Zahir Raihan

**Zahir Raihan** (; 19 August 1935 – 30 January 1972) was a Bangladeshi writer and movie director. His first novel was _Shesh Bikeler Meye_, published in 1960. His other notable novels are _Hajar Bachhar Dhore_, and _Arek Phalgun_. He is best known for his documentary _Stop Genocide_, made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. His popular movies are was _Behula_, _Sangam_, and _Jibon Theke Nea_. For his contribution in Bengali literature, he was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1972 and posthumously received highest civilian honour given by Government of Bangladesh, Independence Day Award, in 1999. He received Nigar Award for directing _Kancher Deyal_ in 1964 and posthumously National Film Awards for his overall contribution in Bangladeshi movie in 1975 and for best story and dialogue in 2005. He also awarded second highest civilian honour given by Government of Bangladesh, Ekushey Padak in 1977 for his contribution in movie.

### Early life

Zahir Raihan was born on 19 August 1935 in the village Majupur, Feni District, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Bangladesh). His birth name was **Mohammad Zahirullah**. He studied in Mitra Institute, Kolkata and in Alia Madrasha there. After the Partition of Bengal in 1947, he, along with his parents, came back to his village from Calcutta. In 1950, Raihan passed his matriculation from Amirabad High School, Feni. Then he passed ISC from Jagannath College, Dhaka in 1953. He received Bachelor of Arts in 1956 and Master of Arts in 1958 in Bengali literature from University of Dhaka.

### Early career

Raihan started his career as journalist in 1950. He joined the newspaper "Juger Alo". Then he worked for the newspapers, such as, Khapchhara, Jantrik and Cinema. He was editor of Probaho in 1956. In 1955, his first short stories collection, _Suryagrahan_ was published. He worked as an assistant of director A J Kardar in the movie _Jago Hua Sabera_ in 1957. He then worked as an assistant of Salahuddin in the movie _Je Nodi Morupothey_ and Ehtesham in the movie _Ae Desh Tomar Amar_. He also wrote songs for _Ae Desh Tomar Amar_.

### Directorial debut and Marriage

Raihan had his directorial debut in the movie _Kokhono Asheni_. This movie was made in 1960 and released in 1961. He married his first wife Sumita Devi that year. Sumita and he had two son, Bipul Raihan and Anol Raihan. In 1962, Raihan, along with Kalim Sharafi, directed the movie _Sonar Kajol_. He wrote, produced and directed musical drama movie _Kancher Deyal_ in 1963 and received Nigar Award for best direction for this movie. His most acclaimed novel _Hajar Bachhar Dhore_ was published in 1964, for which he received Adamjee Literature Award. He made Pakistan's first colour movie, _Sangam_ that year, both written and produced by him. He made his first CinemaScope movie, _Bahana_, in 1965.

### Commercial success and Second Marriage

His first commercially successful movie was _Behula_ (1966). This movie was made based on a popular folktale, starring Suchonda and Abdur Razzak. After the success of the movie, he made _Anwara_ (1967) with this pair, based on a novel of Mohammad Nazibur Rahman. This was also commercially hit. In 1968, he married his lead actress Suchonda. Together they had one son Topu Raihan. In 1968, he wrote and produced _Dui Bhai_, and produced _Shuorani Duorani_, _Shesh Porjonto_ and _Moner Moto Bou_.

### Critical acclaim

In 1970, Raihan wrote, produced and directed political satire drama movie _Jibon Theke Neya_. This movie centers around a family where most of the family members are oppressed by woman controlling the family, which is the metaphor of tyranny of mass uprising in 1969 in then East Pakistan. During the Liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, Raihan went to Calcutta and showed his movie _Jibon Theke Neya_ in Calcutta. Renowned movie directors of Kolkata Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Ritwik Ghatak praised him for this movie. He was general secretary of Bangladesh Liberation Council of Intelligentsia during liberation war and was making _Let There Be Ligth_. He left the project and made _Stop Genocide_, a documentary on the oppression of Pakistani army over Bengali people. This documentary was supported by Indian friends of Bangladesh. Acting Prime Minister of exiled government Tajuddin Ahmed found the importance of the documentary. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was touched seeing this and ordered movie division of India to buy and circulate it internationally. That year, he also produced and directed _A State Is Born_ and produced _Liberation Fighters_, directed by Alamgir Kabir, and _Innocent Millions_, directed by Babul Choudhury. His final movie was in Urdu language _Jalte Suraj Ke Niche_ (1971).

### Disappearance

Raihan was not found from 30 January 1972. He went out from his house to find his brother Shahidullah Kaiser, whom Pakistan army along with local collaborators captured and killed during last days the liberation war of Bangladesh. His family believed that armed Bihari collaborators and soldiers of Pakistan army who were hiding in Mirpur fired on the people who went there to find their men.

### Novels

- Sesh Bikeler Meye (A Girl in the Late-Afternoon, 1960)
- Trishna (Thirst, 1962)
- Hajar Bochhor Dhore (For Thousand Years, 1964)
- Arek Falgun (Different Spring, 1969)
- Borof Gola Nodi (River of Melted Ice, 1970)
- Ar Koto Din (How Many More Days, 1970)
- Ekushey February (21 February, 1970)
- Koekti Mrittu (A Few Deaths)

### Short stories

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

- _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
- _Jibon Theke Neya_, 1970
- _Let There Be Light_
- _Jalte Suraj Ke Niche_ 1971

### Documentaries

- _Stop Genocide_, Documentary on the genocide by Pakistani Army in the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971
- _A State is Born_
- _Liberation Fighters_ (Production)
- _Innocent Millions_ (Production)

### Movies Produced

Followings movies were produced by Raihan and directed by his assistants
- _Dui Bhai_, 1968
- _Shuorani Duorani_, 1968
- _Bairagi_, 1967

## Awards and honours

- 1964: Adamjee Literature Award for _Hajar Bachhar Dhore_ (novel)
- 1964: Nigar Award for _Kancher Deyal_
- 1972: Bangla Academy Literary Award in novels.
- 1977: Ekushey Padak in arts (movie)
- 1992: Independence Day Award in literature
- National Film Awards
    - 1975: Special awards (posthumous)
    - 2005: Best story and dialogue for _Hajar Bachhar Dhore_ (movie) (posthumous)

## Related pages

- List of people who disappeared mysteriously: 1910–1990

## Other websites

- Zahir Raihan at the Banglapedia

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Zahir Raihan
- **image**: Zahir Raihan (1935–1972).jpg
- **native name**: জহির রায়হান
- **native name lang**: bn
- **birth name**: Mohammad Zahirullah
- **birth place**: Feni District, Feni, Noakhali District, Noakhali, British India (present-day Bangladesh)
- **disappeared status**: Presumed dead
- **resting place**: Pink Cemetery
- **nationality**: Bangladeshi
- **occupation**: movie director, writer
- **alma mater**: University of Dhaka
- **education**: BA (Bengali language, Bengali)
- **relatives**: Shahidullah Kaiser (brother)
- **spouse**: Sumita Devi (1961–1968)
Shuchonda (1968–1971)
- **awards**: #Awards and honours, Full list