Montazur Rahman Akbar

Montazur Rahman Akbar is a Bangladeshi film director, screenwriter, producer, social activist and entrepreneur. He is known for his film work in Dhallywood, the Bengali-language film industry centered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was a freedom fighter in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. After directing multiple plays, he worked as an assistant director working on the filmsChhutir Ghonta and Janata Express under directors such as Matin Rahman and Azizur Rahman from 1979 to 1990.

Akbar debuted as a director in 1991, and has collaborated with actor Manna in 22 films, writer Abdullah Zahir Babu in 46 films, actor Dipjol in 19 films and editor Amzad Hossain in 22 films. He writes screenplays for most of his films and founded the production companies Nayan-Apon Production and Star Plus and is co-founder of Panaroma Movies. His films introduced Dipjol, Popy, Keya, Riya Sen, Shakiba, Songita, Antara Biswas and Puspi to Dhallywood.

Akbar served as board executive member of Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association and Bangladesh Film Directors Association. He founded a development NGO, Prochesta and founder of theater organization Drama Circle. He directed television commercials and drama serials. He appeared as guest judge for television programs such as Mirakkel Akkel Challenger. He runs several business enterprises.

Akbar was born to Kabir Uddin Mondol and Rupjan Bibi. His father was a fish wholesale agent and two-time elected union council member supporting the Awami League in Joupurhat. His mother was a housewife. He has 3 brothers and 3 sisters; brother Istofa Rahman was a cinematographer in Dhallywood.

Akbar married Mariam Rahman on 13 March 1978 and they have 3 sons. Akbar's elder son Apu Monwar was a news editor for Ekattor Television.

Akbar attended SSC in Akkelpur FU Pailot High school in 1973 and HSC from Akkelpur MR degree college in 1975. He received a bachelor's degree (BA) from Joypurhat Government College in 1977. During college he worked in his father's fish business and distributed fish across north Bangladesh.

Akbar fought in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 under sector 7, sector commander Quazi quruzzaman, and group commander Saidur Rahman, training at Panikhoni in Shiliguri, India.

Theater

Akbar was involved in theater at college in village Chantara Club and his college club Akkelpur MR College Club. Between 1973 and 1978 he directed popular stage dramas including Pagla Garod and Nowab Siraj Ud dowla. He was an active member of Bangladesh Chatro Union. In 2016 he was returned in theatre with Nawab Siraj-Ud-Dowla produced by United Club in Jamalgonj Theatre in Jamalgonj, Joypurhat. In 2018 he was founded theater group Drama Circle in Joypurhat, Bangladesh, first drama was Swadhinota Amar Maa in 2018.

Film

Akbar worked as assistant director under Azizur Rahman on Chhutir Ghonta. From 1979 to 1990 he worked as an assistant with Zillur Rahman, Matin Rahman, Saiful Azom Kashem and Narayon Ghosh Mita. In 1989, he was a special correspondent for the Weekly Nipoon- a weekly entertainment magazine published in Dhaka.

Akbar's first film as director was Takar Pahar (released in 1993), produced by Anwar Hossain Afjal elder brother of Dipjol. His first film to be released was Nyay Juddho in 1991. In 1992, Ilias Kanchon and Diti acted in his third film Chakor. The 60 lakh budget film earned 2 corer with 6 months of continuous run in theaters. He directed his next three films Prem Dewana (1993), Disco Dancer (1994) and Babar Adesh (1995), before directing Coolie. This film collected 70 million against a budget of 12 million making it the highest-grossing film of 1997. It was also the debut of actress Sadika Parvin Popy.

In 1998, fight director Arman become a producer, founding her film production company Arman Production, with Akbar directing another Manna film Shanto Keno Mastan, grossing of 50 million against a budget of 9 million. Akbar directed 5 films for Arman Production. Akbar directed Indo-Bangla joint venture film Moner Moto Mon, but the film did not do well. Moner Moto Mon was his third collaboration with Bony pictures after working as an assistant director on films Miss Lolita (1985) and Radha Kishno (1992). In 1999 he was adviser director of Helal Khan's film Asha Amar Asha, Ke Amar Baba and Bhoyongkor Bishu, Moger Mulluk and Lathi.

In 2000, Akbar co-founded production company Panaroma Movies with Monjurul Hassan, where he produced and directed Manna and Shahnaj in Kukkhato Khuni, which collected 350 million against a 125 million budget, making it the most expensive Bangladeshi movie. It premiered on 89 screens and was released as a 35mm negative format film. A print was hijacked in Gabtoli, Mirpur road, then reprinted and delivered to a booked hall. Arman Production's second film Gunda Number One was also blockbuster hit at box office. Mone Pore Tomake was a moderate success at the box office. The film introduced Riya Sen.

In 2001, Rituparna Sen Gupta and Ilias Kanchon were cast in Arman Production's third film Kothing Bastob, which introduced Keya, Rongbaz Badsha and Bhoungkor Sonstrasi. In 2002 he produced and directed Bhayanok Songghorso and directed Arman Production film Mejor Saheb. In 2003 he produced Bachao. In 2004 Bostir Rani Suriya with leads Sadika Parveen Popy, Shakib Khan and Dipjol, did well at the boxoffice, but was banned by the censor board. In 2006 he founded Nayan-Apon Production. In 2008 he produced and directed Manna in Babar Jonno Joddho; the film was a commercial success, but critical response for actor Manna. In 2009 he directed a Dipjol-produced and acted film Kajer Manush, and won the Janatar Niswas Personality Award. In 2010 he produced Top Hero with Shakib Khan; the film was successful at the box office but due to the financial crisis and its effect on Dhallywood, he left producing. In 2011 Dipjol was cast in Chotto Songsar and Bajarer Coolie. In 2013 he directed Jaaz Multimedia film's Tobuo Bhalobashi. In 2014 he produced and directed low budget films Age Jodi Jantam Tui Hobi Por and My Name Is Simi. In 2015 produced and directed Bojhena Se Bojhena with average box office. In 2017 Dulavai Zindabad yielded another average box office.He was in production on My Darling. Films including Bostir Rani Suriya and Bhoyongkor Sontrasi were banned by the censor board.

Television

After 2008 and the subsequent decline of Dhallywood, cinemas closed across the country. Akbar switched to television and directed his first TV drama Pakhal. He directed package dramas Golden Swarna, Bracelate, Kuasha, and the drama serials Kaji Saheber Tin Putro and Pakhi Ebong Mnushera. Most of these were not accepted at the television channel authority leading him to set up his own business. He directed television commercials and documentaries such as Agency Greenland Training Center, Decent Holding and Hiton TV. He was a guest judge on television reality programs Super Hero Super Heroin (2009) (NTV), Mirakkel Akkel Challenger (2011) (Zee Bangla), Voice of the Nation (2013) (Ekushey Television).

Enterprises

Akbar established a distributorship of the electronics brand Walton at Jaypurhat in 2001 under Apu Electronics Bazar (2001–2014). After the success of the Walton showroom, he took distribution of Pran under the trading corporation Mariam Traders in 2014. He also set up furniture brand Furniture Village in 2015 and fashion house Cholte Cholte in (2016-2017).

Akbar is the Executive Director of an NGO, Prochesta, that he founded in 2000, in his hometown of Joypurhat. Prochesta works in urban development projects with local donors and partner organizations including Democracy Watch, Ngo Forum and Aristocrat Society to improve drinking water supply and sanitation throughout Joypurhat and neighboring districts. Prochesta teaches people in basic hygiene practices such as hand washing. Prochesta organised group savings and credit program and listed 400 group small society.

Theater director

Television director

Television commercial

Assistant director

Filmography