November 22 is the birthday of Rasim Ojagov, who occupies a special place among the talented representatives of the Azerbaijani conducting school and plays an important role in the development of this discipline. If the outstanding film director, winner of the State Prize, People’s Artist had lived, he would have celebrated his 90th birthday today.
Oku.Az Remember that Rasim Ojagov was born in 1933 in the city of Sheki. In 1951-56 he studied at the cinematography faculty of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. He later graduated from the directing faculty of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Art named after MAaliyev. Since 1956 he has worked as a producer-operator in the film studio “Azerbaijanfilm” and since 1973 as a producer-director.
At the end of the 50s he began filming at the Baku film studio. In 1957 he filmed the film “Two Boys from a Neighborhood” for the first time as a cameraman. The film “His Big Heart”, shot in 1958, was R. Ojagov’s first independent work.
The film is dedicated to the life of the Sumgait metallurgists. The on-screen life of these hard-working people has become romantic and attractive thanks to the operator’s camera. After that, he recorded “Amigo faithful”, “Our street”, “I will dance”, “Why are you silent?” and in the films “The Adventure of the Violin” Rasim Ojagov created the most worthy examples of cinematography of Azerbaijani cinema.
His first work as a director was the completion of the unfinished film “The Avenger of Ganjabasar” in 1975. In this historical-heroic film, he changed the actors of the heroes and modified the script. Actor Shahmar Alakbarov was assigned the role of “Qatyr Mammad.” When the film was released, the media widely commented that it had been an overall success, although certain statements were not made.
His second work as a director was the film “La Voz de la Pipa”. “The Voice of the Flute” brought many innovations to Azerbaijani cinema in terms of original scenes, the way of filming and the artistic solution of the theme. After that, in his films “Birthday”, “Closed Door”, “Another Life”, “Park”, “If I Die, Sorry”, “Visit and Trade”, “Investigation”, R. Ojagov created a real picture. of his contemporaries and attracted the public to the environment, calling to get closer and not turn a blind eye to the negative situations that occur in society. In his latest films, such as “Tahmina”, “Hotel Room”, he also touches on serious topics and again opens a conversation about man’s attitude towards society.
In 1980-81, Rasim Ojagov received the State Prize of Azerbaijan and the USSR, and in 1982 he received the honorary title of “People’s Artist of Azerbaijan”. On June 11, 2002, he received the personal scholarship of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
R. Ojagov died on July 11, 2006 in Baku.
