The pioneering filmmaker's original name is Abu Abdar Mohammad Zahirullah. In his childhood, his near and dear ones used to call him as Zafar.
He is the director of the first English film made in the country "Let There Be Light", first colour film Sangam (1964) and first cinemascope film Bahana (1965).
His Jibon Theke Neya (1970) is the first Bangla film that allegorically narrates the oppression of the then Pakistani rulers. The film was initially banned and was later released because of mass demand.
Comrade Moni Singh gave him the name 'Raihan', as a political attribute.
He disappeared on January 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, writer Shahidullah Kaiser. Earlier in 1952, he was in prison for three months as law enforcers caught him instead of Shahidullah Kaiser.