Sultan Islamov
Encyclopedia
Sultan Islamov (born February 14, 1965 in Hidi, Chechnya
) is a Russian
actor
and singer of Chechen
origins.
in the Soviet Army
and his mother was a housewife
. As a child, Sultan was a very devoted fan of movies, and he would not skip a single feature film screened - a hobby that was often cursed by annoyed family members. He remembers that as a child, Stanislav Rostotsky
's 1972 feature film
The Dawns Here Are Quiet
left an enormous impression on him, and he wrote for photographs of the actor Andrei Martynov and actresses in that movie, which he would add to a collection of photos of well-known actors and actresses throughout the Soviet Union
. He remained active in art and music in school, as well as in his village's Culture House. http://www.ob-gaz.ru/067/nar_dost.htm
After graduating from secondary school
Sultan went to Moscow
to pursue his acting dreams, and he applied to every drama school
in the capital, yet was not accepted by any of the schools he applied to. Nevertheless, Sultan would return next year to reapply, and in total he attempted for entrance five times, twice in the army, and three afterwards. While serving in the Army Sultan played a small role in the army film "The World is Your Home". In 1985 after his fifth and last try, Sultan was allowed to audition for the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
. He recalls of the process:
"In examining board sat the legendary Sergei Bondarchuk
. I had to audition through three rounds. But I was not able to make it because of my horrible Russian
. I am to this day not able to perfectly speak Russian. Bondarchuk came to me, when I was upset and standing in the corridor, and said : "Young man, do not despair, you are talented, you have a magnificent appearance (and I was very bad, with a huge nose). You can reach the GITIS
(Russian Academy of the Arts).' But even there, I missed."
Dejected, Sultan returned home, but later decided to continue his study at the Tursunzade Institute of Culture in Tajikistan
, where he would study for six months before returning to his native village. Sultan started working in the school, and soon became the artistic director of his village's Culture House, and even worked on the village farm. Sultan would also join the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
.
In 1989 the Chechen-Ingush State University announced their first set of a Theatre Workshop, and this time Sultan was credited for his acting experience and education. He gained a role in the massive play "Land of the Fathers", which included many prominent Chechen actors. Sultan would practice alongside actor Akhmed Zakayev
, who would later become the Foreign Minister
of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
. However, Sultan would have to take a break from this play, to go to Moscow
to receive plastic surgery
on his nose.http://www.ob-gaz.ru/067/nar_dost.htm
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
) is a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and singer of Chechen
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
origins.
Biography
Sultan was born in the village of Hidi in the Nozhai-Yurt farm area to a large rural family, with four brothers and four sisters. His father served as a brigadierBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
and his mother was a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
. As a child, Sultan was a very devoted fan of movies, and he would not skip a single feature film screened - a hobby that was often cursed by annoyed family members. He remembers that as a child, Stanislav Rostotsky
Stanislav Rostotsky
Stanislav Rostotsky was a Soviet Russian film director and actor. His films The Dawns Here Are Quiet and White Bim Black Ear were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, with the latter also winning the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film...
's 1972 feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
The Dawns Here Are Quiet
The Dawns Here Are Quiet
The Dawns Here Are Quiet is a feature film directed by Stanislav Rostotsky based on Boris Vasilyev's novel of the same name. In 1973 the film was nominated for an Oscar in the "Best Foreign Language Film" category.-Plot:...
left an enormous impression on him, and he wrote for photographs of the actor Andrei Martynov and actresses in that movie, which he would add to a collection of photos of well-known actors and actresses throughout the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He remained active in art and music in school, as well as in his village's Culture House. http://www.ob-gaz.ru/067/nar_dost.htm
After graduating from secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
Sultan went to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to pursue his acting dreams, and he applied to every drama school
Drama school
A drama school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution ; which specialises in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration, and...
in the capital, yet was not accepted by any of the schools he applied to. Nevertheless, Sultan would return next year to reapply, and in total he attempted for entrance five times, twice in the army, and three afterwards. While serving in the Army Sultan played a small role in the army film "The World is Your Home". In 1985 after his fifth and last try, Sultan was allowed to audition for the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
The Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov), VGIK for short, is a film school in Moscow, Russia.-History:...
. He recalls of the process:
"In examining board sat the legendary Sergei Bondarchuk
Sergei Bondarchuk
Sergei Fedorovich Bondarchuk was a Soviet film director, screenwriter, and actor.- Biography :Born in Belozerka, in the Kherson Governorate, Sergei Bondarchuk spent his childhood in the cities of Yeysk and Taganrog, graduating from the Taganrog School Number 4 in 1938. His first performance as an...
. I had to audition through three rounds. But I was not able to make it because of my horrible Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. I am to this day not able to perfectly speak Russian. Bondarchuk came to me, when I was upset and standing in the corridor, and said : "Young man, do not despair, you are talented, you have a magnificent appearance (and I was very bad, with a huge nose). You can reach the GITIS
GITIS
The Russian University of Theatre Arts was founded on 22 September 1878 as the Shestakovsky Music School, became the Musico-Dramatic School of the Moscow Philharmonic Society in 1883, and was elevated to the status of a conservatory in 1886...
(Russian Academy of the Arts).' But even there, I missed."
Dejected, Sultan returned home, but later decided to continue his study at the Tursunzade Institute of Culture in Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, where he would study for six months before returning to his native village. Sultan started working in the school, and soon became the artistic director of his village's Culture House, and even worked on the village farm. Sultan would also join the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
.
In 1989 the Chechen-Ingush State University announced their first set of a Theatre Workshop, and this time Sultan was credited for his acting experience and education. He gained a role in the massive play "Land of the Fathers", which included many prominent Chechen actors. Sultan would practice alongside actor Akhmed Zakayev
Akhmed Zakayev
Akhmed Khalidovich Zakayev is the former Deputy Prime Minister and the current Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria , which is unrecognised by other countries...
, who would later become the Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is the unrecognized secessionist government of Chechnya. The republic was proclaimed in late 1991 by Dzokhar Dudayev, and fought two devastating wars between separatists and the Russian Federation which denounced secession...
. However, Sultan would have to take a break from this play, to go to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to receive plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
on his nose.http://www.ob-gaz.ru/067/nar_dost.htm
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2002 | House of Fools | Ahmed | |