February 19, 2009
Mari actor and poet Yuvan Kyrlya
One of Russia’s film pioneers hailed for Mari-El. Recognized for his role in the first Russian film with sound, Yvan was also a renowned poet. He disappeared from public view when he was reportedly imprisolned by the Soviets where he died. While his life was short, Yuvan left a rich legacy of performances and writings.
Yuvan Kyrlya (real name Kirill Ivanovich Ivanov, 17 March 1909 — July 1943) was a Mari Soviet actor and poet, famous for his role of Mustafa Fert in the first Soviet sound film Road to Life (Putyovka v zhizn) (1931).
He was born into a poor peasant family. His father was killed by kulaks for his active participation in the Committee of poor peasants, so Yuvan’s mother was left alone with three kids. The boy lived in the village, worked as a farm labourer, a herdsman, and had to beg also.
He finished first stage school in Marisol and left for Sernur to go on studying at the second stage of school. In autumn of 1926 the Komsomol Committee of Mari Autonomous Region assigned him to study at workers’ courses in Kazan University. The teachers noticed his outstanding artistic gift and in summer 1929 gave him an assignment to the Actor’s Department of the State Cinematography School.
Among the students of ethnic studios Yuvan was invited to partake in crowd scenes during production of the first Soviet sound feature film Road to Life. After watching its first episode the film director Nikolai Ekk took notice of the young actor and appointed him to play the waifs’ leader Mustafa. So while studying at the Cinematography School Yuvan was engaged in the filming for about two years. Many of Mustafa’s phrases taken right from the surrounding life of common people became popular sayings.
After graduation the actor worked at the Vostokfilm Studio; in 1934—1936 he took part in filming of Buddha’s Vicar (by director Yevgeni Ivanov-Barkov), where he played the lama. During the shooting he lived in Mongolia with the rest of the crew. In 1937 Yuvan Kyrlya moved to Ioshkar Ola, the capital of Mari-El, to play in the Mari State Drama Theatre. (Russia IC)
