I can still picture his ever-smiling face: Abul Hayat

1 hour(s) ago

S

Shah Alam Shazu

Photos: STAR

Veteran actor Abul Hayat fondly remembered his long association with the late cultural icon Mustafa Monwar, reflecting on the artist’s immense talent, intellect, and lasting contributions to Bangladesh’s cultural landscape.

“I worked in two television dramas directed by Mustafa Monwar in 1970,” said Abul Hayat. “One was ‘Dakghar’ (The Post Office), and the other was ‘Muktodhara’. That was the beginning of our acquaintance, which continued for decades. Even then, I realised how knowledgeable he was and what an extraordinary person he was. It is rare to come across a person of his brilliance.”

Abul Hayat also recalled Monwar’s acclaimed adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s “Roktokorobi”.

“It was one of his most remarkable productions. The production created a tremendous impact and was widely celebrated. He was very keen for me to be part of the cast, but due to commitments to other productions, I was unable to accept. Even so, whenever we met afterwards, he would greet me with the same warmth and kindness. I can still picture his ever-smiling face.”
He noted that Monwar was particularly admired for his pioneering work in puppetry.

“He was widely recognised for his contributions to puppet theatre. Beyond his work for adults, he was deeply devoted to creating for children, which made him even more admirable in my eyes.”

The artiste also shared a personal memory connected to Monwar’s family.

“Mustafa Monwar was the maternal uncle of actress Nima Rahman, and because of that, many of us affectionately called him mama. To us, he was our beloved Montu mama. He was immensely intelligent and exceptionally talented. He read extensively and possessed a remarkable depth of knowledge. I pray that his soul rests in peace.”

Speaking of Monwar’s musical abilities, Hayat added, “He had a wonderful singing voice and was an excellent singer. I heard him perform on many occasions, and he always captivated his audience.”