Kulluk Hojayev – the legend of theater and cinema
A half of century ago, the legendary actor Kulluk Hojayev, whose name is forever associated with theater and cinema, has gone away; the date was due to mark this year. He is a wonderful actor of his time and one of those who are said to not play, but live the roles.
Kulluk Hojayev was born on January 5, 1907 in the village of Amansha-gapan, Tejen region. Having become orphan at early ages, he ended up in the Tejen boarding school, where he began to take a great interest in art and took active part in amateur art cources, which became the beginning of his creative fate and brilliant stage career.
Probably, he himself did not think ever that he would become an artist, but, as they say, “stars are lit from talents.” The commission that arrived from Ashgabat noticed the young man’s natural gift, and this event becomes the first step to the heights of the future profession.
After graduating from the boarding school in 1922, Kulluk has joined a creative course. To learn deeper the image of his heroes, to understand the movement of their souls, to make them real, he has been working tirelessly and, having begun to cope well with short roles, the artist managed to conquer his audience.
Kulluk Hojayev is one of the founders of the national theatrical art. He studies the basics of his creative career from the legendary Bazar Amanov, Myrat Gazakov, Galpak Herrayev, Aman Gulmammedov, Hally Shahberdyev, Ata Durdyev, Myrat Seitniyazov, Nazar Bekmiyev, Ogulgurban Durdyeva, Suray Myradova. In 1926-1929, he is educated at the Ashgabat Theater Studio and begins to serve at the Academic Drama Theater named after Mollanepes.
Play by Shemseddin Kerimi “Aydjemal”, where Kulluk Hojayev plays the role of Kurban, the beloved of the main character, becomes the diploma work of students of the theater studio. And in 1929, 15 graduates of the theater studio created a kind of basis for the professional theatrical art of Turkmenistan.
On the theatrical stage, the legendary artist performed his first role of a robber in the play “Bloody Forest” based on the play by Ata Kaushutov, and until 1936, Kulluk performed in performances based on classical works of Turkmen, Russian and Western authors.
Having performed the character of Yildir Shah in the play “Nedir Shah”, a governor in “The Inspector General”, Rahman-bay in the play “The Desert”, Nurberdiyev in “ The Three Enemies", Gully-bay in the play “Daughter of Fatima”, he once again reveals his innate artistic gift, and, of course, strength of fortitude and extraordinary hard-working ability.
Soon a film studio was opened in Ashgabat, where the filming of feature films began, and Kulluk Hojayev has been invited as the number one Turkmen artist. His first role in the film “I’ll Be Back”, filmed in 1935 by Director Aleksandr Ledashev – a silent movie based on the poem by the Turkmen poet Oraz Tashnazarov “Batrak”, where Kulluk performed the character of Nury, a rich man’s son, was of great importance for Hojayev.
Later, the artist played the role of vizier in “The Magic of War”, filmed during the Great Patriotic War. The period 1960s was the most fruitful for Kulluk Hojayev in cinematography, when he acted in 2-3 films a year. Director Bulat Mansurov entrusted him with the role of Mammetyar Khan’s bodyguard in the film “Shukur Bakhshi”. Further, he will be played in many film, as Velmyrat-aga in the film “The Book of Velmyrat-aga” directed by Kakov Orazsahedov based on story “The Book” by Nurmyrat Saryhanov, Meret-aga, a father of Ayna in the film “The Decisive Step” directed by Alty Karliyev, Kuyki-bay in the film “The Road of a Burning Van” directed by Meret Atahanov.
Coryphaeus of theater and cinema, Kulluk Hojayev starred in more than 20 feature films. He, having played unforgettable character of kurbashi Jabor in the film “Treason”, war veteran Hudododa in the film “Lole” of the “Tajikfilm” film studio, Murat-aga in the film “26 Baku commissars” of the “Azerbaijanfilm” film studio and others, demonstrated the skill of the Turkmen film school.
Playing the key role in the feature film “The Case in Dash-kala” brought him great success. In 1963, at the Central Asian Film Festival in Dushanbe, he was awarded the prize and diploma “For the best actor’s work” for the masterful performance of the role of Gandym-aga, a head of the collective farm,
Kulluk Hojayev, who made invaluable contribution to the development of the national theater and cinema, was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Supreme Council of Turkmenistan in 1935. Later, he was awarded the title “Honored Artist of Turkmenistan”.
