An icon’s birthday

Asaduzzaman Noor is an icon in the Bangladeshi television, theatre, and film. The actor's contributions to the aforementioned fields—along with the fact that he served as a freedom fighter and Minister of Cultural Affairs for Bangladesh— make him a legend in our entertainment industry.

He has been honoured with the Swadhinata Padak and National Film Award for his immense contributions as an artiste. Starting off his TV career with a small role in "Rongeen Fanush", he has had a splendid trajectory as an actor.

Today marks the birthday of the legendary actor. On the occasion, Noor had a candid conversation with The Daily Star, where he discussed his love for Tagore, his most popular roles, his childhood, and much more.

A scene from "Kothao Keu Nei", where Asaduzzaman Noor can be seen playing the much adored Baker Bhai. Photo: Collected

The character of 'Baker Bhai' still lives on in the hearts of fans. How do you feel about that?

It both surprises me and makes me happy, at the same time. I always thought that the younger generation isn't aware of classic Bangladeshi TV shows. Later, I found out that during COVID, many young people watched the drama "Kothao Keu Nei" on YouTube. Some of them even memorised the dialogues.

Truth be told, when "Kothao Keu Nei" originally aired on BTV, it was an immediate hit—which is a rare incident in the history of Bangladeshi Television. So invested were people in Baker Bhai, that they would start processions to protest his death sentence.

Can you recall what happened when the last episode of "Kothao Keu Nei" was aired?

At that time, I used to live with my family—my wife, mother, and children—in Eskaton. I was surprised to see that the streets were empty, because everyone was busy watching the finale in their homes.

I also remember that my mother left the room when the execution scene was being shown. She was not able to bear seeing the scene, and decided to skip out on it.

You have played a lot of memorable characters over the years. Which character was your favourite one to play and which drama did you enjoy working in the most?

If I have to mention just one drama, then I would say "Ayomoy". The character I played there, Mirza, is also one of my favourites.

How mischievous were you during your childhood?

I was always a naughty child. After school, I would rarely stay home. Instead, I would rush to the playground to play football and all sorts of other games. At times, I would be absolutely drenched by the rain, because I refused to return home. I will never forget these beautiful memories of my childhood.

Do you still have communication with your school friends?

Yes! I still return to my hometown regularly. A few years ago, I organised a reunion for my school friends. 13 of them were able to make it to the reunion, and we had a great time. I will try to organise another reunion in the future.

When did you fall in love with poetry?

I fell in love with poetry during my school life. My parents were school teachers, so they would read poetry books. After watching my father, I too started reading poetry books. Then, eventually, I fell in love with poetry. Even now, I read as much poetry as I can.

Could you tell us about how important your wife has been in your life and success?

My wife has been an integral part of my life. While she is a doctor, she single-handedly looked after our son and daughter—when I was busy with acting. She always supported me, and without her support, it would have been difficult for me to concentrate on my acting.

You are quite a popular person. Have you ever felt troubled by fame?

No, because I feel that it is a form of love. However, because of my popularity, I can't go everywhere that I want to, because people are always trying to talk with me or take selfies. But, it has many endearing sides to it as well.

How deeply affected are you by Tagore's songs?

The songs of Tagore deeply touch my heart. I listen to them whenever I feel down, and also when I feel happy. I am also attracted to classical music.

What kind of books do you like?

I usually read novels and poetry books, and am also attracted to political books and memoirs. Besides that, I love to read books on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Every day, I try to read at least 10 pages of a book before I go to bed.

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The term ‘legendary’ has lost its charm: Asaduzzaman Noor

You have now stepped onto the 77th year of your life. At this stage, what do you think is the meaning of life?

For me, life is work. All of us are associated with some kind of work in our lives. Some write poetry and some work in the factory; I became an actor. At the end of the day, life is enjoyable. I recently spent some wonderful time with my granddaughter and my family, and this is what makes me happy.

You are an artiste and a politician. Which identity of yours do you love the most?

First and foremost, I am Bengali. I want to live with this identity till the end. There is no place in Bangladesh where I have not visited as of yet. So, I am very connected with my roots as a Bangladeshi.

I have endless respect for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Without him, our country wouldn't have existed in the first place. So, I am very proud to be a member of his political party. At the same time, I also like the identity of me as a freedom fighter.