Abu Sayeed (film director)

Abu Sayeed (born 1962)[1] is a Bangladeshi film director, screenwriter, and television producer. As a filmmaker he has made six full-length features and two short films. HIs films have received 6 national and 4 international awards.

Abu Sayeed
আবু সাইয়ীদ
Born1961 or 1962 (age 61–62)
NationalityBangladeshi
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, television producer
Years active1987–present
Notable workKittonkhola, Shangkhonad, Nirontor, Rupantor, Opekkha, Ekjon Kabir mrityu
ChildrenAnindo Sayeed

Biography

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Sayeed graduated from United High School, Naogan, and then attended Government Azizul Haque College.[2]

In 1987, at the age of 25, Abu Sayeed made his first film, the short Aborton. It was released the following year and won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Short Film. Sayeed started work on his second short film, Dhushar Jatra, in 1989. It was released in 1992, and also won the National Award for Best Short Film.[1]

The short films were not lucrative, however, so in 1997 Sayeed shifted to television production, which was more profitable.[1]

2000-present

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In 2000, Sayeed directed his first feature film, Kittonkhola. It won National Awards for Best Film, Best Director, and in seven other categories. His second feature, Shankhonad, won the Meril-Prothom Alo Critics Choice Award for Best Film.[1] His third feature, Nirontor (English title Forever Flows) was Bangladesh's submission to the 79th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.[3][4]

He and his wife have a son, born in 2006.[1]

Urban planning

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Sayeed has championed an elevated "Moving Road" concept similar to a moving walkway as a solution to traffic congestion in Dhaka. In late 2017, he demonstrated a prototype at the Shilpakala Academy.[5] In March 2020, he exhibited the idea at Sufia Kamal National Public Library.[6] He has also advocated elevated housing that emulates the structure of trees, calling it a more environmentally friendly architectural design.[7]

Filmography

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Year Film Ref.
2000 Kittonkhola [2]
2004 Shankhonad [2]
2006 Nirontor [2]
2007 Banshi [2]
2008 Rupantor [2]
2010 Opekkha [2]
2016 Dressing Table [8]
2017 Death of a Poet [9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Islam, Kajalie Shehreen (29 December 2006). "Abu Sayeed: For the Love of Film". Star Weekend Magazine. The Daily Star. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Abu Sayeed's movies launched in DVDs". The Daily Observer. 6 September 2015.
  3. ^ Sneider, Jeff (19 October 2006). "Oscar race counts 61 countries". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  4. ^ "Foreign language Oscar nominees announced". The New Zealand Herald. Agence France-Presse. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  5. ^ "A 'Moving Road' to salvage Dhaka traffic". New Age. UNB. 4 March 2018.
  6. ^ "'Moving Road' a substitute for public transport?". The Daily Star. 10 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Film-maker Abu Sayeed invents modern eco-friendly architecture". Dhaka Tribune. 3 February 2019.
  8. ^ Bhattacharya, Pallab (4 August 2016). "Abu Sayeed's Dressing Table". The Daily Star.
  9. ^ "23rd Kolkata International Film Festival ready to welcome world cinema (Curtain Raiser)". Business Standard. 9 November 2017.
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