Vakhtang Konstantinovich Kikabidze
Vakhtang Konstantinovich Kikabidze is a popular actor, singer and musician, originally from Tbilisi, where he was born 19 July 1938 of the year. He graduated from school, Tbilisi University and Tbilisi Institute of Foreign Languages.
Vakhtang Kikabidze entered the world of music in early childhood - his mother was a professional singer, and young Vakhtang regularly attended various concerts, performances and rehearsals. But in his early years he was more drawn to fine art, so he painted landscapes, portraits and still lifes on literally everything that came to hand. In high school, Vakhtang Kikabidze began singing on stage. Working in the school vocal and instrumental ensemble, he played drums and sang. He studied poorly, often repeating the second year, which was a consequence of his fanaticism in his love for music and his only subject - mathematics.
While studying at the university and the Institute of Foreign Languages, he developed his musical abilities almost to a professional level. The year 1966 became a turning point and significant in the fate of Vakhtang Kikabidze. Then he organized his first professional ensemble “Orera” and made his debut as an actor in the film “Meeting in the Mountains”. The acting and parallel musical career of Vakhtang Kikabidze took off. Already in 1969, he starred in G. Danelia’s film “Don’t Cry!” and received the prize for Best Actor at the Cartagena International Film Festival in 1970. Vakhtang Kikabidze’s next acting success was the film “Melodies of the Verian Quarter” directed by G. Shengelaya in 1973, then the iconic film “Mimino” by Georgy Danelia, awarded the USSR State Prize in 1978.
In subsequent years, the actor’s most significant works were the films “I, Investigator...”, “The Lost Expedition”, “TASS is Authorized to Declare” and the film “Completely Lost” by Georgy Danelia. In his new capacity as a film director, Vakhtang Kikabidze successfully declared his all-round talent with the films “Be Healthy, Dear” and “Men and Everyone Else.” As an actor, the great Georgian master appeared in more than twenty films. Among the latest works of Vakhtang Kikabidze, filmed at the end of the twentieth - beginning of the twenty-first century, the films “Fortune”, “Love with an Accent”, as well as the animated film “Ku! Kin-dza-dza”, on the creation of which the actor worked as a voice artist.
Vakhtang Kikabidze’s career as a singer and musician was successful. Orera in the seventies collected full stadiums. As a solo artist, the singer became widely popular due to the performance of songs that became popular hits: “Cheto Gvrito”, “My Years are My Wealth” and others. The singer constantly tours, traveled with concerts many countries and continents.
His great contribution to the development of Georgian and Soviet cinema and to the art of music brought the actor and singer many significant awards. So, in 1980, Vakhtang Kikabidze received the title of People's Artist of Georgia, then the Order of Honor, the Order of Victory named after St. George, and recently the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine. Honorary citizen of the city of Tbilisi (1998).
In Moscow, on Star Square in 1999, his star was laid, and in 2006, the Georgian Star by Vakhtang Kikabidze was laid on the square in front of the Tbilisi Philharmonic. The artist is also a holder of the Orders of the International Order of St. Nicholas and the International Order of Constantine the Great. Vakhtang Kikabidze refused the Russian Order of Friendship due to his personal attitude to the military conflict between Russia and Georgia, which happened in 2008. In recent years, the artist has been writing a book of memoirs and leads a quiet measured life. As well as half a century ago, his songs are beloved by millions of listeners, and his acting work has become a real classic of world cinema.
Photo: https://www.domkino.tv
