Zahir Raihan

Zahir Raihan
Native name জহির রায়হান
Born Mohammad Zahirullah
(1935-08-19)19 August 1935
Feni, Noakhali, British India
Nationality Bangladeshi
Education BA (Bengali)
Alma mater University of Dhaka
Occupation Filmmaker, novelist, writer
Spouse(s)
Sumita Devi (m. 1961–1968)

Shuchonda (m. 1968–1971)
Children Bipul Raihan, Anol Raihan, Tapu Raihan, Arafat Raihan
Relatives Shahidullah Kaiser (brother)
Awards full list
Disappeared 30 January 1972 (aged 36)
Status Presumed dead

Zahir Raihan (19 August 1935 – disappeared 30 January 1972) was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is most notable for his documentary Stop Genocide, made during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[1] He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1977 and Independence Day Award in 1992 by the Government of Bangladesh.[2][3]

Early life and education

Raihan was born Mohammad Zahirullah on 19 August 1935 in Majupur village, in Feni District.[4] After the Partition of Bengal in 1947, he, along with his parents, returned to his village from Calcutta. He obtained his bachelor's in Bengali from the University of Dhaka.

Professional career

Raihan received his post graduate degree in Bengali literature. Along with literary 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.[5] His first collection of short stories, titled Suryagrahan, was published in 1955. He worked 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. The filmmaker Ehtesham also employed him on his movie E Desh Tomar Amar, for which he wrote the title song. In 1960, he made his directorial début with his film Kokhono Asheni, which was released in 1961. In 1964, he made Pakistan's first colour movie, Sangam, and completed his first CinemaScope movie, Bahana, the following year.

He was an active supporter of the Language Movement of 1952 and was present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February 1952. 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 and created documentary films on the subject.[6] During the war of liberation Raihan went to Calcutta, where his film Jibon Theke Neya was shown. His film was highly acclaimed by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Ritwik Ghatak. Though he was in financial difficulties at the time, he gave all his money from the Calcutta showing to the Freedom Fighters trust.[7]

Personal life

Raihan had been married twice, to Sumita Devi in 1961 and Shuchonda in 1968, both of whom were film actresses. With Sumita he had two sons, Bipul Raihan and Anol Raihan. He, with Shuchonda, had also two sons named Opu Raihan and Topu Raihan.[8]

Disappearance

Raihan disappeared on 30 January 1972 trying to locate his brother, a notable writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by the Pakistan army and/or local collaborators during the final days of the liberation war.[9] It is believed that he was killed with many others when armed Bihari collaborators and soldiers of the Pakistan Army who were 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.[9]

Books

Novels

  • Shesh Bikeler Meye (A Girl in the Late-Afternoon)
  • Trishna (Thirst)
  • Hajar Bachhar Dhare (For Thousand Years)
  • Arek Phalgun (Another Spring)
  • Baraf Gala Nadi (River of Melted Ice)
  • Ar Kato Din (How Many More Days)
  • Kayekti Mrityu (A Few Deaths)
  • Ekushey February (21 February)

Short stories

  • Sonar Harin (The Golden Deer)
  • Samayer Prayojane (For the Need of Time)
  • Ekti Jigyasa (One Question)
  • Harano Balay (The Lost Ring)
  • Badh (The Protest)
  • Suryagrahan (The Solar Eclipse)
  • Naya Pattan (The New Foundation)
  • Mahamrityu (The Great Death)
  • Bhangachora (The Broken)
  • Aparadh (The Crime)
  • Swikriti (The Congratulations)
  • Ati Parichito (Very Familiar)
  • Ichchha Anichchha (Wish or No Wish)
  • Janmantar (Reincarnation)
  • Poster
  • Ichchhar Agune Jwalchhi (Burnt in the Fire of Wish)
  • Katogulo Kukurer Artanad (Bark of Some Dogs)
  • Kayekti Sanlap (Some Dialogues)
  • Demag (Pride)
  • Massacre
  • Ekusher Galpo (Story of 21 February)

Filmography

Movies and documentaries directed

Raihan at the set of the film Kokhono Asheni (1961)
  • Kokhono Asheni, 1961 (his first film as director)[9]
  • Sonar Kajol, 1962 (jointly directed with Kolim Sharafi)[9]
  • Kancher Deyal, 1963[9]
  • Sangam, 1964 (the first colour film made in Pakistan)
  • Bahana, 1965 (the cinemascope film made in Pakistan)
  • Behula, 1966[9]
  • Anowara, 1966[9]
  • Agun Niye Khela, 1967[10]
  • Jibon Theke Neya, 1970[9]
  • Let There Be Light
  • Jalte Suraj Ke Niche 1971

Documentary films

  • Stop Genocide, on the genocide by Pakistani Army in the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971[9]
  • A State is Born
  • Liberation Fighters(Production)
  • Innocent Millions(Production)

Movies produced

  • Bairagi, 1967
  • Dui Bhai, 1968
  • Shuorani Duorani, 1968

Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Islam, Sirajul (2012). "Raihan, Zahir". In Islam, Sirajul; Khan, Abu. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ↑ "একুশে পদকপ্রাপ্ত সুধীবৃন্দ" [Ekushey Padak winners list] (in Bengali). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Independence Day Award" (PDF). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Profiles of martyred intellectuals". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Zahir Raihan: Recalling an Intellectual". The Daily Sun. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  6. ↑ The Daily Prothom Alo,17 August 2006
  7. ↑ "Akhono Obohelito Zahir Raihan" Hossain, Amzad. The Daily Prothom Alo, 17 August 2006
  8. ↑ "বিপুল রায়হান গুরুতর অসুস্থ:প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সহায়তা কামনা". Prothom-Alo. 12 March 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ferdous, Fahmim (19 February 2013). "Zahir Raihan: Capturing national struggles on celluloid". The Daily Star. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Lifetime Achievement Award Winners!". The Daily Star. 28 October 2017.
  • Zahir Raihan on IMDb
  • জহির রায়হান – গুনীজন.কম. Gunijan (in Bengali).
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