Fans miss quality works of Humayun Ahmed

Even though he started out as an academician of chemistry, Humayun Ahmed’s legacy as one of Bangladesh’s most powerful storytellers is still missed by his fans.

Most of his cinematic endeavours, all adapted from his books, remains etched in the memory of his fans after all these years.

Asifa Nigar, an undergraduate student, has been reading his books since childhood. “His simple style of writing and storytelling is what gained him millions of hearts including mine,” she said, “his works helped me expand my thought and understand complex matters better.”

She is especially hooked to Misir Ali, one of his legendary characters, who had the ability to uncover psychopaths among normal people. “His death was very untimely, as he had a lot more to offer to Bangla literature.”

Another student from Jahangirnagar University, Farhana Sharmin Joya, is partial towards ‘Krishnapakkha’, which was recently made into a movie redirected by his wife, Meher Afroz Shawon.

Cinematic Success

Humayun Ahmed’s movies were usually adapted from his stories, the first of which, ‘Aguner Poroshmoni’, won the National Film Award in 1994 in eight categories.

Another of his movies, ‘Srabon Megher Din’, garnered him six more National Film Awards. The film was also preserved by British Film Institute as a cultural project on South Asian cinema in 2002.

Out of all his films, two of them, ‘Shyamol Chhaya’ and ‘Ghetuputro Kamola’ went on to be Bangladesh’s official entries to the Academy Awards for the years 2006 and 2012 respectively, but were not finally shortlisted.

Some of his other works include Durotto (2006), Nondito Noroke (2006), Nirontor (2006), Daruchini Dwip (2007), Saajghor (2007) and Priyotomeshu (2009).

He was also famous for directing television serials, including ‘Ei Shob Din Ratri’ (1985) which was followed by the comedy series ‘Bohubrihi (1988), the historical drama series Ayomoy (1988), the urban drama series Kothao Keu Nei (1990), Nokkhotrer Raat (1996) and Aaj Robibar (1999), along with several single episodic dramas.