Today is the 89th anniversary of the birth of eminent filmmaker, fiction writer, Language Movement hero and freedom fighter Zahir Raihan.聽
Born on August 19, 1935 at Majupur in Feni, Zahir Raihan was attracted by the communist movement in his early years. He worked as a courier to carry letters and messages of the Communist Party鈥檚 leaders from one place to another when the party was banned and the leaders went underground. He got the name Raihan from underground leaders and thus his name Zahirullah was changed to Zahir Raihan.
He earned a bachelor of arts degree in Bangla from the University of Dhaka.
The filmmaker made immense contribution towards shaping Bangla films. He made his silver-screen debut as a director in the film 鈥楰akhono Aseni鈥� in 1961. He also made the then Pakistan鈥檚 first colour film 鈥楽angam鈥� in 1964. In the following year, he completed his first CinemaScope film titled 鈥楤ahana鈥�.
He earned acclaim directing films, including 鈥楯iban Theke Neya鈥�, 鈥楢gun Niye Khela鈥�, 鈥楤ehula鈥� and 鈥楰ancher Deyal鈥�
He also worked as a journalist in 鈥楯uger Alo鈥�, 鈥楰hapchhara鈥�, 鈥楯antrik鈥�, 鈥楥inema鈥� and 鈥楶rabaho鈥�.
An acclaimed fiction writer, Zahir Raihan鈥檚 first collection of short stories titled 鈥楽urjagrahan鈥� was published in 1955. His literary works include 鈥楬ajar Bachhar Dhare鈥�, 鈥楢rek Phalgun鈥�, 鈥楽hesh Bikeler Meye鈥�, 鈥楾rishna鈥�, 鈥楤araf Gala Nadi鈥�, 鈥楢r Kata Din鈥� and 鈥楰ayekti Mrityu鈥�.
Zahir Raihan actively participated in the Language Movement, which influenced him to make his much-acclaimed film 鈥楯iban Theke Neya鈥�. He was present at the historic meeting held at Amtala on February 21, 1952.
In 1971, Raihan joined the War of Independence and made several documentary films on the war, including 鈥楽top Genocide鈥�.
He disappeared on January 30, 1972 while trying to find his brother, Shahidullah Kaiser, who was last seen in December 1971.
