Abdullah al Mamun (playwright)

Abdullah Al Mamun
আবদুল্লাহ আল মামুন
Born(1942-07-13)13 July 1942
Jamalpur, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died21 August 2008(2008-08-21) (aged 66)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
EducationMA (history)
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka
Occupations
  • Film director
  • actor
  • playwright
Spouse
Farida Khatun
​
​
(m. 1984, died)​
Awards

Abdullah Al Mamun (13 July 1942 – 21 August 2008) was a Bangladeshi playwright, actor, and filmmaker.[1] He earned the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1978 and the Ekushey Padak in 2000 from the Government of Bangladesh.[2] As a filmmaker, he won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Director twice for the direction of the films Ekhoni Somoy (1980) and Dui Jibon (1988).[3][4][5]

Early life and education

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Mamun was born on 13 July 1942 in Jamalpur District. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Dhaka.[1] He wrote in his memoirs Aamar Kotha, which was serially published in the fortnightly Tarokalok, "When I first got admitted in the Dhaka University, I turned to Najmul Huda Bacchu vai to get a chance in theatre. He took me to Natyaguru Nurul Momen. Hearing that besides acting, I write plays also, Momen Sir asked me, 'Have you read Bernard Shaw?' He cast me in his next play. That was my beginning. Since then I never had to look back". In 1950, he wrote his first stage play, Niyotir Parihas. Subsequently, under the guidance of Muneir Chowdhury, he further developed his skills as a playwright, director, and actor.[1]

Career

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Since 1965, Mamun was associated with Pakistan Television (PTV), later renamed Bangladesh Television (BTV)[citation needed]. He wrote 25 dramas, seven novels, an autobiography titled Amar Ami, and a travelogue titled Manhattan. His literature mostly depicts the middle-class lifestyle of Bangladesh. His notable plays include Ekhono Kritadas, Tomrai, Amader Sontanera, Kokilara, Bibisab, Meraj Fakirer Maa, Mayik Master, Songsoptok, Pathar Somoy, Jibon Chhobi, and Baba.[1] He was a founding member and playwright-director of the theatre troupe Theatre.[6]

Mamun was also a filmmaker. He made his debut as a filmmaker with Angikar in 1972. His other notable films include Sareng Bou (1978), Ekhoni Somoy, Dui Jibon, Sokhi Tumi Kar, and Bihanga.[1] He wrote stories and songs for films including "Oshikkhito".[7] His last films, Doriya Parer Doulati and Dui Beayar Kirti, were released in 2010 and 2015 respectively.[8][9]

Mamun joined BTV as a producer in 1966 and retired in 1991 as a director.[10] He served director general of the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO) and director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.[1]

Health and death

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Mamun was suffering from acute coronary syndrome along with diabetes, hypertension, and kidney and liver complexities.[11] He died on 21 August 2008.[citation needed]

Works

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Theatre plays
  • Spordha
  • Meraj Fakirer Ma
  • Mayik Master
  • Ekhon Dusshomoy
  • Shopoth
  • Bibishab
  • Shenapoti
  • Shubochon Nirbashone
  • Tritiyo Purush[12]
  • Ekhono Kritodash[13]
  • Aaina-e Bondhur Mukh[14]
  • Payer Awaj Pawa Jae[15]
Films
Television plays
  • Shubachan Nirbashaney
  • Ekhon Dushomoy
  • Shapath
  • Meherjaan Arekbar
  • Songsoptok (1971)
  • Shirshabindu
  • Jibon Chhobi
  • Uttaradhikar

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Abdullah Al Mamun passes away". The Daily Star. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  2. ^ পুরস্কারপ্রাপ্তদের তালিকা [Winners list] (in Bengali). Bangla Academy. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. ^ জাতীয় চলচ্চিত্র পুরস্কার প্রাপ্তদের নামের তালিকা (১৯৭৫-২০১২) [List of the winners of National Film Awards (1975-2012)]. Government of Bangladesh (in Bengali). Bangladesh Film Development Corporation. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Abdullah Al Mamun". The Daily Star. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Remembering Abdullah Al Mamun". The Daily Star. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b Chowdhury, Shamsher (12 July 2008). "Birthday felicitations for Abdullah Al-Mamun". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  7. ^ Sagor, Faridur (16 May 2015). "Man of Many Talents". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  8. ^ ""Doriya Parer Doulati": Abdullah Al Mamun's last film to hit the big screen". The Daily Star. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  9. ^ ছোটপর্দা বড়পর্দা বলে কিছু নেই [There is no such thing as small screen or big screen]. Samakal (in Bengali). 29 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Abdullah Al Mamun: In retrospect". The Daily Star. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Abdullah Al Mamun's condition still critical". The Daily Star. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  12. ^ "8 July 2009". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Abdullah Al Mamun's "Ekhono Kritodash" staged". The Daily Star. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  14. ^ Sarwat, Nadia (11 June 2009). "Theatre school stages Abdullah Al Mamun's "Aaina-e Bondhur Mukh"". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  15. ^ Mahmud, Jamil (17 July 2012). "Syed Shamsul Haq's memorial lecture on Abdullah Al Mamun". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  16. ^ Mahmud, Jamil (11 January 2008). ""Doriya Parer Doulati": Abdullah Al Mamun's upcoming feature film". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Abdullah Al Mamun laid to rest". The Daily Star. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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