"I HAVE EVERYTHING"

Haji-Murad Haji-Ahmedovich Yagizarov is the People's Artist of Azerbaijan, actor of theater and cinema. He became popular when he was a movie actor back in the 1960s. He starred in the film studios Azerbaijanfilm, Barrandovfilm (Czechoslovakia), Georgiafilm (Gerogia), and a film studio in Germany in the early 2000s. His creative background includes forty role titles such as Choban Ayaz ("Stepmother"), Suleiman ("Arshin Mal Alan"), Mustafa ("The Day after Tomorrow at Midnight"), Caliph Mamun ("Babek"), Atabey ("Nizami"), Fattah Fattahov ("The Knights of the Black Lake"), The Minister of War (" Do not be afraid, I'm with you "), Vizier ("Antim Iveriano"), Colonel Raginsky ("Speer and He"), etc. In 1986, for the role of NKVD agent Mustafa Mammadov in "The Day After Tomorrow at Midnight", Yagizarov was awarded the title of laureate of the KGB Prize of the USSR and the State Prize of the Republic.

Where is the best place to spend the summer time in Baku? One will say by the sea, at a resort, on a tourist trip, etc. But People's Artist of Azerbaijan Murad Yagizarov believes that there is no better place to have rest than in the circle of loving and beloved people. If they are close to you, then a pleasant vacation is guaranteed on any geographical point of the world. In general, the actor claims that the best place for recreation, new emotional impressions, cultural and cognitive discoveries is our Country of Fire. In fact, Azerbaijan has been famous for the cordiality and hospitality since ancient times. We have been communicating with him through the social networks. Yagizarov is currently on vacation at one of the picturesque corners of our homeland. We decided to talk with him on the eve of the Azerbaijan National Cinema Day, despite the fact that Haji-murad is more of a theater actor.

Azerbaijanis are unique. I think that we have no equals as far as the culture of hospitality and the attention to strangers are concerned.

Do not the peoples of the North Caucasus and the entire Transcaucasus claim the same?

They do! But we are more open to our guests. We immediately open our arms and are glad to have the guests throughout the whole period of their stay with us. Although in ancient times in the North Caucasus, a stay of more than three days would arise suspicion of the hosts. They would think that their guest had conceived something unkind, and were alarmed.

Do you travel often?

No, not much.

If it happens, do you travel with your wife?

It depends. But I feel more comfortable when Irina is with me.

Is she your Muse?

You can say so. I had a chance to meet her 38 years ago. Before that, I did not have permanent relations with women. But Irina has become not just my Muse. She is also a person who has deeply influenced my worldview. I am grateful to her for that, and for our beautiful daughter and a wonderful grandson.

Do you think a person who decides to be actor is better not have a family, but remain a loner immersed in art?

Why? I do not think so. But you know, this is very individual. There are actors who prefer to remain alone preserving the mythical "freedom" and do not marry until their hair turn grey, before the pre-retirement age. Not because they are in less demand professionally. I think this is because they simply do not want to burden themselves with responsibilities, and not because they are liberating personal space for the sake of art. Again, this is my subjective view.

So, does the age matter in your profession? Or the old people must leave the scene?

Everything is relative. If a person has an excellent memory, is in fine physical form, he can work for up to a hundred years, like Zeldin, for example. And if the actor forgets the text, confuses the mise-en-scenes, stumbles on the stage - it is necessary to leave. Art does not tolerate old age in the literal and figurative sense of the word.

I have always tried to find an answer to this question: why do men choose, in fact, a feminine profession of acting?

I have never researched psychological aspects of this matter. But as for me, I will answer: I would like not to miss the opportunity to live many lives. We live only once while the actors have many lives. I was very attracted to this.

It seemed that men do acting to attract public attention, especially the girls. Sort of a desire to seem special, chosen, exalted above all ...

It's funny! I do not know. Perhaps this also happens. But not with me. Before I became a college student, I have made some serious progress in sports. So, I was not deprived the attention of the opposite sex.

You have been very lucky both as a movie and theatre actor. How many roles have you played in total?

In theater about 200, I think. In cinema - 40.

Which of them has become a "training" master class for understanding the profession?

Well, if we talk about the theater, then, probably, the one that helped to uncover an understanding of the deep essence of the acting profession was the role of Lieutenant-Commander Gusev in "Valentine and Valentine." The role was small. Just a single appearance. And my part was short. But this role gave me an opportunity to understand intellectual, physical and mental levels of the wonderful profession I have.

What about the movies?

That was the role of Suleiman in "Arshin Mal Alan". But the movies are different because there is no immediate progress of the process. For this reason, the assessments of the work, and the attitude towards them are somewhat different.

How do you feel about your character Suleiman in Tofig Taghizade’s "Arshin Mal Alan"?

I feel great! The director gave me a unique opportunity to translate the biography of my ancestors on the screen, who, like Suleiman, received education abroad, were enlightened people and, having penetrated European culture, successfully combined national and European cultures. So, reading the script, I realized that Suleiman is what I'm interested in, important and necessary. Although initially the director wanted to try me for the role of Asker.

Does the actor feel himself an actor rarely appearing on stage?

Yes. They say that the actor is not a profession, but a diagnosis. So I'm always in the profession. Internal work on rethinking and life, and profession, learning new is never interrupted. The need for analytical work of the mind and soul lives in you regardless of your desire. This process is programmed by the actor's profession.

It turns out that the profession becomes in some ways a hobby?

Well, as far as its applied aspects are concerned: books, museums, films, music - classical and popular, travel, communication with people. However, when I was a child, I had a practical experience of my hobby. Having graduated from the Faculty of Theater and Cinema at the Institute of Arts, I had begun learning vocals from my teacher Milovanov. I had studied for four years but have not received a documentary certification. Because I had to interrupt my studies for personal reasons.

Are you a romantic or pragmatist?

I was a romantic. But the youth is over, the book ideas about life are confronted with reality. Under the weight of realities, my attitude to the process called "life" has changed.

Do you have the most favorite place in Baku?

In childhood, it was the Boulevard, where we, children of wartime, used to spend a lot of time. But now my favorite places are where I can meet my friends, sit with them, talk, drink some good wine. Communication is an important component of human life. With age, you begin to understand and appreciate it.

What do you value most in the human character now?

Now and always: morality, spiritual purity. I believe that these qualities allow a person to experience self-esteem and maintain an unblemished reputation in society.

You published a book, where you tell about yourself and your time in it. Are you working on a new one now?

Before the publication of the book, I wrote a film story, which was published in the journal Literary Azerbaijan. I did not even think about writing a new book. It's as it happens. Perhaps tomorrow I have such an idea and come to mind. I do not know…

They say that your great-grandfather was Shamakhi khan, Mahmud Agha Aliyev?

This is true.

Walking in Shamakhi, did not you feel a desire to become a shepherd as was your character Ayaz from "Stepmother"?

Probably, for the beauty of the story, I should have said yes. But no. I did not. Moreover, I confess to you (let the vegetarians forgive me!), I prefer a young lamb on the table in the form of a shish kebab in the circle of my beloved friends for pleasant conversations and good Shamakhi wine.

What is your dream today?

I am afraid I will not be original here. But I will tell you how I feel about it.

Please, we are ready to listen to your revelation.

I have everything as an ordinary man and as an actor: friends, relatives, family, rank, house, recognition of the audience and evaluation of my professional activities. I am always grateful to both the management of my theater and the leadership of our country. But when I watch daily news on TV, I cease to feel harmony between myself and the world. Therefore, I wish that all the wars and the deaths of defenseless children, women, and old people would stop.

Amen!