S P O T L I G H T

Comedian Mukri dies at 78
MUMBAI, Sept 4 (UNI) — Mohammed Umer Mukry alias Mukri, the popular Hindi film comedian of yesteryear whose trademark grin and slapstick brand of comedy brought laughter to many faces in a career spanning 50-odd years, passed away in the early hours today following cardiac arrest. He was 78 and is survived by his wife, Mumtaz, two daughters, Naseem and Amina and three sons, Nasir, Farookh and Bilal. Mukri, who acted in more than 600 films, was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in North-West Mumbai on August 8. According to hospital sources, his condition turned critical yesterday after his kidneys stopped functioning. The end came at 1.10 a.m. Thespian Dilip Kumar, his wife Saira Bano and Mukri’s family were present when he breathed his last.