This year, Bangladesh has lost many glittering stars from the showbiz realm who contributed immensely to uplifting the country’s music and cinema scenes.
Banglanews remembers the celebrities including noted actors Farooque, Zeenat Barkatullah, Khalekuzzaman, Mita Chowdhury and Homayra Himu, film directors Sohanur Rahman Sohan, Syed Salahuddin Zaki and Shafi Bikrompuri, small screen director Mohan Khan, singers Bulbul Mahalanobish and Nadira Begum, lyricist Rajib Ashraf.
Farooque (died on 15 May): Legendary actor and lawmaker Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooque, died in Singapore on 15 May 2023 while undergoing treatment. Born on 18 August 1948, Farooque started his career on silver screen through the film ‘‘Jolchhobi’’ in 1971. The multiple award-winning actor contributed enormously to shape the Golden Era of the Bangladeshi film industry. ‘‘Golapi Ekhon Traine’’, ‘‘Lathial’, ‘‘Abar Tora Manush Ho’’, ‘‘Mia Bhai’’, ‘‘Sareng Bou’’, ‘‘Padma Meghna Jamuna’’, ‘‘Ekhono Onek Raat’’; the list of his milestone works continued to adorn his career.
Sohanur Rahman Sohan (13 September): The noted film director started his film career as an assistant of director Shibli Sadik. His first film “Biswas Abiswas” was released in 1988. He was best known in Dhallywood for directing romantic films. He launched Salman Shah and Moushumi with the film “Keyamat Theke Keyamat” in 1993. He also introducedShakib Khan, with the film “Ananta Bhalobasha” in 1999.
Syed Salahuddin Zaki (18 September): Noted film director, producer and script writer Syed Salahuddin Zaki-directed debut film ‘‘Ghuddi’’ was released in 1980. The film ‘‘Ghuddi’’ is still remembered for its songs ‘‘Abar Elo Je Shondhya,’’ ‘‘Ke Bashi Bajay Re,’’ and ‘‘Ghum Ghum’’ composed by Lucky Akhand. Besides ‘‘Ghuddi’’ he has also written and directed several popular films.
Bulbul Mahalanobish (14 July): During Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, Bulbul Mahalanobish was a prominent singer of Shwadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, where she also played the leading female character in “Jallader Darbar”, an extremely popular episodic radio play written by KalyanMitra. As a member of the “Shwadhin-Bangla Betar Kendra Music Squad”, she has performed in numerous locations, where the collected proceeds were presented to the Bangladesh Government.
Zeenat Barkatullah (20 September): Zeenat Barkatullah was a dance artiste and small screen actor. The Ekushey Padak-winning artiste appeared in around 80 television drama plays. Her acting career began with the drama ‘‘Maria Amar Maria’’ in 1980. She later acted in ‘‘Ghore Baire’’, ‘‘Osthai Nibas’’, ‘‘Boro Bari’’, and ‘‘Kotha Bola Moyna’’ and other dramas.
Mita Chowdhury (29 June): Mita Chowdhury started her acting career in 1968 and got recognised for her performance in theaters and TV dramas in the 70s and 80s. One of her notable work was Humayun Ahmed’s “Nandita Narakey”. She also acted in the Rubaiyat Hossain directed film “Made in Bangladesh”.
Shafi Bikrampuri (18 October): Born in Munshiganj, Shafi Bikrampuri was an acclaimed film director, film distributor and producer. He distributed Subhash Dutta-directed film “Arunodoyer Agnishakkhi” in 1972. Shafi Bikrampuri produced many hit movies including, ‘‘Bahadur’, ‘‘Daku Mansur’ and ‘‘Raj Dulari’.
Humaira Himu (2 November): Humaira Himu was a popular face on the Small screen. Born in Lakshmipur, she entered the acting world through stage plays. In 2006, she first acted in the television drama ‘‘Chhayabithi’’. Then she presented many popular dramas including ‘‘Bari Bari Sari Sari’’, ‘‘Housefull’’, ‘‘Sanghat’’ and ‘‘Gulshan Avenue’’. She died at the age of 37.
Nadira Begum (6 November): Nadira Begum was a folk and Baul singer. She is notable for the song “Kolo Kolo Cholo Cholo Nodi Kore Tolmolo”. Apart from Bhawaiya, she has sung many popular folk songs.
Khalequzzaman (21 March): Khalequzzaman was an actor and freedom fighter. His first TV drama ‘‘Shorpobhrome Rojju’’ was aired on BTV in 1976. After that he acted in various television plays including ‘‘Toma’’, ‘‘Boro Bari’’, ‘‘Somoy Osomoy’’, ‘‘Shuborno Somoy’’ and others. He also acted alongside Nayok Raj Razzak and Kabori in the film ‘‘Anirbaan’’.
BDST: 1155 HRS, DEC 28, 2023
MN/SMS
