Humayun Ahmed through the eyes of Asaduzzaman Noor

Today marks the 11th death anniversary of legendary author and director Humayun Ahmed. He was instrumental in building people's interest in Bengali literature. To this day, his books are best-sellers at the Ekushey Boi Mela every year. Equally successful as a scriptwriter and director, Humayun Ahmed remains one of the most celebrated creators in Bangladesh. On his death anniversary, acclaimed actor and Member of Parliament Asaduzzaman Noor reminisces about his friendship with him.

I acted in the first ever one-hour tele-fiction written by Humayun Ahmed, many years ago. Though I don't recall the name of the production, I remember him taking a liking to my acting abilities.  Since then, as long as I was a regular actor, I acted in most of his television series and single-episode projects as well.

After I got involved in politics, I was not a regular actor. I worked only on a few productions from time to time. Humayun Ahmed was a bit disappointed at my irregularity. We shared a wonderful friendship.

He had a rare and unique style of storytelling, something very few Bangladeshi writers had. The dialogues of his television shows had a natural flow, as actors, we did not have a hard time memorising them. His dialogues emerged from our day to day lives.

His brilliance and extraordinary talent were incomparable. The stories he wrote, the films he made were simple stories of ordinary lives around us. His simplest dialogues made their way into the audience's hearts.

Humayun Ahmed's success as a writer was one of the most astounding aspects of his talent. However, his success as a playwright was highly praiseworthy as well.

He proved himself on the silver screen by directing several masterpieces throughout his life. His directorial debut, "Aguner Poroshmoni" is one of the most brilliant films about the Liberation War.

As a person, Humayun Ahmed was impatient. Several times during a shoot, he would suddenly stop and decide to pack up for the day, without any apparent reason. He also loved adda, and spending time with his close ones.

One of his greatest qualities was his devotion to writing. It was the only activity he followed regularly and promptly. He used to get up very early in the morning to write. He wrote for hours. He was the wizard of words. He will always be one of the most popular writers in Bangladesh.

He used to read the plays he wrote to me sometimes, and he accepted constructive criticism with an open mind. We understood each other's ideas and visions of acting. Several of his characters were especially written for me. He gave me Baker Bhai, one of my most beloved roles, till date.

He loved to travel, more so with a big group of people. He was also a voracious reader, he used to read classic books written by the biggest names in literature.

A PhD holder himself, Humayun Ahmed was knowledgeable and wise. Anyone who had the chance to participate in discussions with him could feel the depth of his knowledge on various topics.

He was a songwriter, playwright, author, director, painter and traveller. I sometimes wonder how did he manage the time for everything he did, but then, I realise that he had a hardworking spirit.

As friends, we argued with each other quite often.  However, our arguments never lasted for more than an hour. He was a short-tempered man. Yet, his temper was also short-lived. He loved people with all his heart. 

My last meeting with him was at a hospital in New York.  I was there for three days, along with Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Yasmin Haque, and Meher Afroz Shaon among others. Just after I left, I heard the news of his passing. It was a very sad day for all of us.

Humayun Ahmed's contribution to the fields of literature and entertainment remains incomparable. He continues to live among all his readers and fans through his stories.

Translated by Rasheek Tabassum Mondira