Memorial evening dedicated to People’s writer, director and screenwriter Magsud Ibrahimbeyov takes place in Baku

On May 16, a memorial evening dedicated to People’s writer, director and screenwriter Magsud Ibrahimbeyov took place on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Russian Drama Theatre named after Samad Vurghun.

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva attended the memorial evening.

People’s writer Maksud Ibrahimbeyov, writing about uncommon and daily events in an unhurried fashion, scrutinizing the spiritual world of his characters, conveyed their features to the reader. The author, in a number of his works, speaking from the context of universal problems, has shown the lifestyle of an eastern man, strong with traditions. Magsud Ibrahimbeyov was the screenwriter of the well-liked films “Our Jabish muallim” and “The last night of the childhood”.

The memorial evening started by the work “Adagio” of the writer’s favourite composer Tomaso Albinoni. At the evening called “Magsud smiles at us all”, Alexander Sharovski, the chief stage manager of the Azerbaijan State Russian Drama Theatre named after Samad Vurghun, said the writer has always bestowed his matchless smile upon the people he loved, noting that relatives, friends and fans of his talent were gathered in the hall. He recalled the words told by President Ilham Aliyev - “A professional should be valued while he is still alive”, at the 70th jubilee of the writer.

First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the evening.

Spouse of the writer Anna Ibrahimbeyova, thanking President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for revering the memory of Magsud Ibrahimbeyov, said:

- Dear Friends, thank you for coming here to remember Magsud. The May 11th was his birthday. Thank you for coming on this day. Mehriban khanum, I would like to thank You and Mister President for the sincere attention you have shown both towards Magsud and his memory. Thank you for being with us today. Thank you for your participation in every matter, and for your support. Thank you very much.

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The writer’s friend, first deputy Director General of Russia’s TASS Information Agency Mikhail Gusman embarked on his speech by telling lines from the poem “Kajdiy vybirayet dlya sebya” by Yuri Levitanski. He said Magsud Ibrahimbeyov may be characterized by three words: dignity, decency and correctness in choosing friends. Saying, “The main weapon of Magsud Ibrahimbeyov was word. He was unusually delicate in a word duel, at the same time, was an unconquerable fortress in a word battle”, - Mikhail Gusman noted that the writer believed in the word’s power, thought it would conquer everything, and he was fully right. Because word saved a lot of people.

Pieces from the writer’s works were presented at the memorial evening, and thoughts of Magsud Ibrahimbeyov of his friends, native Baku and people he loved were told.

Then, a documentary containing interviews with Magsud Ibrahimbeyov’s colleagues and close friends was shown.

Born on May 11, 1935 in Baku, Magsud Ibrahimbeyov has been well known from his young ages in the USSR, with his multilateral activity as a talented prose-writer, playwright, screenwriter and director. He, as a representative of a generation stepping into literature in the 60th of the last century, creating colourful and rich characters of his contemporaries, won deep respect and esteem of his numerous fans, thanks to his style. One of the eminent figures of the contemporary literature, Magsud Ibrahimbeyov has made contributions to enriching artistic thinking by his creativity. As a screenwriter and director, he has done a great service to the development of cinematography. Movies made on the basis of Magsud Ibrahimbeyov’s screenplays are much liked by onlookers. Reflected in his creativity, national spirit of the Azerbaijani people, their traditions, in particular, description of Baku with its unique flavour are worth of esteem. The film ends by the words “Writers like Magsud Ibrahimbeyov do not change their world. There is only one date in their life: the date they were born into this world”.