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Shaken Aimanov(1914–1970) – a legend of Kazakh cinema, a man who not only created films, but shaped national cinema. People's Artist of the USSR (1959), director, actor and inspirer of the whole generation.

Born in Bayan-Aul in the family of a peasant cattle breeder, but his pedigree goes back to the great biys of the Middle zhuz. Childhood in the steppe, education in Semipalatinsk – all this strengthened his character.

Theater was his first love. In 1933 at the invitation of Gabit Musrepov, he ended up in the Kazakh Drama Theater, where he not only shone as an actor, but was also the main director. But his dream was more – cinema.

“I love theater, but theater cannot reach as many viewers as cinema,” said he. In 1953 he devoted himself entirely to cinema. At Kazakhfilm, Aimanov became a pioneer of new Kazakh cinema, creating films that were watched throughout the USSR.

"Our Dear Doctor", "The Beardless Deceiver", "Angel in a Skullcap" - these paintings are still considered classics.

He was not afraid to go out framework. It was Aimanov, being a member of the jury of the Moscow Film Festival, gave the decisive vote for the film by Federico Fellini, although they were secretly waiting for the victory of the Soviet film. He was the first to bring the Kazakh language to the world stage, by reading Othello’s monologue in England.