Zahir Raihan: A Star of Bangla Film

Zahir Raihan is a great filmmaker of our country. In his short life, he was able to create an audience with a different taste of films. He created a new era of cinema movement. All time he went through the life and his all movie was mainly belonged with the life. His novels and movies gave the spark of life, told the story of life.

Zahir Raihan’s films tell the story of life. In his movies he talked about life’s obstacles, sorrows and happiness from his point views to the audience. He captured life in celluloid diary and the frame shaped his thoughts.

Early Life & Education:

Zahir Raihan was born on August 19, 1935 at the Mojupur village of Feni. He received his primary education at Kolkata Mitra Institute and Kolkata Alia Madrasah. In 1949, he published one of his poem “Oder Janiye Dao” was published in literary magazine. He passed his School certificate exam from Amirabad school of Feni and completed ISC in 1953. He then got admission in Dhaka Medical College but he dropped out and enrolled in Dhaka University. He studied in Bangla. He participated in the 1952 Bangla Language Movement.

Professional Career:

Zahir Raihan also worked as a journalist in “Juger Alo,” “Jantrik,” and Cinema newspapers He edited and published a monthly magazine called “Probaho.” He was also the editor of the weekly “Express” newspaper. He is survived by four sons. Two of them became drama directors and another one became actor. He first married famous film actess Sumita Devi and then Suchonda.

Zahir Raihan Novels:

Surjo Grohon was his first novel followed by Hajar Bochor Dhore. Other major works as author includes Borof Gola Nodi, Sesh Bikeler Meye, Ar Koto Din, and R Ek Falgun. He received Adamji prize for his novel Hajar Bochor Dhore in 1964 and got Bangla Academy award . He also received the prestigious Liberation Award (Posthumous) for his work .

Zahir Raihan Movies:

He made directorial debut in 1960 with Kokhono Aseni. He first worked as an assistant for director Jardari in Jago huya Sabera. His first cinemascope film Bahanawas released in 1965. “Jibon theke neya” is a heart touching movie of him . Zahir Raihan’s other famous movies include Kacher Dewal, Behula, Anowara, A State is Born. Let there be Light was his last and incomplete film as a director. He was directing another movie titled Stop Genocide based on the our liberation war. We lost this great director in 1972. He died while searching for his elder brother.