Alamgir Kabir (film maker)
Encyclopedia
Alamgir Kabir was a renowned Bangladesh
i film director and cultural activist. He has made some of the most seminal films in Bangladesh film history. Three of his feature films are featured in the "Top 10 Bangladeshi Films" list by British Film Institute
.
. He completed the matriculation in 1952 from Dhaka Collegiate School
and the intermediate in 1954 from Dhaka College
. After completion of bachelors from the Dhaka University in Physics
, he went to England
to study Electrical Engineering
at Oxford University. It is during this period that he came across the Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman
. He watched it several times and became attracted to filmmaking. He went on to complete a number of courses on the history of the film industry, film direction and aesthetics.
He also got involved with the Communist Party
of England
and became a reporter of the Communist Party newspaper, the Daily Worker. As a reporter of the communist daily, he took interview of Cuban President Fidel Castro
. He also took part in the wars of liberation of Palestine
and Algeria
. Alamgir was the founder of organisations such as East Pakistan House and East Bengal Liberation Front at London and was active in the campaign against racial discrimination.
In 1966, Alamgir came back home. The Ayub government imprisoned him for his involvement with the leftist movement. Later, he started his professional life as a journalist and very soon became popular as a serious film critic. With the start of the war of independence
in 1971, he joined the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
as the chief of its English section. He also worked as the chief reporter of the Bangladesh government in exile. This period also marks the start of his directorial life with the making of documentaries.
After the war of independence
, he started making feature films. His films were critically acclaimed and were very popular.
in 1975. He was the father of three daughters. He was killed in an unfortunate road accident on 20 January 1989.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i film director and cultural activist. He has made some of the most seminal films in Bangladesh film history. Three of his feature films are featured in the "Top 10 Bangladeshi Films" list by British Film Institute
.
Early life and career
He was born on 26 December 1938 at RangamatiRangamati
Rangamati is the Administrative Headquarter of Rangamati Hill District in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The town is located at 22°37'60N 92°12'0E and has an altitude of 14 metres ....
. He completed the matriculation in 1952 from Dhaka Collegiate School
Dhaka Collegiate School
Dhaka Collegiate School is a secondary school in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest school in Dhaka and one of the oldest and prestigious institutions in the country for more than a century.-History:...
and the intermediate in 1954 from Dhaka College
Dhaka College
, located in Dhaka, is one of Bangladesh's earliest and most prestigious higher educational institutions. It offers both four years bachelor's and one years masters course in various majors, but it is best known for HSC...
. After completion of bachelors from the Dhaka University in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, he went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
at Oxford University. It is during this period that he came across the Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
. He watched it several times and became attracted to filmmaking. He went on to complete a number of courses on the history of the film industry, film direction and aesthetics.
He also got involved with the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and became a reporter of the Communist Party newspaper, the Daily Worker. As a reporter of the communist daily, he took interview of Cuban President Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. He also took part in the wars of liberation of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. Alamgir was the founder of organisations such as East Pakistan House and East Bengal Liberation Front at London and was active in the campaign against racial discrimination.
In 1966, Alamgir came back home. The Ayub government imprisoned him for his involvement with the leftist movement. Later, he started his professional life as a journalist and very soon became popular as a serious film critic. With the start of the war of independence
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
in 1971, he joined the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was a radio broadcasting centre in the Indian city of Kolkata during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. This station played a vital role in increasing mental state of Bangladeshis during the war. In 1971, radio was the only media reaching to the far ends of...
as the chief of its English section. He also worked as the chief reporter of the Bangladesh government in exile. This period also marks the start of his directorial life with the making of documentaries.
After the war of independence
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, he started making feature films. His films were critically acclaimed and were very popular.
Feature films
- Dhire Bahe Meghna (Quiet Flows the Meghna), 1973
- Surya Kannya (Daughter of The Sun), 1975
- Simana Periey (Across The Fringe), 1977
- Rupali Saikate (The Loner), 1979
- Mohana (The Mouth of a River), 1982
- Mahanayak (The Great Hero), 1985
- Parinita (The Wedded), 1984
Short films
- Liberation Fighter
- Pogrom in Bangladesh
- Culture in Bangladesh
- Sufia, Amulya Dhan (The Invaluable)
- Bhor Halo Dor Kholo (Open the Door now at the Dawn)
- Amra Dujan (The Two of Us)
- Ek Sagar Rakter Binimoye (At the Cost of a Sea of Blood)
- Manikanchan (The Diamond)
- Chorasrot (The Unseen Trend)
Awards
- Cine Journalists Award
- Zahir Raihan Film Award of Uttaran
- Syed Mohammad Parvez Award
Personal life
In 1968, he married Manjura Begum. After separation from her, he got married to actress Jayasree KabirJayasree Kabir
Jayasree Kabir is a Bengali film actress. Originally from Calcutta, she married the Bangladeshi film director Alamgir Kabir and starred in two of his films, Shimana Periye and Rupali Shoikotey, both of which are now regarded among the finest films to have come out of Bangladesh. Later in life, she...
in 1975. He was the father of three daughters. He was killed in an unfortunate road accident on 20 January 1989.