ASADUZZAMAN NOOR TURNS 70

Asaduzzaman Noor. Photo: Shahrear Kabir Heemel

Asaduzzaman Noor, a star in the world of art, culture and especially theatre, will complete 70 years of his multidimensional life on October 31 this year. In the modern world, 70 years is regarded as 'young old age', 75 years as 'middle old age' and beyond 80 years, yes, it is regarded old-old age, so in that sense, he is still young. Noor is a household name in Bangladesh, known for his unique acting quality with distinctive diction which can legitimately claim a unique place in our world of theatre. He is an attractive elocutionist of both prose and poetry which includes oration as well as recitation of poems. His rendition of the prologue of Syed Shamsul Haq's great play Nurul Diner Shara Jibon was a treat to the audience and still remains an attractive performance to the people of any assemblage when he recites the preface of the said play as our Honourable Minister for Cultural Affairs. 

Midway through his very flamboyant career as an actor both on stage and television, he joined politics in order to remain beside the people of his native area of  Nilphamari as well as the country to work for the distressed humanity as a soil-bound politician. Why did he join politics, I asked him once. He said that being in politics, one has the opportunity to get nearer to the people of the country; otherwise one gets to know about their sufferings only in abstract. Moreover, by being in politics one can motivate a pro-people government to help people through financial aid, which is allowed by the government to spend for a constituency of a particular district. 

With this objective in mind, Noor joined Awami League, which led our War of Liberation under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman, the father of the nation. 

On the set of Kothao Keu Nei as the famous 'Baker Bhai'. SOURCE: STAR

Asaduzzaman Noor was a member of the Chhatra Union, as I was, during our student days. Chhatra Union was a Left leaning party that used to believe in socialism. Well, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also propagated socialism as one of the main ideologies of the newly born Bangladesh in 1971. Noor and I have known each other for almost fifty years. Noor is five years younger than me, and is a good friend and a brother. We both worked together for thirty years in the field of theatre. I always found in him an extremely compassionate friend. He emerged as a powerful stage actor in 1976 when he acted in playwright Syed Ahmed's Mile Post, portraying the role of a circus clown, which was directed by me. He excelled in that role with his slim figure and agile movements. Syed Shamsul Haq, our great litterateur who left us for good a few days ago, highly appreciated his acting. And the rest is history. 

Noor emerged as a great stage actor which enriched a good number of stage productions of Nagorik Natya Samparadaya directed by eminent thespian Aly Zaker along with yours truly. His portrayal of different pivotal characters on stage of Nagorik Natya Samparadaya's different productions such as Sot Manusher Khoje, Shahjahan, Kopeniker Captain, Nurul Diner Shahrajibon,  Godor Protikhaya, Kobor Diye Dau, Muktodhara, Mukhosh, Khatta Tamasha and several other plays will always be remembered fondly by the theatre audience of the country as well as outside the country. 

Asaduzzaman Noor also excelled as a television actor. His superb portrayal as the protagonist in Humanyan Ahmeds's TV serials Kothau Keu Nei, Ayomoy and Bohubrihi, among others, will never be forgotten by the TV audience of the country as well as Bangali audience all over the world. In one word, Noor reached Himalayan heights both on stage as well as television. His Bangla adaptation of German playwright Bertolt Brecht's Mr. Puntila and his man Matti as Dewan Gazir Kissa - which Noor also directed - was a commendable work to be remembered by the theatre audience for all times to come. As a recitation artist of poems written by different Bangali poets, Asaduzzaman Noor stands apart and it is always a treat to hear him recite poems in front of the audience and also amongst friends in a homely ambience. 

Noor, now a politician and minister of the country, has remained a simple and unpretentious dear friend just as always. He, along with his wife, a medical practitioner, have dedicated themselves to the service of the people of his constituency and home district, Nilphamari. Noor was always an activist against autocratic misrule, fundamentalism and all kinds of terrorism in the country. One cannot help but feel immensely proud of Asaduzzaman Noor, an amiable, compassionate and extremely gifted human being.

The author is an actor, director, writer and recipient of the Ekushey Padak.