Today marks the 88th birthday of the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union (AWU), People's Writer Anar Rzayev.
Novelist, playwright, screenwriter Anar Rzayev was born on March 14, 1938, in Baku into a family of poets.
The Modern.az website contacted the People's Writer, who is celebrating his birthday.
In a statement to our website, Anar said that he had received dozens of congratulations regarding his birthday:
“Many people have congratulated me on my birthday. I have received dozens of congratulations since yesterday. But I will celebrate my birthday not extensively, but together with my family.”
When asked if he still wished to live for 105 years, Anar answered our question as follows:
“I have not said that I wish to live for 105 years. Someone wrote this on my behalf previously. But whoever said it, said it well, thank them.”
The People's Writer stated that next year he plans to celebrate a "iron wedding" (the ceremony held on the 65th year of marriage is called an "iron wedding" - ed.) with his wife Zemfira Safarova:
“On our 50th wedding anniversary, Ms. Zemfira and I celebrated a "golden wedding", and on our 60th, a "diamond wedding". We held these ceremonies within the family circle. In 2027, our 65th wedding anniversary will be complete. Next year, we are planning to celebrate an "iron wedding".”
Speaking about his creative work, Anar said that 3 of his books were published just this month.
Dossier: Novelist, playwright, screenwriter Anar Rzayev was born on March 14, 1938, in Baku into a family of poets. Anar's father is the poet Rasul Rza, and his mother is the poet Nigar Rafibayli. He is also the grandson of Khudadat bey Rafibayli, a famous public and state figure of Azerbaijan, the first Minister of Health of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and the Governor-General of Ganja.
In 1945, Anar entered the 10-year music school (now named after Bulbul) and graduated from that school with a silver medal in 1955. He studied with his future wife Zemfira Safarova from the first grade to the tenth grade.
In 1955, although Anar entered the Faculty of Philology of Azerbaijan State University and Ms. Zemfira entered the Conservatory, their paths did not diverge; they got engaged and married. Their wedding took place on January 27, 1962.
In March 1991, Anar was elected Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union at the IX Congress of Writers. He has been leading the organization ever since.
In 1991, Anar was entrusted with opening and conducting the first session of the National Assembly of Independent Azerbaijan. He served as a deputy of the National Assembly in 1995 and 2000.
Anar is the recipient of several state and international awards. On March 14, 1998, the President of Azerbaijan awarded Anar the “Istiglal” Order on the occasion of his 60th birthday. He is an Honored Art Worker of Azerbaijan (1976), a State Prize Laureate (1980), and a People's Writer of Azerbaijan (1998).
The total number of Anar's books published in various countries exceeds 50.
His works "Ağ liman" (White Port), "Beşmərtəbəli evin altıncı mərtəbəsi" (The Sixth Floor of a Five-Story Building), "Əlaqə" (Contact), "Dantenin yubileyi" (Dante's Jubilee), "Dədə Qorqud" (Dede Korkut) have been published in various languages.
Anar's plays have been staged in all theaters of Azerbaijan. The feature film "Every Evening at 11" was shot at Russia's "Mosfilm" studio based on the motifs of his story "Me, You, Him, and the Telephone".
Anar is the screenwriter of several feature, documentary, and television films. He has also been the director of several films.
Anar also has poems. Composers E. Sabitoglu, Kh. Mirzazade, and Javanshir Guliyev have composed songs to his words.
He has translated Shakespeare's "The Tempest", B. Brecht's "Galileo Galilei" plays, R. Tagore's prose poems "The Gardener", and poems by A. Blok, V. Mayakovsky, S. Yesenin, B. Pasternak into our language.
In 1970-72, Anar studied at the Director's Workshop in Baku and Moscow, receiving a diploma as a film director.
The People's Writer has also been awarded the "Shohrat" (Glory) and "Sharaf" (Honor) Orders, the President's individual scholarship, the Heydar Aliyev Award, the President's honorary diploma, and TÜRKSOY's "Sharaf" and "Uzeyir Hajibeyli" medals.
He has two children: his son Tural Rzayev is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Algeria and Tunisia. His daughter Gunel Anargizi is the director of the Baku Book Center.
