Humayun Ahmed Film List
Jessia Adachi
Widely regarded as the greatest novelist in Bangladesh's history, he is considered one of the cornerstones in modern Bengali literature,[16] his works are characterized by non-violence, realistic storylines, family drama, and humor styles. In recognition of the works of Humayun, The Times of india wrote, "Humayun was a custodian of the Bangladeshi literary culture whose contribution single-handedly shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka without any war or revolution." and entitled him "The Shakespeare of Bangladesh".[17]Sunil Gangopadhyay described him as the most popular writer in the Bengali language for a century, and according to him (Sunil), Humayun Ahmed was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[18] Humayun Ahmed's books have been the top sellers at the Ekushey Book Fair during every year of the 1990s and 2000s.[19] He won the National Film Awards a record 7 times in directing, screenplay and story for the films Ghetuputra Komola, Aguner Poroshmoni, Shonkhonil Karagar, Daruchini Dwip and Anil Bagchir Ekdin. He also won the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1981 and the Ekushey Padak in 1994 for his contribution to the Bengali literature.
Ahmed studied in Chittagong Collegiate School.[26] He passed the SSC examination from Bogra Zilla School in 1965.[21] He then passed HSC from Dhaka College. Humayun Ahmed earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Chemistry from the University of Dhaka.[21] He joined as a faculty member of the same university.[21] Later he earned his PhD in polymer chemistry from North Dakota State University. He returned to Bangladesh and taught in the department of chemistry in University of Dhaka for several more years[21]
Ahmed wrote his debut novel Nondito Noroke (In Blissful Hell) during the 1971 Bangladesh independence war while he was a university student.[27][28] The novel was published in 1972 by the initiative of writer Ahmed Sofa under Khan Brother's Publishers.[29][30] From his very first novel, his themes included the aspirations of average middle-class urban families and portrayed quintessential moments of their lives.[31] His second novel was Shonkhonil Karagar.[32]
Ahmed directed films based on his own stories. His first film, Aguner Poroshmoni (1994), based on the Bangladesh Liberation War, won the 19th Bangladesh National Film Awards in a total of eight categories, including the awards for the Best Film and the Best Director.[41][42] Another film Shyamal Chhaya (2005) was also based on the same war.[43] His last directed film, Ghetuputra Kamola (2012), the story of a teenage boy, was set in the British colonial period.[44]
Shyamol Chhaya and Ghetuputra Kamola were selected as the Bangladeshi entries for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006 and 2012 respectively, but were not nominated.[45][46]
Ahmed composed around 40 songs which he used in his films and television dramas.[48] The songs were based on the folk music of the north-eastern part of Bangladesh.[48] His notable singles include "Ekta Chhilo Shonar Konya", "Pubali Batashey", "O Amar Ural Ponkhi Rey", "Jodi Mon Kadey", "Ke Porailo Amar Chokh-e Kolonko Kajol", "Chadni Poshor Raite Ke Anay Shoron Kore", "Ami Aaj Bhejabo Chokh Somudrer Joley", "Cholona Brishtitey Bhiji", "Channi Poshor Raite Jeno Amar Moron Hoy", "Hablonger Bajarey Giya", "Boroshar Prothom Dine", Thikana Amar Notebook E Ache", "Baje Bongshi", "Aaj Jorir Biye", "Cholo Na Jai", "Chika Maro" and "Konya Nachilo Rey" etc.[48] The songs were rendered by Subir Nandi, Selim Chowdhury, S I Tutul, Meher Afroz Shaon, Sabina Yasmin, Agun, Kuddus Boyati and others.[48] In his most films and TV dramas, the music composer was Maksud Jamil Mintu.
Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus assessed Ahmed's overall impact saying: "Humayun's works are the most profound and most fruitful that literature has experienced since the time of Tagore and Nazrul."[9] Similarly, according to poet Al Mahmud, "one golden age of Bengali literature ended with Tagore and Nazrul and another began with Ahmed".[9] Writer Imdadul Haq Milan considered him to be "the almighty lord of Bengali literature, controlling all their actions and thoughts".[9] Dawn, Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper, referred to him as the cultural legend of Bangladesh.[49] Times of India credited Humayun as "the person who single-handedly shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka".[9] Sunil Gangopadhyay described him as the most popular writer in the Bengali language for a century[50] and according to him, Ahmed was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[51] However, during his lifetime author Shahriar Kabir dismissed him for "always speaking for the establishment."[52] Literary critic Azfar Hussain said: "I am not surprised he talks like a pro-establishment writer. I find him ignorant."[52]
On 11 May 2012, two chapters of Ahmed's future novel Deyal were published in the daily Prothom Alo.[53] 3 days later, Attorney General of Bangladesh Mahbubey Alam drew attention of the High Court on a discrepancy about a detail of the historical event of killing Sheikh Russel in Ahmed's writing.[54][53] The court later issued a suo moto rule and asked the authorities to provide Ahmed copies of relevant documents and judgements of the killing case, so that Ahmed could rectify the writing.[55][53]
Ahmed married Gultekin Khan in 1973.[41][42][56] Together they had three daughters, Bipasha Ahmed, Shila Ahmed, Nova Ahmed and one son, Nuhash Humayun. Shila went on to become a television and film actress and Nuhash became a writer, film director, and producer.[57] Bipasha also acted in a supporting role in Nokkhotrer Raat and starred in Mayaboti. On 6 June 2004, Ahmed divorced Gultekin.[58] He then married actress Meher Afroz Shaon in 2004. He had two sons from the second marriage, Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun. He later had a daughter, Lilaboti, who suffered a neonatal death. A lake in Nuhash Palli was named after her.[59]
On 12 May 2012, Ahmed returned to Bangladesh for two weeks.[64] He died on 19 July 2012 at 11:20 PM BST at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.[8] There was some tension in the family over the selection of his burial site, but eventually his estate, Nuhash Palli was selected.[2]
In 1987, Ahmed founded an estate, Nuhash Palli, named after his son Nuhash, near Pirujali village, 25 km from Gazipur City, in Gazipur District,[65] which grew to cover 40 bigha (approximately 14 acres).[66] He would spend much of his time at the estate when he was in Bangladesh. He formed a collection of statues there by local artist Asaduzzaman Khan and another of plants from around the world, particularly medicinal and fruit-bearing trees.[65]
Several cinematographic adaptations of Ahmed's stories are made after his death. Anil Bagchir Ekdin (2015), directed by Morshedul Islam, won six Bangladesh National Film Awards.[68] Krishnopokkho (2016) was directed by Meher Afroz Shaon.[69] In October 2016, she announced the production of her next film based on Nokkhotrer Raat.[70] Debi (2018) is produced by a grant from the Government of Bangladesh.[71][72]
This half-hour TV drama is part of the Eid-dedicated TV series Osthir Shomoy Shostir Golpo. Written and directed by Nuhash Humayun, this episode of the series titled Hotel Albatross centres around four chefs working in a hotel with personal differences and antagonism amongst themselves. Suddenly, they are stuck together in a hostage situation in which four of them have four different, conflicting alternatives for rescuing themselves and one other.
A 17-minute lighthearted romantic comedy- 700 taka is a story centring on the paranoia of a broke young man about the fact that on the day of his first date with a girl he really likes, he has only Tk. 700 in his wallet. *spoiler alert* The film ends with a message about the importance of honesty in relationships.
The 22-minute short film features two sisters in a post-apocalyptic Dhaka, Bangladesh, trying to save themselves from bloodthirsty monsters who have taken over the world. Their pursuit of survival revolves around a mosquito net (moshari). With this film, Nuhash Humayun has tried to depict the amalgamation of curiosity, fear, and thrill a Bangladeshi kid experiences as they are sheltered by a moshari from the threats outside. This first-of-its-kind horror short dismisses the many stereotypes about Bangladeshi cinematic norms and represents our culture in a superior light for the world to see.
Back in 2020, Nuhash Humayun announced his directorial debut for a full-length feature film Moving Bangladesh. Inspired by true stories, the film will centre on the frustration of a young university student with Dhaka traffic and life in the city in general and how this young individual teams up with his friends and devises a ride-sharing app that will revolutionize the transport facilities in Bangladesh.
Earlier this year, Moving Bangladesh was selected for the 2020 Sundance Feature Film Programme, making Nuhash Humayun one of the 13 screenwriters selected for the programme and also the first Bangladeshi fellow in the programme. For the past 40 years, the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program (FFP) has been supporting prominent independent filmmakers whose unique works have received love and admiration from viewers all over the world.
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