Native name জহির রায়হান Role Novelist Nationality Bangladeshi | Alma mater Dhaka University Siblings Shahidullah Kaiser Name Zahir Raihan | |
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Born Mohammad Zahirullah19 August 1935Feni, Noakhali, British India (present-day Bangladesh) ( 1935-08-19 ) Occupation Filmmaker, novelist, writer Notable awards Bangla Academy Award (1972) Died January 30, 1972, Dhaka, Bangladesh Movies Stop Genocide, Jibon Thekey Neya, Symphony of Agony, Sangam Similar People Shuchanda, Shahidullah Kaiser, Sumita Devi, Khan Ataur Rahman, Abdur Rajjak | ||
Zahir Raihan Mini Biography | Great Life Stories
Zahir Raihan / জহির রায়হান / BCS Preparation / BCS Bangla / Job Preparation BD
Zahir Raihan (19 August 1935 – 30 January 1972) was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide, made during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Contents
- Zahir Raihan Mini Biography Great Life Stories
- Zahir Raihan BCS Preparation BCS Bangla Job Preparation BD
- Early life and education
- Professional career
- Personal life
- Disappearance
- Novels
- Short stories
- Movies and Documentaries Directed
- Documentary films
- Movies Produced
- Awards
- References
Early life and education
Zahir Raihan was born on 19 August 1935, as Mohammad Zahirullah, in the village Majupur, now in Feni District, Bangladesh. After the Partition of Bengal in 1947, he, along with his parents, returned to his village from Calcutta. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Bengali from Dhaka University.
Professional career
Zahir 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. His first collection of short stories, titled Suryagrahan, was published in 1955. He worked as an assistant on the film Jago Huya Sabera in 1957. This was his first direct involvement in film. He also assisted Salahuddin in the film Je Nodi Morupothay. The filmmaker Ehtesham also employed him on his movie A 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 "Gano Obhyuthyan" in 1969. In 1971 he joined in the Liberation War of Bangladesh and created documentary films on the subject. 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.
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 son, Bipul Raihan and Anol Raihan. He, with Shuchonda, had another son named Topu Raihan.
Disappearance
Raihan disappeared on 30 January 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by the Pakistan army and/or local collaborators during the final days of the liberation war. 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.
Novels
Short stories
Movies and Documentaries Directed
Documentary films
Movies Produced
Followings movies were produced by Raihan and directed by his assistants