The mother of the People's Artist: "First we raise and invest ourselves in our children, and then we reap the rewards."

      Il'fera Suleymanova from Zainsk — on motherly work, her son's creative soul, and the fruits of upbringing

      Il'fera Suleymanova often hears the phrase, "Are you Aidar's mother?!" Teachers, classmates, her son's acquaintances, or simply fans of the People's Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan Aidar Suleymanov — a well-known singer whose name is familiar not only in Tatarstan but far beyond — recognize her on the street.

      In honor of Mother's Day, we learned who the artist's mother is, what she does, and what her parenting secrets are.

      The young Suleymanov family moved to Zainsk in 1984 at the invitation of the husband's relatives. Before that Il'fera khanum had graduated from a mechanical engineering technical college in Elektrostal near Moscow and worked there. She remembers that it was as cozy, beautiful, and green a town as Zainsk.

      Upon arrival the head of the family, Danil, got a job in the municipal services, and Il'fera became an operator at the winery. In 1985 their firstborn, Artur, was born, and in 1987 the family was given a two-room apartment. When the child needed a place in a kindergarten, Il'fera khanum transferred to work there and after Aidar was born continued working as an assistant educator. This is where her special quality emerged: she always put the children's interests first, trying to give them as much attention as possible and be close to them. This was reinforced by the fact that her own mother had fallen seriously ill early and was bedridden. Sometimes she herself missed the warmth and care she generously gave her sons.

      "At that time kindergartens were full and teachers sometimes didn't have time to dress the children properly for a walk. I would run into the group before the walk to dress my sons myself, and then they would go outside. That's why they never got sick," she recalls.

      Il'fera has been a creative person since childhood; she was active even at school. It is no coincidence that she was written about as a production leader on the front page of the newspaper Mashinostroitel. And at the "Come on, girls!" contest organized at the kindergarten she took first place. When her sons started school, the woman took a job as an elevator operator, but devoted all her free time to the family. She took the eldest to the house of creativity and Aidar to vocal lessons. She sensed right away that a creative boy was growing up in her family. After work the whole family would gather for dinner, watch TV, and listen to Tatar songs.

      "Aidar picked up all the songs in an instant. Then he would walk around the house humming: 'Koyash, koyash menge balky, menge nur sibe,'" Il'fera khanum says.

      After school Aidar wanted to study finance. "I advised him that singing is his gift, and it would be hard for him without music because he has a creative soul. And he listened to my words," the singer's mother recalls.

      "Once I was sitting at work at the MZhK, and someone brought me a beautiful bouquet. I thought, 'Who, why?' I looked — it was Aidar who had sent it by courier for my birthday. At first it was unusual to receive such gifts, to feel attention. Sometimes on the street or in a store people come up and ask, 'You're Aidar's mother, aren't you?' It's so pleasant," Il'fera khanum shares.

      "My husband and I have been everywhere — Turkey, Saint Petersburg, various sanatoriums... For my 60th birthday Aidar gave me a ticket to a concert at the State Kremlin Palace, where I saw performances by Larisa Dolina, Nikolai Baskov, Diana Gurtskaya and other pop stars. When Aidar lived in Kazan, we often went to the water park, theaters, restaurants. He loves to spoil us. If he goes somewhere he always brings tasty treats: fish, sweets, cakes. Many people say to me, 'Your son spoils you.' And I always answer, 'I'm reaping the fruits.' Children are like plants: first we raise them, water them, care for them, and then, God willing, they bear fruit for us."

      Aidar Suleymanov now lives and works in Moscow. He is a sound producer of musical projects for the NTV channel — "Avatar," "Mask," "Superstar." He rarely comes to Zainsk, about once every six months, but is constantly in touch with his family. For her son, who misses home cooking, Il'fera khanum prepares belesh, noodle soup, and several salads. And their traditional dish is bishbarmaq. It is a rich beef broth with potatoes and diamond-shaped pieces of dough.

      The tidy hostess cooks everything separately and at the end combines the ingredients, sprinkles with green onions, and adds sauce. Il'fera Suleymanova is now retired, but she does not like to sit idle. She happily knits clothes for her relatives and, of course, delights them with tasty food. She often visits her elder son Artur and her grandchildren in Naberezhnye Chelny. Her granddaughter is already studying to be a medic, and her grandson recently turned ten. When the family gathers at the table, everyone loves to sing Tatar songs. In those moments you can hear Il'fera khanum herself, who heartily sings: "Kubelegem, tugeregem, asyl koshym, sandugachym..."

      On Mother's Day she wishes all mothers health and grateful children. And she reminds that "first we raise and pour ourselves into our children, and then we reap the fruits."

      Photo: Roza Ilaltdinova

      Raushania Sibatova

      More news about the event:

      Mother of the People's Artist: "First we raise and invest ourselves in our children, and then we reap the fruits"

      Il'fera Suleymanova from Zainsk — on motherly work, her son's creative soul, and the fruits of upbringing

      Il'fera Suleymanova often hears the phrase, "Are you Aidar's mother?!" 13:59 29.11.2025 News of Zainsk - Zainsk

      Mother of the People's Artist: "First we raise and invest ourselves in our children, and then we reap the fruits"

      Il'fera Suleymanova from Zainsk — on motherly work, her son's creative soul, and the fruits of upbringing

      Il'fera Suleymanova often hears the phrase, "Are you Aidar's mother?!" 13:28 29.11.2025 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk