A memorial event for recently deceased acclaimed film-maker, freedom fighter, film activist, and noted actor Saidul Anam Tutul will take place at the capital’s Central Shaheed Minar on Thursday.
Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh (FFSB) General Secretary Belayet Hossain Mamun told the Dhaka Tribune’s Showtime: “Saidul Anam Tutul’s dead body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 11am on Thursday, December 20 so that the nation can pay their respects.”
“His Namaj-e-Janaza of will take place after the memorial service at 12:30pm at the Central Jame Masjid of Dhaka University,” added Mamun.
Family sources have confirmed that he will be laid to rest after his two US citizen daughters, Oishi Anam and Amrita Anam, reach Bangladesh.
Born in April 1, 1950 in Old Dhaka, Saidul Anam Tutul fought in the 1971 Liberation war. He joined sector 6 and fought in the war in Khulna region.
Primarily Saidul was a business graduate from Dhaka University. In 1974 he received a scholarship from India and went to Pune to complete his post-graduation on Film Editing from Film and Television Institute of India.
Saidul is one of the founding members, the first general secretary and lifetime member of Directors’ Guild. He also taught film-making at the Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute.
In 1979, Saidul won the National Film Award as Best Editor for the film “Surja Dighal Bari.” He worked as the editor of legendary films like - “Ghuddi,” “Dahan,” “Dipu Number 2,” “Dukhai” and more.
He directed his only film “Adhiyar - The Darkness” in 2003 based on the 1946-1947 farmers’ movement called the Tevaga Andolon. The film starred Raisul Islam Asad, Champa and Pijush Bandyopadhyay in lead roles. It was praised both by the audience and critics. Selim Al Deen bagged the National Film Award in Best Story for “Adhiyar.”
In 2017-18, Saidul returned to film-making after 15 years and started working on the government funded film “Kaalbela.” He received the government's film-making grant of the 2017-18 fiscal year. He completed 90% of the film’s shooting and was preparing to go to Rajshahi for the rest of the production.
He acted in many television fictions including “Nal Piran” (1998), “Bokhate” (2009), “Apon Por” (2009), “Nishikabyo” (2009), “Helicopter” (2011), “52 Golir Ek goli,” “Daymar Sontanera,” “Aparajita,” “Shiuli Mala,” “Koote Kahar” (2012), “Mriter Prottaborton” (2012), “Gobra Chor” (2014).
The film-maker also directed more than 400 television commercials.
Saidul was also a popular stage actor and member of Selim Al Deen’s Dhaka Theatre.
Tutul, 68, had been suffering from heart-related diseases. He was admitted on December 15 and was on life support at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of capital’s Labaid hospital. The doctor’s confirmed his death around 3pm on Tuesday.
Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh and all the other major film societies of the country has expressed their condolences on Said Anam Tutul's untimely demise.