Zahir Raihan

Zahir Raihan / জহির রায়হান

Born 19 August 1935
Feni, Noakhali, British India (present-day Bangladesh)
Occupation Filmmaker, novelist, writer
Nationality Bangladeshi
Education BA (Bengali)
Alma mater Dhaka University
Notable awards Bangla Academy Award (1972)
Spouse Sumita Devi (1961–1968)
Shuchonda (1968–1971)
Relatives Shahidullah Kaiser (brother)
Disappeared January 30, 1972 (aged 36)
Status Presumed dead

Zahir Raihan (Bengali: জহির রায়হান; 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.

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 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Bengali from Dhaka University. He had been married twice, to Sumita Devi in 1961 and Shuchonda in 1968, both of whom were film actresses.

Professional career

Zahir Raihan received his post graduate degree in Bengali Literature. Along with literature 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 in the film Jago Huya Sabera in 1957. This was his first foot print in film. He also assisted Salahuddin in the film Je Nodi Morupothay. The filmmaker Ehtesham also took him for his movie A Desh Tomar Amar, for which he wrote the title song. In 1960 he arrived as a director with his film Kokhono Asheni. In 1964, he made Pakistan's first colour movie, Sangam, and completed his first CinemaScope movie, Bahana, the following year.

He was an active worker of the Language Movement of 1952 and was present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February 1952. The effect of language movement was so high on him that he made his legendary film "Jibon Theke Neya" based on it. 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 this great event. During the war of liberation Raihan went to Kolkata where his film "Jibon Theke Neya" were shown. His film was highly acclaimed by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Ritwik Ghatak. Though he had his financial problem going on that time, he gave all his money to the Freedom Fighters trust that he got from the show.

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 Pakistan Army in 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.

BooksNovels

• Sesh Bikeler Meye ( The girl of the last afternoon)
• Trishna (Thirst)
• Hajar Bochhor Dhore (Since thousand years)
• Arek Falgun (Another falgun)
• Borof Gola Nodi (Ice-melted river)
• Ar Koto Din (How many days)
• Koekti Mrittu (Some deaths)
• Ekushey February (21 February)

Small Story

• Sonar horin (The golden deer)
• Somoyer proyojone (For the need of time)
• Ekti jiggasa (One question)
• Harano boloy (The lost ring)
• Badh (The protest)
• Surzogrohon (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

• Kokhono Asheni, 1961 (his first film as director)
• Sonar Kajol, 1962 (jointly directed with Kolim Sharafi)
• Kancher Deyal, 1963
• Sangam, 1964 (the first colour film made in Pakistan)
• Bahana, 1965
• Behula, 1966
• Anowara, 1966
• Dui Bhai, 1968
• Jibon Theke Neya, 1969
• Let There Be Light

Documentary films

• "Stop Genocide", Documentary on the genocide by Pakistani Army in the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971
• "A State is Born"
• "Liberation Fighters"(Production)
• "Innocent Milions"(Production)

Awards

• Adamjee Literature Award
• Bangla Academy Award (1972)

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