Zahir Raihan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zahir Raihan
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| জহির রায়হান | |
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| Born |
Mohammad Zahirullah
19 August 1935 |
| Disappeared | January 30, 1972 (aged 36) |
| Status | Presumed dead |
| Died | July 29, 2020 (aged 84) |
| Cause of death | Stabbing by Gunshot |
| Body discovered | July 29, 2020 |
| Resting place | Pink Cemetery |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Education | BA (Bengali) |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation | movie director, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Sumita Devi (1961–1968) Shuchonda (1968–1971) |
| Relatives | Shahidullah Kaiser (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
Zahir Raihan (Bengali: জহির রায়হান) was a famous writer and movie director from Bangladesh. He was born on August 19, 1935, and disappeared on January 30, 1972.
He wrote many books, and his first novel, Shesh Bikeler Meye, came out in 1960. Other well-known novels include Hajar Bachhar Dhore and Arek Phalgun.
Zahir Raihan is especially remembered for his documentary Stop Genocide. He made this film during the Bangladesh Liberation War to show the world what was happening. Some of his popular movies are Behula, Sangam, and Jibon Theke Nea.
He received several important awards for his work. These include the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1972 and the Independence Day Award in 1999. He also won the Nigar Award for directing Kancher Deyal in 1964. Later, he received the National Film Awards in 1975 and 2005. In 1977, he was honored with the Ekushey Padak for his contributions to movies.
Contents
Life and Career Journey
Early Years and Education
Zahir Raihan was born as Mohammad Zahirullah on August 19, 1935. His village was Majupur in the Feni District, which was part of British India. Today, this area is in Bangladesh.
He went to school in Kolkata, India, at Mitra Institute and Alia Madrasha. After the Partition of Bengal in 1947, his family moved back to their village.
In 1950, Raihan finished high school at Amirabad High School in Feni. He then studied at Jagannath College in Dhaka. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bengali literature in 1956 and his Master of Arts in 1958 from the University of Dhaka.
Starting His Career
Zahir Raihan began working as a journalist in 1950. He wrote for newspapers like "Juger Alo," "Khapchhara," "Jantrik," and "Cinema." In 1956, he became the editor of "Probaho."
His first collection of short stories, Suryagrahan, was published in 1955. He also started working in movies. In 1957, he was an assistant director for the movie Jago Hua Sabera. He also helped with movies like Je Nodi Morupothey and Ae Desh Tomar Amar. He even wrote songs for Ae Desh Tomar Amar.
First Movies and Marriages
Zahir Raihan directed his first movie, Kokhono Asheni, in 1960. It was released in 1961. That same year, he married his first wife, Sumita Devi. They had two sons, Bipul and Anol Raihan.
In 1962, he co-directed Sonar Kajol with Kalim Sharafi. He wrote, produced, and directed the musical movie Kancher Deyal in 1963. For this film, he won the Nigar Award for best direction.
His famous novel Hajar Bachhar Dhore was published in 1964. He won the Adamjee Literature Award for this book. That year, he also made Sangam, which was Pakistan's first color movie. He wrote and produced it himself. In 1965, he made Bahana, his first CinemaScope movie.
Popular Movies and Second Marriage
Zahir Raihan's movie Behula (1966) was a big success. It was based on a popular folk story and starred Suchonda and Abdur Razzak. After Behula did well, he made Anwara (1967) with the same actors. This movie was also very popular.
In 1968, he married Suchonda, who was the lead actress in his films. They had one son named Topu Raihan. In 1968, he also wrote and produced Dui Bhai. He produced other movies like Shuorani Duorani, Shesh Porjonto, and Moner Moto Bou.
Important Films and the Liberation War
In 1970, Raihan wrote, produced, and directed Jibon Theke Neya. This movie used a family story to represent the political situation in East Pakistan at the time. It showed how people were fighting against unfair rule.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Raihan went to Kolkata. He showed Jibon Theke Neya there, and famous directors like Satyajit Ray praised it.
He became a leader in the Bangladesh Liberation Council of Intelligentsia. He started making a film called Let There Be Light, but he stopped to make Stop Genocide. This documentary showed the terrible things the Pakistani army was doing to Bengali people. Friends of Bangladesh in India helped him make it. The acting Prime Minister of the exiled government, Tajuddin Ahmed, saw how important the documentary was. The Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was very moved and ordered it to be shown around the world.
That year, he also produced and directed A State Is Born. He produced Liberation Fighters and Innocent Millions. His last movie was in Urdu, called Jalte Suraj Ke Niche (1971).
His Disappearance
Zahir Raihan disappeared on January 30, 1972. He had gone to look for his brother, Shahidullah Kaiser, who had been taken by the Pakistani army during the last days of the war. His family believed that armed groups hiding in Mirpur fired at people who went there to search for their missing loved ones. Zahir Raihan was never found.
Books Written by Zahir Raihan
Novels
- Sesh Bikeler Meye (A Girl in the Late-Afternoon, 1960)
- Trishna (Thirst, 1962)
- Hajar Bochhor Dhore (For Thousand Years, 1964)
- Arek Falgun (Different Spring, 1969)
- Borof Gola Nodi (River of Melted Ice, 1970)
- Ar Koto Din (How Many More Days, 1970)
- Ekushey February (21 February, 1970)
- Koekti Mrittu (A Few Deaths)
Short Stories
- Sonar horin (The golden deer)
- Somoyer proyojone (For the need of time)
- Ekti jiggasa (One question)
- Harano boloy (The lost ring)
- Badh (The protest)
- Surjagrohon (The Solar Eclipse)
- Noya potton (The new foundation)
- Mohamrittu (The great death)
- Vangachora (The broken)
- Oporadh (The crime)
- Shikriti (The congratulations)
- Oti porichito (Very familiar)
- Ichha onichha (Wish or no wish)
- Jonmantor
- Poster
- Ichhar agune jolchhi (Burnt in the fire of wish)
- Kotogulo kukurer artonad (Bark of some dogs)
- Koekti songlap (Some dialogues)
- Demag (Pride)
- Massacre
- Ekusher golpo (Story of 21 February)
Movies and Documentaries
Directed by Zahir Raihan
- Kokhono Asheni, 1961 (his first film as director)
- Sonar Kajol, 1962 (jointly directed with Kolim Sharafi)
- Kancher Deyal, 1963
- Sangam, 1964 (the first color film made in Pakistan)
- Bahana, 1965
- Behula, 1966
- Anowara, 1966
- Jibon Theke Neya, 1970
- Let There Be Light
- Jalte Suraj Ke Niche 1971
Documentaries by Zahir Raihan
- Stop Genocide, 1971 (about the violence during the Bangladesh Liberation War)
- A State is Born
- Liberation Fighters (produced by him)
- Innocent Millions (produced by him)
Awards and Honors
Zahir Raihan received many awards for his amazing work:
- 1964: Adamjee Literature Award for his novel Hajar Bachhar Dhore
- 1964: Nigar Award for directing Kancher Deyal
- 1972: Bangla Academy Literary Award for his novels
- 1977: Ekushey Padak for his contributions to movies
- 1992: Independence Day Award for his literature
- National Film Awards (received after his death):
- 1975: Special award
- 2005: Best story and dialogue for the movie Hajar Bachhar Dhore
Images for kids
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Raihan on the set of his film Kokhono Asheni (1961)
