 |
Kahi KavsadzeActor
Date of Birth: 05.06.1935
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
Biography of Kakhi Kavsadze
Kakhi Kavsadze, a Georgian actor of theater and cinema, is known to many generations of viewers for his portrayal of Abdullah in the film "The White Sun of the Desert". He has played numerous roles on stage and screen, and it can be said that this name is inseparable from a whole era of Georgian cinema in Soviet times. Due to his distinctive appearance and indelible accent, the actor often played bright and original Caucasian characters, although he also had a role as Don Quixote, adding new nuances to this eternal character. It is worth noting that the life of Kakhi Kavsadze and his family could inspire several novels and a long TV series, in which the pages of history, tragic destinies, and true love would intersect.
Family Background
Kakhi Kavsadze's grandfather, Sandro Kavsadze, a student of the Tiflis Seminary, became the leader of the school choir at the age of 18, where a boy named Dzhugashvili also sang. Their paths soon diverged, as Joseph Dzhugashvili pursued a political career, while Sandro founded a folk ensemble of song and dance. In 1938, they met in the Kremlin, and Stalin warmly greeted his former classmate. When Sandro fell ill with a terminal illness a month later, Stalin wrote him a friendly letter offering assistance. After the death of Sandro Kavsadze, his son Dato took over the ensemble, preserving its high level and composing music for it. Kavsadze's wife worked as a doctor, and their sons Kakhi (born on June 5, 1935) and Imeri, who inherited the family's love for music, studied at a music school for gifted children.
Early Life
Kakhi's early childhood was spent in a house where stars of the Georgian stage and cinema lived, and his playmate was Sofiko Chiaureli. In 1941, Kakhi's father, David Kavsadze, went to the front, and after the Kerch-Feodosiya landing, his family received a notice of his death. However, it turned out to be false - the severely wounded Dato ended up in a German prisoner-of-war camp. The news reached Georgian emigrants living in Paris, and they managed to free their fellow countryman with great difficulty. After recovering, Kavsadze devoted himself to his true calling - creating a baking and dance Georgian ensemble. With permission from the German command, he recruited many people of various nationalities, including those without musical abilities, disguising them as Georgian POWs. In 1945, despite warnings from friends, Dato decided to return home, but he was arrested on the way. The children were expelled from the music school, the family was evicted from their prestigious home, and Kakhi's mother had to return the money she had received for her deceased husband.
Acting Career
Despite the extremely difficult circumstances, Imeri managed to complete his musical education and become a singer, while Kakhi graduated from a mathematical school. However, he did not have to pursue a career in science or engineering. While still in school, he was invited to audition for a film, and although filming was disrupted due to a sports injury, he enrolled in the theater institute in Tbilisi after receiving his certificate. In his second year, Kakhi met Bella Mirianashvili, with whom he later united his fate, and appeared in a cameo role in his first film, "The Song of Ether". The tall young man with chiseled features and a beautiful voice attracted the attention of directors, and he was frequently invited to film, although initially for small roles. In 1959, Kavsadze joined the Rustaveli Theater troupe in Tbilisi. Among the many roles he played on this stage, his portrayal of Simon Chachava in "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" stood out, with the theater frequently going on tour with this play. After graduating from the institute, Bella Mirianashvili also joined this theater, by which time she had already starred in the film "The First Day, the Last Day" (1959) and instantly became a star of the troupe. In her personal life, she had a period of close collaboration with director Tumanishvili and an unsuccessful marriage, from which their daughter Nana was born, and she was in no hurry to remarry. It is unknown how long the "guest" period of Bella and Kakhi's relationship would have lasted if it had not been decisively ended by the actor's mother. After a joint dinner with representatives of both families, Kavsidze and Mirianashvili began to call themselves husband and wife, although the official registration took place much later, due to the need to complete the necessary paperwork.
Success and Tragedy
In 1968, Kavsadze received an invitation to appear in a film tentatively titled "Save the Harem". To his surprise, despite never having ridden a horse before, he was immediately asked to ride one during the audition - and it was a success! However, the filming of the film, which later became known as "The White Sun of the Desert," was carried out under extremely difficult conditions. The initial concept of the director involved a shootout between Sukhov and Abdullah, as well as a scene of the bandit's death mourned by his wives. However, at the insistence of the film commission, many scenes had to be reshot. Although "The White Sun" was only given a second distribution category, it became a cult film for several generations of viewers. However, for Kakhi Kavsadze, the joy of success was mixed with bitterness. Shortly before the start of filming, Bella, who was pregnant with their son Irakli, fell seriously ill with the flu, and two years later, she discovered that she was losing the ability to move. The doctors failed to diagnose her severe condition of myelopolyradiculoneuritis in time, and at the age of 30, the talented actress found herself in a wheelchair. She passed away in 1992.
Later Career
During this time, Kavsadze played numerous roles in films. "Melodies of the Veriya Quarter" (1973, dance teacher), "The Tree of Desire" (1973, Iorami), and "Repentance" (1984, Korisheli) were sources of pride for Soviet and Georgian cinema. The comedic series of television shorts "Adventures on the Road" (1974-1980) was incredibly popular. The TV series "The Life of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza" (1988), with Kakhi Kavsadze in the lead role, in a way marked the end of a whole cinematic era. During filming, the actor not only lost weight to his youthful figure and maintained it for four years but also studied everything that had been written about his character. Another notable role for the actor was Ivan the Terrible in the eponymous film of 1992, in which he also played the role of the Fool. Since 2000, the actor has mainly appeared in television series. Despite his advanced age, he continues to work. In 2016, the film "Teli and Toli" is scheduled for release, in which he plays one of the central roles.
