Today is the 52nd death anniversary of noted filmmaker, writer and freedom fighter Zahir Raihan. Different socio-cultural organisations have arranged various programmes to mark the day.    

Zahir Raihan, who made immense contribution towards shaping Bangla films in the 1960s, was born on 19 August in 1935 at Majupur in Feni.     

He started his film career as an assistant director on the Urdu film “Jago Hua Savera” in 1957.   This was his first direct involvement in film. He also assisted Salahuddin in the film “Je Nadi Marupathe”.

Filmmaker Ehtesham also made him involved in his film “E Desh Tomar Amar” for which he wrote the title song. In 1960 he made his directorial début with his film “Kokhono Asheni”. He made Pakistan’s first colour film “Sangam” in 1964 and completed his first CinemaScope film “Bahana”, the following year.

The effect of the Language Movement was so strong on him that he used it as the premise of his landmark film “Jibon Theke Neya”. He also took part in the 1969 Mass uprising in East Pakistan.

In 1971 he joined in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. During the liberation war Zahir Raihan went to Kolkata, where his film “Jibon Theke Neya” was screened. His film was highly acclaimed by Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen and Tapan Sinha.

Apart from being a filmmaker, he was also an acclaimed writer. His first collection of short stories titled “Suryagrahan” was published in 1955.

He disappeared on 30 January 1972 while trying to find his brother, Shahidullah Kaiser, who was last seen in December 1971.

BDST: 1019 HRS, JAN 30, 2024
MN