A NATURAL TALENT

Here is his grandson, Rasim Cavadov: "His friends loved him. Even those who didn't really know him, when they saw him would stop and say hello. You only had to mention his name and people would smile, because of the memorable comic roles he played in plays and films. My grandfather was a very serious, chivalrous and punctual man in real life. And that's how I will remember him. He loved his art. We used to live together and I could see how conscientiously he worked on his parts in plays and films. Alone in my room, I would learn by heart the text written in the old alphabet. We were able to go quietly into his room when he was rehearsing and he never stopped us from doing that."

Dreams come true

…Fame did not come immediately to Agahuseyn Cavadov and he had to endure many hardships. He was born on 22 April 1894 in the village of Xirdalan (now a town of that name - author's note) near Baku. His mother Hormat xanim's greatest dream was for her son to grow up to be an educated man. At first she sent him to a mollaxana [Muslim school], and then Agahuseyn studied at the Saadat school in Baku, graduating in 1919. The fa-mily's material position prevented him from continuing his education so he went to work for a merchant and became the family's breadwinner.

Man lives on his hopes and material problems could not make Agahuseyn give up his dream. The mystery of the theatre beckoned him and he would go there given the slightest chance. He was fascinated by his favourite actors - Sidgi Ruhulla, Mirzaaga Aliyev, Cahangir Zeynalov and Haciaga Abbasov. But back then appearing with them on the stage seemed an impossible dream…

However, one fine day his dreams started to become a reality. In 1920 Agahuseyn Cavadov became an actor at the Azerbaijani branch of a theatre set up by the political directorate of the Azerbaijani military commissariat, which was run by Sidgi Ruhulla. Agahuseyn performed in plays and musical comedies such as "Baxtsiz Cavan" and "Ac Hariflar" by Abdurrahim bay Haqverdiyev, "Xor-xor" and "Dursunali va Ballibadi" by Sultanmacid Qanizada and "Molla Cabi" and "Dasim-Dasim" by Mirmahmud Kazimovskiy. He was able to draw the attention of the audience in his very first comic roles.

In 1921 Agahuseyn was invited to the Baku Turkic theatre "Tanqid-Tablig", which had just been set up. Working there was the most interesting part of his work and the parts he played on the stage there brought him huge success and fame.

In late December 1932 the theatre moved to Ganca and started operating from March 1933 under the name the Ganca State Workers Drama Theatre. Agahuseyn Cavadov was also a member of the company. The actor played the parts of Haci Samad aga in "Baxtsiz Cavan", Giko in "Pepo", Barhudar in "Namus", Mintoyev in "Morgan's Relative", and others.

Here's Rasim Cavadov again: "My grandfather spent several years in Ganca and performed in several interesting plays. At the end of the 1930s the repressions by the Soviet authorities changed the lives of many. The arrests began in 1937 and storm clouds gathered over my grandfather's head. He thought he might be arrested, so he left Ganca for a while and moved to Baku. He was lucky…"

A versatile actor

The Azerbaijani State Theatre of Musical Comedy started to be formed in 1938 and one of the first to be invited was Agahuseyn Cavadov. He appeared on stage with such talented actors as Lutfali Abdullayev, Aliya Teregulova, Ibrahim Huseynov and Xalida Huseynova. His first part in the theatre of musical comedy was that of Masadi Ibad in "O olmasin, bu olsun" ("Not that one, then this one"). Audiences then saw him as Kabla Huseynali in "Bes manatliq galin", Uzun in "Toy kimindir?", Xan in "Lankaran xanin vaziri", Soltan bay in "Arsin mal alan" [The Cloth Peddler], Kabla Qubad in "Evliikan Subay", Nadir in "Qizil Gul", and many others, some interesting and quite different leading and supporting roles.

In 1942 Agahuseyn Cavadov joined the company of the Masadi Azizbayov Azerbaijani State National Drama Theatre, where he continued to work until he died. He played the parts of Mamisov ("Mahabbat"), Damirci Musa ("Toy"), Barbarzada ("Xosbaxtlar"), Hamza ("Solgun Cicaklar"), Xosmammad ("Donus"), Mirza Salman ("Nisanli Qiz"), Ocaqqulu ("Almaz"), Imamverdi ("1905 idde"), Calal ("Hayat"), Soraq kisi ("Yaxsi adam") and many others. Agahuseyn Cavadov also did a lot of work in reading our literary works on radio and television.

Another stage in his work was linked with the Azerbaijani cinema, where he also captured the love of the audience. His first film was in the role of Rza in the film "Baxtiyar". That same year audiences saw him as Abulfaz in "Gorus". His film career also included such pictures as "O olmasin, bu olsun" (Bay), "Qizmar gunas altinda" (Pirioglu), "Ahmad haradadir?" (Ahmad), "Kolgalar surunur" (research associate), "Bir qalanin sirri" (Remmal), "Sehrli xalat" (the wazir), "Sarikli corak" (the grocer), "Istintaq davam edir" (Hasan Dayi). "Man ki gozal deyildim" (Zeynalov), and others. In all, he made a total of 10 films. Although some of his roles were bit parts, they remain unforgettable. They also include heroes of fairy tales and characters from various professions before and after the revolution. Agahuseyn Cavadov succeeded in revealing each of them in his own, distinctive way.

Agahuseyn Cavadov believed that the secret of achieving success for an actor lay in a combination of talent and work. That's why he said: "Talent is natural. When I first went on to the stage I realized it wasn't enough to be captivated by the theatre. In order to remain in the arts it is important to be demanding of yourself and to work tenaciously. Among my teachers on the stage were Sidgi Ruhulla, Mirzaaga Aliyev and Haciaga Abbasov. They taught me how to work at a part and how to use the means of representation in this art in a professional way."

An attentive father and grandfather

Rasim Cavadov recalls: "We used to go to the theatre with my grandfather. I remember the excitement that gripped the audience when he came on. As soon as Agahuseyn Cavadov appeared before the audience applause rang out. I could see the respect my grandfather received even as he walked around the city. He was a very approachable, compassionate person, but there is no doubt that his art and talent played a big part in the fact that he was held in such high regard. He also loved his audience and treated them with respect."

His work was appreciated and received recognition. He was awarded honorary titles for his art and for his acting skill: in 1931 - merited artiste, and in 1938 - republican people's artiste.

Agahuseyn Cavadov was an attentive head of the family. Rasim Cavadov again: "Although grandfather wasn't a rich man, he married a girl from a wealthy family. His wife Surat xanim's father owned a number of houses in the village of Sabuncu and on what is now Mirzaaga Aliyev Street. Not all of them were expropriated. My grandparents had seven children - three daughters and four sons. One daughter died when she was still very young. I never met this aunt, but I sensed her from my grandparents' endless yearning for this young girl who died so prematurely. My grandparents raised the other children and married them off. Granny Surat died at the age of 57 and Grandpa lived for many years after that, but he never married again. We were a large family and Grandpa was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. But, of course, no-one could take the place of his life's companion. They loved one another very much. My grandfather was generally an easy-going, calm and sincere person and he never wished to offend or annoy anyone."

Rasim Cavadov doesn't recall who Agahuseyn's friends were in the arts world: "None of the people who worked with my grandfather - actors or directors - ever came to see us. Actors in those days were real devotees of their profession. They spent a great deal of their time at rehearsals, at performances, on the film set or in the television dubbing room. They were often on tour, visiting villages and performing in front of the working people."

Agahuseyn Cavadov was 87 when he died and he devoted 60 of those years to the stage and screen, playing over 200 parts. The great actor passed away in Baku on 20 July 1981.

Although many years have passed since his death, audiences remember him as a unique comic hero of many of our films. The actor Agahuseyn Cavadov received in perpetuity the greatest and most prestigious award that can ever be bestowed upon a man of the arts - the love and affection of his audience. Almost every word, humorous remark and facial gesture by this superb exponent of comic roles will be remembered. They are still on everyone's lips even today.