Badi Uzzaman
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Mohammed Badi Uzzaman Azmi[1] (8 March 1939 – 14 June 2011), better known as Badi Uzzaman, was a Pakistani-British television and film actor. According to The Guardian, Uzzaman was perhaps best known for his role as a hospital patient in the 1986 television series, The Singing Detective, opposite actor Michael Gambon.[1][2] He later appeared in numerous television roles during his career, often as a supporting character, including Torchwood, Inspector Morse, Coronation Street, Cracker, The Bill and Casualty.[1][2]
Uzzaman was born on 8 March 1939, in Phulpur, Azamgarh, British India.[1] His father worked for the railway industry, so he moved to the city of Abbottabad in present-day Pakistan.[1] He continued to move with his family depending on his father's job transfers, which included time in both Quetta and Lahore.[1] Uzzaman graduated from Government College, Abbottabad, in 1959, where he studied English and Urdu.[1][2]
Uzzaman began his career as a radio presenter in Pakistan.[citation needed] He switched to acting, appearing in roles of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) following the state-owned channel's launch in 1964.[1]
In 1984, Uzzaman was cast in Malia, a Pakistani film about a traveling fair with a strong, underlying theme against the martial law imposed by the government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.[1][2] In the film, Uzzaman played five different characters.[3] The film was sharply rebuked by Zia's government,[1][2] and had to be completed in London.[3] Uzzaman left Pakistan and was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom soon after Malia's release.[1][2] He became a British citizen.[1][2]
At the age of 72, Uzzaman died of a lung infection on 14 June 2011.[1][2]
Partial filmography
[edit]- Intekhab (1978)
- Mehman (1978)
- Teesra Kinara (1980) - Haleem Hafazi
- My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) - Dealer
- Christmas Present (1985) - Mr. Amir Mehrban
- Personal Services (1987) - Mr. Patel
- Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987) - Ghost
- Cry Freedom (1987) - Mortician's assistant
- Bellman and True (1987) - Shopkeeper
- Karachi (1989) - Family father
- Lebewohl, Fremde (1991) - Badi
- K2 (1991) - Ibrahim
- Immaculate Conception (1992) - Dadaji's Retainer
- Son of the Pink Panther (1993) - Wasim
- Bhaji on the Beach (1993) - Uncle
- Brothers in Trouble (1995) - Old Ram
- My Son the Fanatic (1997) - Man in mosque
- You're Dead (1999) - Dr. Chandra
- Mad Cows (1999) - Indian shopkeeper
- Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000) - Shopkeeper
- The Fourth Angel (2001) - Dr. Mackay
- All or Nothing (2002) - Passenger #1
- Cross My Heart (2003) - Vikram
- The Baby Juice Express (2004) - Singh
- Yasmin (2004) - Hassan
- Red Mercury (2005) - Mr. Mulley
- Eastern Promises (2007) - Chemist
- In Your Dreams (2008) - Kung fu waiter
- Caught in the Act (2008) - Mr. Patel
- Another Year (2010) - Mr. Gupta
- Forget Me Not (2010) - Shopkeeper
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ahsan, Tania (21 June 2011). "Badi Uzzaman obituary, actor best known for his part in Potter's The Singing Detective". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Islamabad: Actor best known for his part in Potter's 'The Singing Detective'". The News International. 27 June 2011.
- ^ a b Donnell, Alison (2002). Companion to contemporary Black British culture. Taylor and Francis. p. 427. ISBN 9780203194997.
External links
[edit]- Badi Uzzaman at IMDb