Film Directors of Bangladesh
This is the list of famous film director of Bangladesh.
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Zahir Raihan was born on 19 August 1935, as Mohammad Zahirullah, in the village Majupur, now in Feni District, Bangladesh. After the Partition of Bengal in 1947, he, along with his parents, returned to his village from Calcutta. He obtained Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Bengali from Dhaka University. He had been married twice, to Sumita Devi in 1961 and Shuchonda in 1968, both of whom were film actresses.
Zahir Raihan received his post graduate degree in Bengali Literature. Along with literature works Raihan started working as a journalist when he joined Juger Alo in 1950..Later he also worked in newspapers, namely Khapchhara, Jantrik, and Cinema. He also worked as the editor of Probaho in 1956. His first collection of short stories, titled Suryagrahan, was published in 1955. He worked as an assistant in the film Jago Huya Sabera in 1957. This was his first foot print in film. He also assisted Salahuddin in the film Je Nodi Morupothay. The filmmaker Ehtesham also took him for his movie A Desh Tomar Amar, for which he wrote the title song. In 1960 he arrived as a director with his film Kokhono Asheni. In 1964, he made Pakistan's first colour movie, Sangam, and completed his first CinemaScope movie, Bahana, the following year. He was an active worker of the Language Movement of 1952 and was present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February 1952. The effect of language movement was so high on him that he made his legendary film "Jibon Theke Neya" based on it. He also took part in the "Gano Obhyuthyan" in 1969. In 1971 he joined in the Liberation War of Bangladesh and created documentary films on this great event.During the war of liberation Raihan went to Kolkata where his film "Jibon Theke Neya" were shown. His film was highly acclaimed by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Ritwik Ghatak. Though he had his financial problem going on that time, he gave all his money to the Freedom Fighters trust that he got from the show.
Raihan disappeared on 30 January 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by the Pakistan army and/or local collaborators during the final days of the liberation war.It is believed that he was killed with many others when armed Bihari collaborators and soldiers of Pakistan Army in hiding fired on them when they went to Mirpur, a suburb of the capital city of Dhaka that was one of few strongholds for Pakistani/Bihari collaborators at that time.He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide, made during the Bangladesh Liberation War.- Director
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Alamgir Kabir was born on 26 December, 1938 at Rangamati, East Bengal, British India (now Bangladesh). Kabir admitted to Hughli Collegiate School first and then in 1948 was admitted to Dhaka Collegiate School. In 1952, he passed matriculation examinations with distinction in Mathematics. After passing the ISc examination in 1954 from Dhaka College, he took admission in the Department of Physics of the University of Dhaka. In 1958, he went to England to study Electrical Engineering at Oxford University. During his University days, he was attracted to the films and inspired by Ingmar Bergman's movie the Seventh Seal. Returning home in 1966, he joined leftist movement against Ayub government and after Liberation War in 1971, he started his career in making films. His notable films are Dhire Bahe Meghna (1973), Suryakanya (1976), Simana Periey (1977), Rupali Saikate (1979), Mohana (1982), Mahanayak (1985), and Parinita (1984). The short films were the Liberation Fighter, Program in Bangladesh, Culture in Bangladesh, Sufia, Amulya Dhan, Bhor Halo Dor Kholo, Amra Dujan, Ek Sagar Rakter Binimoye, Manikancha and Chorasrot. Alamgir Kabir is the author of a number of books including Film in East Pakistan, Film in Bangladesh, Suryakanya, Simana Periey and Mohana. He received Bangladesh National Film Award, Bangladesh Film Journalists Association Award, Zahir Raihan Film Award of Uttaran, and Syed Mohammad Parvez Award. He was given the title as Cholochitracharya. This prominent film maker died on 20 January, 1989.Alamgir Kabir (December 26, 1938 – January 20, 1989) was a Bangladeshi film director and cultural activist.[3] Three of his feature films are featured in the "Top 10 Bangladeshi Films" list by British Film Institute.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Chashi Nazrul Islam was born on 23 October 1941 in Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dhaka, Bangladesh]. He was a director and actor, known for Hangor Nodi Grenade (1997), Shuvoda (1986) and Devdas (1982). He was married to Jotsna Kazi. He died on 11 January 2015 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Chashi Nazrul Islam (23 October 1941 – 11 January 2015) was a Bangladeshi film director and producer.- Composer
- Actor
- Writer
Khan Ataur Rahman was born on 11 December 1928 in Ramkantapur, Manikganj, British India. He was a composer and actor, known for Ekhono Onek Raat (1997), Nawab Sirajuddaula (1967) and Daan Pite Chele (1980). He was married to Nilufar Yasmin, Mahbuba Rahman and Wheaton, Shirley. He died on 1 December 1997 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Khan Ataur Rahman (11 December 1928 – 1 December 1997; mostly known as Khan Ata) was a Bangladeshi film actor, director, producer, screenplay writer, music composer, and singer. He became renowned for his role in the film Jibon Theke Neya (1970). In this film, his rendition of the song "E Khancha Bhangbo Ami Kemon Kore" echoed the national psyche following the Bangladesh Liberation War.- Writer
- Director
- Music Department
With the publishing of his first book, "Nondito Noroke" in 1972, Humayun Ahmed came into the limelight as a promising young writer. He proved later on that he was not there to be lost among others. His next book, "Shonkhonil Karagar", was another huge success with the readers. Most of his earlier books were family/social drama. But he proved his talent later on by writing more than a handful of science fictions and horrors/super natural books as well. He even created a few characters that are known to almost everybody, such as "Himu" (who always wears a yellow punjabi and no sandals) and Misir Ali (the extremely logical person, there's nothing in his world that cannot be explained scientifically).
Humayun Ahmed had his directorial debut on TV with the series Eishob Dinratri (1985). A very touchy and complicated family drama. That was just the beginning, he went on to make a whole bunch of TV series, some of which are still popular with people.
His movies are one of the very few that takes middle class people to the theaters now a days. Among the obscene and violent movies that are mostly catered towards the lower working class, movies like Aguner Poroshmoni (1994) and Dui Duari (2000) were like a touch of fresh air.Humayun Ahmed (pronounced: [ɦumae̯un aɦmed̪] 13 November 1948 – 19 July 2012) was a Bangladeshi author, dramatist, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker.[4] Dawn referred to him as the cultural legend of Bangladesh.[5] Ahmed reached peak of his fame with the publication of his novel Nondito Noroke (In Blissful Hell) in 1972, which remains one of his most famous works,[6] winning admiration from literary critics, including Dr. Ahmed Sarif. He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh.[7][8] Ahmed's writing style was characterized as magic realism.[9] Sunil Gangopadhyay described him as the most popular writer in the Bengali language for a century[10] and according to him, Ahmed was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[11] Ahmed's books have been the top sellers at the Ekushey Book Fair during the 1990s and 2000s- Writer
- Director
- Music Department
Tareque Masud was born in Nurpur Village of Faridpur District in Bangladesh. At an early age he was sent off to madrassa (Islamic school) by his deeply religious father. He studied in the madrassa system until 1971, when the upheaval brought about by the 9-month Liberation War interrupted his education. After Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan, he entered general education, completing his HSC from Adamjee Cantonment College and eventually graduating from Dhaka University with a degree in History.
Tareque was involved in the film society movement from his university days and started his first film Adam Surat (1991) (The Inner Strength), a documentary on the legendary Bangladeshi painter S.M. Sultan, in 1982. His 1995 feature length documentary on the '71 Liberation War, Muktir Gaan (1995) (Song of Freedom) brought record audiences and became a cult classic. He also made many other films on the war, including Muktir Kotha (1999) (Words of Freedom), Narir Kotha (Women and War) (2000) and Naroshundor (The Barbershop)(2009) . In 2002, he completed his feature film The Clay Bird (2002) (The Clay Bird), which was based on his childhood experience in the Madrassa. The film won the Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize) at the Cannes Film Festival (2002), was the first Bangladeshi film to compete in the Oscars, and was released in many countries around the world.
In addition to his film making work, he was also a pioneer of the independent film movement in Bangladesh. Tareque was a founding member of the Short Film Forum, the leading platform for independent filmmakers. In 1988, he organized the country's first International Short and Documentary Film Festival, which is held on a biannual basis to this day. He was also known as the 'Cinema Feriwalla' (Vendor of Movies) for the way in which he showed his films, touring remote towns and villages throughout the country with his mobile projection unit. His wife, American-born Catherine Masud, was his creative and life partner. They met at the time he was completing work on Adam Surat (1991)and spent the next two decades making films together through their production house 'Audiovision [bd]'. Together they wrote scripts, often co-directed, and toured the country and the world with their films. Catherine also edited all of their work. Masud died on August 13, 2011 in a tragic road accident while returning from work on location for his upcoming feature film Kagojer Phul (The Paper Flower), on the 1947 partition of Bengal. Also killed in the accident was his longtime cinematographer and friend Mishuk Muneer, along with three other colleagues. Catherine Masud and four others survived the accident. Since his death, Catherine has established the 'Tareque Masud Memorial Trust', which is dedicated to the task of archiving and memorializing Masud's work through publications, educational projects, screening programs, and the completion of their unfinished oeuvre.Tareque Masud (6 December 1956 – 13 August 2011)[2] was a Bangladeshi independent film director, film producer, screenwriter and lyricist. He first found success with the films Muktir Gaan (1995)[3] and Matir Moina (2002),[4] for which he won three international awards, including the International Critics' FIPRESCI Prize, in the Directors' Fortnight section outside competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.[5] The film became Bangladesh's first film to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
He died in a road accident on 13 August 2011 while returning to Dhaka from Manikganj on the Dhaka-Aricha highway after visiting a filming location.[6] Masud was working on Kagojer Phool (The Paper Flower).[7][8] In 2012, he posthumously received Ekushey Padak, the highest civilian award of Bangladesh.[9] In 2013, New York University Asian/Pacific/American Institute, and South Asia Solidarity Initiative, hosted the first North American retrospective of his films.[10]- Writer
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- Producer
Tanvir Mokammel is a film-maker and an author of books from Bangladesh. He was born in March 8, 1955 in Khulna, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). He has made seven full-length feature films and fourteen documentaries till date (2018).
His films, some of which have received national and international awards are - Nodir Naam Modhumoti (1996) (The River Named Modhumoti), a deconstruction of the William Shakespeare's Hamlet-story on the backdrop of Bangladesh's liberation war against Pakistan in 1971; Chitra Nodir Pare (1999) (Quiet Flows the River Chitra), plight of a Hindu family who after the partition of India in 1947 refused to migrate to India from the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh); Lalsalu (2001) (A Tree Without Roots), based on a novel by Syed Waliullah about a Mullah who established a false shrine; Lalon (2004), a bio-pic of Fakir Lalon Shah, the famous baul song-composer of the 19th century rural Bengal; Rabeya (2008) (The Sister), a filmed deconstruction of the Greek play "Antigone" by Sophocles; Jibondhuli (2014) (The Drummer), a story of the destiny of a poor low-caste Hindu drummer during the liberation war of Bangladesh against Pakistan; Rupsha Nodir Banke (2020), a chronicle of the life of a leftist politician who was killed by Razakars during the 1971 Liberation War.
Tanvir Mokammel's prominent documentaries are - Achin Pakhi (1996) (The Unknown Bard), a bio-pic of Fakir Lalon Shah and his baul ideas; Teardrops of Karnaphuli (2005) (Karnaphulir Kanna), about the political conflict between the Chakma and other ethnic peoples of the Chittagong hill tracts against the Bengalees; Bonojatri (2005) (Riders to the Sundarbans), a documentary about the journey of the poor fishermen's wives through the mangrove forest of the Sunderbans to reach the sea; Oie Jamuna (2002) (A Tale of the Jamuna River), a journey-film about the Jamuna river depicting the condition of the river and the relationship of the river with the people living beside it; Bostrobalikara: Garment Girls of Bangladesh (2007), a documentary which follows three garment girls who came to work from village to the big city Dhaka and through them depict the condition of this billion dollar export-oriented industry in Bangladesh, the price war and the wage factor of the workers; Tajuddin Ahmad: An Unsung Hero (2007) (Nissongo Sarathi), a bio-pic of Tajuddin Ahmad, the first prime minister of Bangladesh who, in absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, led the Bangladesh liberation war and was later killed inside Dhaka central jail; Swapnabhumi (2007) (The Promised Land), depicts the plight of the Urdu-speaking Muslims from Bihar, popularly Known as the "Biharis" who had migrated from India in 1947 to live in the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh); Images and Impressions (1999), a documentary about the International People's College (IPC) in Helsingør, Denmark where the film-maker taught for a few months; 1971 (2011), a mega-documentary on the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971; The Japanese Wife (2012) (Japani Bodhu), a documentary on Hariprobha Takeda, the first Bengalee woman who wrote a travelogue on Japan and used to read Bengali news from the Tokyo Radio for Subhas Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Fouz.
Tanvir Mokammel's important books are "A Brief History of World Cinema", "The Art of Cinema", "Charlie Chaplin: Conquests of the Vagabond" (a book on the life and art of Charles Chaplin), "Syed Waliullah, Sisyphus and Quest of Tradition in Novel" (a literary criticism on the work of novelist Syed Waliullah), translation of Maxim Gorky's play "The Lower Depth", "Grundtvig and Folk Education", a book on the alternative educational ideas and Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig's educational concepts.
During his youth, Tanvir Mokammel worked as a progressive journalist and spent few years as a left-wing activist helping landless peasants in their struggles. Mr. Tanvir Mokammel is now the director of "Bangladesh Film Institute" (BFI) and "Bangladesh Film Centre" (BFC).Tanvir Mokammel (born 8 March 1955) is a Bengali filmmaker[1] and author from Bangladesh.[2] He studied English literature at the University of Dhaka and worked as a left-wing journalist for landless peasants in rural areas.[3] As a filmmaker he has made six full-length features and fourteen documentaries and short films, some of which have received national and international awards.[4]
His feature films are "Nadir Naam Modhumati" (The River Named Modhumati), "Chitra Nodir Pare" (Quiet Flows the River Chitra), "Lalsalu" (A Tree Without Roots), "Lalon" , "Rabeya" (The Sister), and "Jibondhuli" (The Drummer). Tanvir Mokammel’s prominent documentaries are "The Garment Girls of Bangladesh", "The Unknown Bird", "Teardrops of Karnaphuli", "Riders to the Sunderbans", "A Tale of the Jamuna River", "The Promised Land", "Tajuddin Ahmad :An Unsung Hero", "The Japanese Wife" and mega-documentary "1971".His movies "Nadir Naam Modhumati" (The River Named Modhumati) and "Chitra Nodir Pare" (Quiet Flows the River Chitra) ranked second and third respectively in the list of 10 best Bangladeshi films, in the audience and critics' polls conducted by the British Film Institute.[5]
A prolific writer, Tanvir Mokammel has written poems, short stories, and newspaper articles on cinema and cultural issues. Tanvir Mokammel’s important books are "A Brief History of World Cinema", "The Art of Cinema", "Charlie Chaplin: Conquests by a Tramp", "Syed Waliullah, Sisyphus and Quest of Tradition in Novel" (a work of literary criticism), "Grundtvig and Folk Education" (a book on alternative educational ideas), and a translation of Maxim Gorky’s play "The Lower Depths".[6]
Tanvir Mokammel is at present the director of the "Bangladesh Film Institute" and the "Bangladesh Film Centre".[7] His latest work is a fiction called "Jibondhuli".- Director
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Morshedul Islam was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 1, 1958. He made his film making debut in 1984 with the short film "Agami" while he was a student. He completed his Bachelor and Master degree in Pharmacy from the University of Dhaka. After participating in a film appreciation course organized by Bangladesh Film Institute & Archive, started making his first film "Agami" (Time Ahead), a short fiction, in 1982 about the Great War of Liberation of Bangladesh, when he was a student of the University of Dhaka. 'Agami' won the 'Silver Peacock' award for best direction in 10th International Film Festival of India, New Delhi in 1985. It also won the National Award for best short film and was shown in many international film festivals. The success of 'Agami', the first independent short film of the country, performed a leading role to establish an alternative film movement in Bangladesh. He made his first children's film 'Dipu Number Two' in 1996. The film was acclaimed by the audience, particularly by the young people. Made four films for children so far. Besides film making, is actively involved with the film society movement of the country. Served as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies from 1988-1994, Asian Regional Secretary of the International Federation of Film Societies from 1991-1995 and President of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies from July 2006 to June 2009. Founded Children's Film Society Bangladesh in 2006 and serving as the Honorary Festival Director of International Children's Film Festival Bangladesh. His wife Munira Morshed Munni, a photographer, is also known as a film activist and is the general secretary of the Children's Film society Bangladesh.Morshedul Islam (Born: December 1, 1958) is a film director from Bangladesh. Morshedul Islam was born on 1 December 1958 in Dhaka. He made his filmmaking debut in 1984 with the short film “Agami” while he was a student.- Actor
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Kazi Hayat is a National and International Award winning renowned Bangladeshi film director, film producer, screenwriter, script writer, story writer, dialogue writer and actor. In a career of more than three decades his films have covered many themes and genres-political and social crisis. He always wants to create awareness in the society through his films. He is considered one of the most popular and influential commercial filmmakers in the history of Bengali cinema. Hayat's performances in films in a variety of genres have generally earned him praise and awards, which include a record of the National Film Award for best director (two times), best story and dialogue writer (six times) and several international honors. He participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Kazi Hayat started his film career as an assistant director in 1973 while he was studying for master's degree in Commerce. In 1981 he directed a feature film entitled "THE FATHER"."THE FATHER" was sent by Bangladesh Government for Exhibition in Indonesian Film Festival. From 1982 to 1987, he made half a dozen movies. But all of his films were of different and uncommon thoughts and ideas. In 1987 he joined Karlovyvary Film Festival with his film "THE LAST KICK" (DAYEE KE).
In 1989, he joined Moscow Film Festival with one of his film "THE TORMENTED" (JONTRONA). 'Nattyasabhha' the renowned cultural dramatic organization gave him three prizes for his work as the best film producer, best film director and as the best screenplay and dialogue writer.
In 1991, he made "THE STRIFE" (DANGA). In 1992, he attended with this film in the third Pyang Yang Film Festival, "THE STRIFE" (DANGA) was bestowed with Afro Asian Solidarity Committee Award.
In 1993, he got three awards as the best film makers from three different socio cultural organizations of Bangladesh. It can be remembered that the people and film goers along with all the critics of Bangladesh called him as one of the best film makers who cares social problems of Bangladesh and almost all of his films remind about the freedom fights of 1971.
He also attended Tehran Film Festival with his films "TOLL COLLECTOR" (CHADABAJ) and "THE STRIFE" (DANGA). He gained International Indo-Bengali Kala Music Award as a best director for his excellent work in the movie "ANDHOKAR" (April 17, 2004 at Manhattan, New York). He made a film which was based on a poor blind child and the message of the movie was- blind and visual impaired children can also get education and they can lead an ordinary life. Still today he is working as director, film actor and film producer. He directed 43(forty four) full-length feature film and produced nine full-length feature film.
Kazi Hayat has been involved with so many social welfare issues. He donated his land in his village to build a school in the year 1985.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a Bangladeshi film director, screenwriter and film producer. Farooki is considered one of the leading figures to bring modernism/realism in Bangladeshi Cinema, those who have bridged the gap between escapism and reality. "Mostofa Sarwar Farooki could be the next South-east Asian filmmaker to break out", The Hollywood Reporter wrote in the review of his film Television. Variety's Jay Weissberg wrote. "Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a key exemplar of Bangladeshi new wave cinema movement". He is also the pioneer of an avant-grade filmmakers' movement called "Chabial".
He is a young director in Bangladesh who has set a new trend in terms of presentation and direction in the late 1990s. His first two films, which he considers to be an educational effort, were Bachelor (2004) and Mad_e in Bangladesh (2007). His third film Third Person Singular Number (2009) was premiered in Busan International Film Festival (2009). It had its European premier in International Film Festival Rotterdam (2009), It was also in the official competition in Middle East International Film Festival (2009) (Abu Dhabi).
Farooki's body of work address such themes as middle class angst, urban youth romance, deception-hypocrisy and frailty of individual, frustration about the confines of one's culture and conservative Muslim concepts of guilt and redemption.Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Bengali: মোস্তফা সরয়ার ফারুকী; born 2 May 1973) is a Bangladeshi film director, screenwriter and film producer.[3] Farooki is considered one of the leading figures to bring modernism/realism in Bangladeshi Cinema. His works often switch between a real and quasi-real world. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki could be the next South-east Asian filmmaker to break out", The Hollywood Reporter wrote in the review of his film Television. Variety's Jay Weissberg wrote. "Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a key exemplar of Bangladeshi new wave cinema movement". He is also the pioneer of an avant-garde filmmakers' movement called "Chabial". His 2012 feature Television was the closing film of Busan festival and won Grand Jury Prize in Asia Pacific Screen Award 2013 in addition to 5 more international awards from Dubai, Jogja-Indonesia, Asiatica-Roma, and Kolkata. He has just completed his fifth feature titled Ant Story.