) – Costume Design * Mitti ki Gaadi (1958)- Costume Design & Artiste * Khalid Ki Khala (1958)- Costume Design & Artiste * Mudrarakshas (1962) – Direction & Costume Design * Sufaid Kundali (1963) – Costume Design & Artiste * Mera Naam Trufaldeen (1964)- Adaptation & Costume Design

Indian People's Theatre Association, Mumbai

She had been associated with the IPTA's Inter collegiate Drama Competition since 1972 as a jury member. * Translated/adapted over a dozen plays into Hindustani from various languages.

Cinema

She has written scripts/dialogues for documentaries and feature films with

Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (; 2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian director, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, essayist, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher, and music composer. One of the greatest auteurs of ...

Shyam Benegal Shyam Benegal (born 14 December 1934) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Often regarded as the pioneer of parallel cinema, he is widely considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. He has received ...

, M. S. Sathyu and others. She has also worked as Costume Designer and Art Director.

Filmography

* ''

Charandas Chor Charandas Chor (''Charandas the Thief'') is a 1975 children's film by noted director Shyam Benegal, based on the famous play by Habib Tanvir, which itself was an adaptation of a classical Rajasthani folktale by Vijaydan Detha. The lyrics of th ...

'' (1975) (The Thief Charandas) Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi Based on

's retelling of a famous Rajasthani folk tale. Songs were by

and most of the dialogues were improvised by the folk artistes. * ''

Garam Hawa ''Garm Hava'' (translation: Hot Winds or Scorching Winds) is a 1973 Indian drama film directed by M. S. Sathyu, with Balraj Sahni as the lead. It was written by Kaifi Azmi and Shama Zaidi, based on an unpublished short story by noted Urdu writ ...

'' (Hot Winds) ''1974 / Colour / 136min / Urdu'' Direction M S Sathyu; Screenplay Shama Zaidi &

Kaifi Azmi Kaifi Azmi (born Athar Husain Rizvi; 14 January 1919 – 10 May 2002) was an Indian Urdu poet. He is remembered as the one who brought Urdu literature to Indian motion pictures. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jaun Elia and others he participat ...

; Costume Design Shama Zaidi Based on a short story by Ismat Chugtai, which she expanded into a film treatment.

Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay The Filmfare Best Screenplay Award is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. Superlatives ;Most Awards *Salim–Javed – 3 * Basu Chatterjee – 3 * Rajkumar Hirani – 3 *Mani Ratnam – 2 ...

(shared with Kaifi Azmi). * ''

Manthan ''Manthan'', also released under the translated title ''The Churning'', is a 1976 Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal, inspired by the pioneering milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, and is written jointly by him and Vijay Tendulkar. ...

'' (The Churning) ''1976 / Colour / 134min / Hindi'' Direction

; Art direction Shama Zaidi * ''

Shatranj Ke Khilari ''Shatranj Ke Khilari'', also subtitled and later internationally released with the translated title ''The Chess Players'', is a 1977 Indian film written and directed by Satyajit Ray, based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name ...

'' शतरंज के खिलाड़ी (Chess Players) ''1977 / Hindi'' Direction

; Costume Design Shama Zaidi Also assisted Ray with research on the background material and translated dialogues with Javed Siddiqi for the Indian characters in Urdu. * ''

Kanneshwara Rama ''Kanneshwara Rama'' ( kn, ಕನ್ನೇಶ್ವರ ರಾಮ; English: ''The Legendary Outlaw'') is a 1977 Kannada-language political film directed by M. S. Sathyu. The film features an ensemble cast including Anant Nag, Shabana Azmi, Amol ...

'' (The Legendary Outlaw) ''1977 / Colour / 137min / Kannada & Hindi'' Direction M S Sathyu; Script Shama Zaidi Based on the exploits of a legendary dacoit of the Malnad region in Karnataka. * ''

Bhumika Bhūmikā (Sanskrit: भूमिका) is derived from the word, ''Bhūmi'', meaning ''earth'', ''soil'', ''ground'' or ''character''. Hinduism The Upanishads speak about the seven ''bhūmikās'' or ''jñānabhūmis'' (fields of knowledge) or ...

'' (The Role) ''1977 / Colour / 142min / Hindi'' Direction

; Art direction Shama Zaidi Based on the biography of

Hansa Wadkar Hansa Wadkar (1923–1971) was a Marathi and Hindi film and stage actress of Indian cinema. She started her acting career at the age of thirteen years, as a heroine in the bilingual film ''Vijaychi Lagne'' (1936). Wadkar went on to make a na ...

, a star of the Marathi folk theatre and cinema of the 1940s. * '' Umrao Jaan'' (The Courtesan) ''Colour / Hindi'' Direction

Muzaffar Ali Muzaffar Ali (born 21 October 1944) is an Indian filmmaker, fashion designer, poet, artist, cultural revivalist, and social worker. Biography Ali was born in Lucknow in 1944. The eldest son of Raja Syed Sajid Husain Ali, the ruling prince of ...

; Script Shama Zaidi & Javed Siddiqi Based on a 19th-century Urdu novel. * ''

Chakra Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...

'' (The Wheel) ''1980 / Colour / 140min / Hindi'' Direction Robin (Rabindra) Dharmraja; Script & Dialogues Shama Zaidi & Javed Siddiqi Based on the novel by

Jaywant Dalvi Jaywant Dalvi (14 August 1925 – 16 September 1994) was a prominent contemporary Marathi writer in Maharashtra, India, originally from Arawali (Dist.Sindhudurg, Tal. Vengurle) in Maharashtra. He worked as an assistant editor at Marathi newspa ...

. * ''Bara/ Sookha'' (Famine) ''1981 / Colour / 140min / Kannada & Hindi'' Direction M S Sathyu; Screenplay & Dialogues Shama Zaidi & Javed Siddiqi Based on a short novel by U R Ananthamurthy. * '' Aarohan'' (The Ascent) ''1982'' Direction

; Script Shama Zaidi Based on a famous land dispute case. * ''

Mandi Mandi may refer to: Places * Mandı, Azerbaijan India * Mandi, Jammu and Kashmir, a town on the Mandi River in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir * Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, a city in Himachal Pradesh ** Mandi State, former princely s ...

'' (The Marketplace) ''1983 / Colour / 160min / Hindi'' Direction

; Script & Screenplay Shama Zaidi,

Satyadev Dubey Satyadev Dubey (13 July 1936 – 25 December 2011) was an Indian theatre director, actor, playwright, screenwriter & film director. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1971. He won the 1978 National Film Award for Best Scr ...

* '' Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya'' (The Paths I Have Trod) ''1985 / Colour / Hindi'' Direction M S Sathyu; Original Screenplay Shama Zaidi * '' Susman'' (The Essence) ''1986 / Colour / 140min / Hindi'' Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi Original screenplay on the Ikat handloom weavers of Andhra. * ''

Trikaal Trikal (Past, Present and Future) is a 1985 Indian movie written and directed by Shyam Benegal, set in Goa during the twilight of Portuguese rule, It marked the return of Leela Naidu in her first film appearance since 1969. The film was sel ...

'' (Past, Present, Future) ''1986'' Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi &

Based on an idea by Shyam Benegal. * ''

Antarnaad Antarnaad ( hi, अंतरनाद) ("Inner voice") was a 1991 Hindi film made by Shyam Benegal, based on the Swadhyay Movement by Pandurang Shastri Athavale. Cast * Shabana Azmi * Kulbhushan Kharbanda * Shobha Khote * Om Puri * Girish ...

'' (The Inner Voice) ''1993'' Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi &

Sunil Shanbag Sunil Shanbag (born 1956) is an Indian theatre director, screenwriter and documentary film-maker. He has graduated from Mumbai University, and although he didn't have any formal training in theatre, he has worked extensively with Satyadev Dubey ...

An original screenplay based on the Swadhyaya socio-religious movement founded by Pandurang Shastri Athavale. * ''

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda ''Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda'' () is a 1992 Indian Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal and based on the novel The Sun's Seventh Horse by Dharmavir Bharati. It won the 1993 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The self-reflexive fi ...

'' (The Seventh Horse of the Sun) ''1994'' Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi A puzzle screenplay based on the novel by

Dharamvir Bharati Dharamvir Bharati (25 December 1926 – 4 September 1997) was a renowned Hindi poet, author, playwright and a social thinker of India. He was the chief editor of the popular Hindi weekly magazine '' Dharmayug'', from 1960 till 1987.The Illustr ...

. * ''

Mammo ''Mammo'' is a 1994 Indian Hindi film by Shyam Benegal. It stars Farida Jalal, Surekha Sikri, Amit Phalke and Rajit Kapur. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 1995. Farida Jalal won Filmfare Critics Award ...

'' ''1995'' Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi &

Khalid Mohamed Khalid Mohamed is an Indian journalist, editing, editor, Film criticism, film critic, screenwriter and film director. He formerly worked for the ''Hindustan Times'' and was the lead editor for ''Filmfare'' magazine. He is the son of Bollywoo ...

* ''

The Making of the Mahatma ''The Making of the Mahatma'' is a 1996 joint Indian - South African produced film, directed by Shyam Benegal, about the early life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also known as Mahatma Gandhi, ''Great Soul'') during his 21 years in South Afric ...

'' ''1996'' Direction

; Script Shama Zaidi,

Fatima Meer Fatima Meer (12 August 1928 – 12 March 2010) was a South African writer, academic, screenwriter, and prominent anti-apartheid activist. Early life Fatima Meer was born in the Grey Streets of Durban, South Africa, into a middle-class famil ...

An Indo-South African co production on Mahatma Gandhi's life in South Africa. * ''

Sardari Begum ''Sardari Begum'' is a 1996 Indian musical film directed by Shyam Benegal. The film stars Kiron Kher, Amrish Puri, Rajit Kapur and Rajeshwari Sachdev. The film's lead actress Kiron Kher won the 1997 National Film Award - Special Jury Award. ...

'' ''1997 / Colour / 123min / Urdu'' Direction

; Screenplay Shama Zaidi &

* '' Nishant'' Art direction Shama Zaidi * '' Mrigtrishna'' Costume Design Shama Zaidi * '' Haribhari'' ''2000 / Colour / Hindi'' Direction

; Script & Dialogues Shama Zaidi A film on women's empowerment made for the Ministry of Family Welfare. * ''

Zubeidaa ''Zubeidaa'' is a 2001 Indian film directed by Shyam Benegal and written by Khalid Mohammed. It stars Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpayee, Surekha Sikri, Rajit Kapoor, Lillete Dubey, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, and Shakti Kapoor. A.R. Rah ...

'' ''2001/ Colour / Hindi'' Direction

; Additional screenplay and dialogues Shama Zaidi * '' Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero'' ''2002-04/ Colour/Hindi-English'' Direction

; Script and Dialogues Shama Zaidi & Atul Tiwari A film on the last years of

Subhas Chandra Bose Subhas Chandra Bose ( ; 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945 * * * * * * * * *) was an Indian nationalist whose defiance of British authority in India made him a hero among Indians, but his wartime alliances with Nazi Germany and Imperi ...

for Sahara Entertainment * '' Chamki Chameli'' ''2005-2006/ Colour/ Hindi'' Direction

; Screenplay and dialogues Shama Zaidi & Atul Tiwari A film inspired by the 19th-century novella "

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the ...

" by

Prosper Mérimée Prosper Mérimée (; 28 September 1803 – 23 September 1870) was a French writer in the movement of Romanticism, and one of the pioneers of the novella, a short novel or long short story. He was also a noted archaeologist and historian, and a ...

* '' Mujib: The Making of a Nation'' ''2019-22/ Colour/Bengali'' Direction

; Script and Dialogues Shama Zaidi & Atul Tiwari A film on the life of

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( bn, শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান; 17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975), often shortened as Sheikh Mujib or Mujib and widely known as Bangabandhu (meaning ''Friend of Bengal''), was a Bengali polit ...

Short films

References

External links

*
Garam Hawa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaidi, Shama 1938 births Living people Indian Muslims Indian women screenwriters Indian art directors Indian costume designers 20th-century Indian women artists People from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh Filmfare Awards winners Delhi University alumni Alumni of the Slade School of Fine Art Indian People's Theatre Association people Indian scenic designers Women artists from Uttar Pradesh Indian women journalists Indian women designers 20th-century Indian designers Hindi screenwriters 21st-century Indian designers 21st-century Indian women artists Screenwriters from Uttar Pradesh Women graphic designers Twelvers Indian Shia Muslims