Abdullah al Mamun (playwright)

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]

Abdullah Al Mamun
আবদুল্লাহ আল মামুন
Born(1942-07-13)13 July 1942
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

Early life and education edit

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 edit

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 edit

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

Works edit

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 edit

References edit

  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. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  5. ^ "Remembering Abdullah Al Mamun". The Daily Star. 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  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.

External links edit