Portrait of a special actor | Luftar Paja

Luftar Paja
Stage actor of the “Bylis” Fier Theater and Estrada, Albanian Cinematography as well as the National Theatre. Holds the highest title “People’s Artist” .

He was born in Gorishovë, Mallakastra, on December 1, 1941. Paja finished 7 years of school and continued his studies at the electrical and pedagogical secondary school in 1963. Also completed 1-year studies as an actor at the “Teatri Popullor”. with pedagogues’ prominent names of Albanian stage art, Andrea Malo, stage master, Selman Vaqarri and for stage speaking with Pjetër Gjoka, etc.

From a young age, his talent as an actor stood out, where he became active in the 60s in the amateur movement of Patos, Fier, etc. That’s how his talent stood out in his first competition, in 1957, with a variety show in which he won the first prize.

From the years 1960-1968, he took part in theatrical performances at the “Mustafa Matohiti” Palace of Culture in Patosi. The director Llazar Verria and especially the talented actor and director Pëllumb Kulla made a great contribution to his formation as an actor. Paja was honored with a first prize medal in 1969, for his contribution to amateur groups, he was honored with the first class Naim Frashëri medal.

In 1968, he was appointed a professional actor in the variety show of Fier. A comic actor with outstanding data, a master of portraying many figures, where for more than 20 years he has made a special contribution to Albanian humor.

From 1968 to 1991, he participated in all the shows given by Estrada, but also by the Theater (in 1971 he was among the first to create the “Bylis” Theater, Fier) in the drama-satire “Unforgettable Years “, dramatization based on the motifs of the novel “Before Dawn” by Shefqet Musaraj. He performed the role of Halil Shkoza in the drama-satire “The second face” by Dritëro Agolli, in collaboration with the Lushnja stage troupe, under the direction of Leka Bungo, he performed in the comedy “Snowflake in April”.

In 1987, played the role of Thoma Çakshiri in Teodor Laço’s “Rain in the Beach”, while later, he was engaged in the role of Thoma Kaçaroi in the comedy “A Fool and Half”, by the Greek author Dhimitër Psathai, directed by Arqile Garon.

Paja continued his involvement in the dramatic theater even after he became part of the National Theater in 1993. He is one of the main performers in the comedy “8 plus persons” by Ferdinand Rad with the role of Čeço, then he played the role of Langada in “Oportunescu” by T. Mushatescu. , Osipi to “Revizori” (“Inspector” variation) by Gogol, as well as the parts “Delight of the armchair and the bed”, “Wooden plate”, “Millionaire” etc.

He has performed about 300 roles in the theater, variety show and film, most of which are main characters. Since 1970, he has participated in all New Year’s concerts and programs prepared by Television.

Among the most accomplished figures in the variety show, we can mention Çobo Rrapushi, in the show “Çobo Rrapushi with friends”, Gani Llapa in “Lightning from the Mountain”, Ballisti Refat in “Confused war”, storekeeper Kozmai in “Warehouseman”, the news worker in “Cardiac”, Servet in “Servet Bey gives a solution”, the guest in “The Guess”, Canja in “They stole Cane`s cow” and many, many more others and in hundreds of sketches and one-act comedies.

He has participated in about 15 feature films, starting with the film “New Shelter” (1977), in the role of uncle Braho, Velo Sadiku in “Coats over the wire fence” (1977), “The General Gramaphone (1978), father into ” Spring in Gjirokastër” (1978), The innkeeper in “The Way of Letters” (1978), Kadri Kanani in “Councilors” (1979), Koli Kola in “Dream for a Chair” (1984), Shepherd in “The Stones of My House” (1985), the captain Rauf in “After the last meeting”, and finally in the comedy “After a news” (2001) in TVSH.

For quality contribution, he was awarded three first prizes in Estradas competitions, while at the Comedy Festival in May 1996, which took place in Tirana, he was called “The best actor of his career”.

Paja was also awarded the “Naim Frashëri” medal, the title “Merited Artist” in 1979, the title “People’s Artist” in August 1991, while in 2001 he was declared an honorary citizen of Fier.

On May 31, 2005, Luftar Paja was awarded the title of Honor of the Fier District and many other awards and orders.

From 1978 to 1991, Paja was the deputy of Libofsha in the Parliament of Albania.

During his 45 years of artistic life on stage, Paja performed in many genres, we mean monologue, dialogue, pantomime, parody, micro comedy, comedy, roles in drama, cinematography, etc. It has received very positive reviews, but it has distinguished itself in the interpretation of many character roles.

700 shoulder roles and 130 stage premieres are years of work that have not exhausted the artist’s passion for humor figures like Paja. His passion and his path towards art is being followed today with great success by his son, Gazmend Paja, who in a very short time has become very dear to the audience, realizing very accomplished figures on stage, characters and characters that are remembered appreciated not only by the spectator but also by professional critics. “Luftar Paja, this rare artist, has produced the best honey in the outstanding hive of the professional troupe of Estrada e Fieri. His characters are unrepeatable, because they are the fruit of a skill that is still hard to find today”, – Pëllumb Kulla writes about him. Other roles:

(2002) Gravedigger in “The Cursed Guest” by I. Bezhan;
(2004) “Police in “The Delight of the Bed and the Armchair”;
(2004) Sorollopi in Floqi’s “Akraballekt”;
(2005) Thomai in “A fool and half”;
(2005) Samiu in “The wooden plate”;
(2009) Barber in “Both shaved and trimmed” by B. Kozeli.

It was first published on the Facebook page of the same name in December 2013 and was revised in the following years.

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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013

Reference: AQSHF “Luftar Paja, half a century on stage”; “Albanian Encyclopedia, Theater and Cinematography” – Toena 2009 / p. 336; “Encyclopedia of Albanian Cinematography” (Hoxha. A) p. 297. As well as news from online Albanian newspapers and portals.

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