58 film personalities honoured at ‘Hridoye Dhaka 416’

A week-long film festival began at Modhumita Cinema Hall in the capital on Saturday (August 22), as part of the Dhaka South City Corporation’s (DSCC) month-long “Hridoye Dhaka 416” celebrations marking 416 years of Dhaka.

The festival opened with a ceremony attended by Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapan, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam and DSCC Administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam, who chaired the programme.

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Actress Dilara Zaman, Abdul Aziz, Modhumita Cinema Hall owner Iftekhar Uddin Naushad and journalist Ahmed Tepantar were also present.

As part of the inaugural programme, 58 personalities associated with Dhaka’s film industry were honoured for their contributions to cinema, alongside three historic cinema halls. The festival is also screening 13 selected films from different periods of Bangladeshi cinema, with entry free for audiences.

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Among the living recipients are actresses Sujata, Suchanda, Anwara, Bobita, Nuton, Champa and Shabnaz, and actors Ujjal, Sohel Rana, Alamgir, Khawaja Naim Murad and Azad Rahman Shakil.

Lyricists Mohammad Rafiquzzaman and Moniruzzaman Monir, singers Khurshid Alam and Abida Sultana, music directors Sheikh Sadi Khan and Shawkat Ali Emon, and cinematographers Reza Latif and Shafiqul Islam Swapan were also honoured.

Directors Chhatku Ahmed, Hafiz Uddin, Delwar Jahan Jhantu, Matin Rahman, Saidur Rahman Sayeed and Awkat Hossain were among the other recipients.

Several prominent figures were honoured posthumously, including filmmakers Abdul Jabbar Khan, Nazir Ahmed, Khan Ataur Rahman, Zahir Raihan, Ehtesham, Mustafiz, Amjad Hossain, Subhash Dutta, Dilip Biswas and Chashi Nazrul Islam.

Actors Abdul Matin, Khalil Ullah Khan, Nayak Raj Razzak, Rosie Afsari, Khan Zainul, Prabir Mitra and Bulbul Ahmed also received posthumous honours.

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Other posthumous recipients included lyricist Gazi Mazharul Anwar; music directors Anwar Parvez and Alauddin Ali; singers Azam Khan and Andrew Kishore; and cinematographers Afzal Chowdhury and MA Samad.

Chinmoy Mutsuddi, Rafiquzzaman, Anupam Hayat, Mahmuda Chowdhury and Abdur Rahman were recognised for their contributions to film journalism. Three of Dhaka’s longstanding cinemas—Lion Cinema Hall, Azad Cinema Hall and Modhumita Cinema Hall—also received special honours.

The festival opened with a screening of “Mukh O Mukhosh”, Bangladesh’s first full-length Bengali-language talkie.

On August 23, “Nawab Sirajuddaula” will be screened at 3:00pm, followed by “13 No Feku Ostagar Lane” at 6:00pm. Zahir Raihan’s “Jibon Theke Neya” will be shown at 3:00pm on August 24, followed by “Nantu Ghatak” at 6pm.

The programme continues on August 25 with “Ashikkhito” at 3:00pm and “Rangbaaz” at 6:00pm. On the fifth day, “Sabuj Sathi” will be screened at 3:00pm, followed by “Nacher Putul” at 6:00pm.

The sixth day will feature “Durdesh” at 3:00pm and “Dahan” at 6:00pm. The festival will conclude on August 28 with “Dost Dushman” at 3:00pm and “Bodhu Biday” at 6:00pm.