Remembering Humayun Faridi

The audience of BTV in the 80s will never forget the “Kan Kata Ramjan” in Shangshaptak (1987-88) and the shy teacher in Ekdin Hothat (1986). One was a man with a twisted personality and the other was a person who could inspire people to achieve greateness. Both the characters were played by one person: Humayun Faridi. May 29 was the birth anniversary of this versatile thespian. Faridi left this world in 2012 but he is not forgotten. He is remembered by legions of fans and followers. His immensely successful career in television was not only transposed well over to the celluloid world, but he surpassed, in many ways, the already enormous achievements he had amassed from his works in TV. In features films on big screens he became unparalleled in playing a villain. Let’s take a look at the journey through which Faridi became the legend he is. Humayun Faridi was born in Narinda, old town to his parents ATM Nurul Islam and Begum Farida Islam. He joined the department of Organic Chemistry in University of Dhaka, but he could not complete his degree because of the liberation war of Bangladesh. After 71, he got into Jahangirnagar University in Economics and there he was a close associate of Selim Al-Deen, a legendary playwright and theatre artist of Bangladesh. Humayun Faridi was one of the pioneer organisers of Drama Festivals of Jahangirnagar University in 1976. At the same time, he also joined the Dhaka Theatre while he was studying in the university and that was the turning point which gave earned huge popularity and recognition. He made his television debut through drama, Nil Nakshar Shandaney in 1982. His extraordinary roles in different dramas like Songsaptak (1987-88), Pathar Shomoy (1989), Dui Bhai (1990), Shiter Pakhi (1991), Kothao Keu Nei (1990), Shomudre Gangchil (1993) and Kachher Manush are still widely remembered by the audience. He entered the film industry in the 90’s and did many films including Dohon, Hulia, Shontrash, Bachelor, Ekattorer Jishu, Mayer Morjada, Palabi Kothay and Aha. He won the National Film Award in 2004 for his performance in the film Matritwa. His last film was 2011’s Meherjaan, in which he co-starred with actress Jaya Bachchan. He was also an orator who performed in many stage shows. Faridi breathed his last on the first day of Spring in the Bengali calender, on February 13, 2012.