Sidgi Rukhulla

(pseudonym of Rukhulla Fatulla ogly Akhundov). Born Mar. 28 (Apr. 9), 1886, in Buzovna Village, now within the city of Baku; died May 5, 1959, in Baku. Soviet Azerbaijani actor. People’s Artist of the USSR (1949).

Rukhulla made his stage debut in 1906. From 1924 he was the leading actor of the Azizbekov Azerbaijani Theater in Baku. His best roles were the title role in Akhverdov’s Gadzhi Kara, Nadir in Narimanov’s Nadir-Shah, Kadzhar in Vurgun’s Vagif, Agalarov in Mamedkhanly’s Morning of the East (State Prize of the USSR, 1948), Atakishi in Dzhabarly’s Seville, Rustam in Dzhavid’s Siiavush, and the title roles in Shakespeare’s King Lear and Othello. Rukhulla’s work was of great importance for the development of a national Azerbaijani dramatic theater. Rukhulla also appeared in operas, operettas, and films. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.