Thirty years have passed since the death of legendary film-maker and cultural activist Alamgir Kabir. To mark his 30th death anniversary, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Moviyana Film Society and Bangladesh Film School jointly organized “Alamgir Kabir Shoron O Alamgir Kabir Smriti Boktita” on Saturday at the National Theatre seminar room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The event was moderated by Belayat Hossain Mamun, film-maker, writer and president of Moviyana Film Society. In the first segment of the program, “Alamgir Kabir Shoron”, film-maker Morshedul Islam conducted a discussion.
Morshedul said in his speech: “Kabir bhai was my life’s biggest inspiration. He was our teacher. He literally taught us by hand how to stay in a singular path without any compromises. Thirty years have passed since his death. Even now, I remember every detail of the day of his passing. We lost our guardian on January 20 of 1989.”
In the segment “Alamgir Kabir Smriti Boktita”, film-maker and writer Tanvir Mokammel gave a speech about the legend’s life and films. Tanvir mentioned all the films made by Alamgir, the book on films that he authored, and the film activism, which he did before his death.
Tanvir said: “Without studying Alamgir Kabir, one cannot be an expert on Bangladeshi films. After the independence, whatever path and thought Bangladeshi film-makers have followed came from Alamgir Kabir. He was 100% unconventional, and more of a global citizen. It is not easy to find someone 100% unconventional in our country.
“Alamgir Kabir had fought all his life for the freedom of people. Sometimes he fought by making films, sometimes as a journalist, sometimes in the actual battlefield, and sometimes by being responsible for an entire organization. He is a rare historical figure with great sharpness and strict work ethic.
“Alamgir Kabir was incomparable, in regards to understanding films from around the world, and judging the message behind each film. Whatever was achieved by my deceased friend Tareque Masud, Morshedul Islam and I, was due to the lessons we learned from Kabir bhai,” Tanvir added.
After the discussion and speeches, Alamgir Kabir’s film “Rupali Shaikate” was screened.
It was also announced that a two-day workshop was held on January 18-19 to commemorate Alamgir Kabir's death anniversary. The event was titled “Alamgir Kabir Cholochitro O Chinta Odhayon Kormoshala”. The trainer for the workshop was renowned film critique and writer Mahmudul Hossain. The workshop was conducted by film-maker and writer Belayat Hossain Mamun.
Alamgir Kabir was a film-maker, a renowned personality of film activism in the country, writer and a freedom fighter. He was the most influential personality of Bangladeshi films after independence in 1971. He passed away on January 20, 1989 in a tragic accident.
Aside from leading Bangladeshi film-makers in making different kinds of films, he taught film-critiquing and “researching for film development”. He was the guiding lantern in the study of films in Bangladesh. The revolution of making films, which are different from the mainstream, centres on Alamgir Kabir.
