Khan Ataur Rahman

This article is about the Bangladeshi actor. For the —Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, see Ataur Rahman Khan.

Khan Ataur Rahman
Native name	খান আতাউর রহমান
Born	(1928-12-11)11 December 1928 Singair, Manikganj, Bengal (now Bangladesh)
Died	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Other names	Tara Anis Khan Ata
Alma mater	Dhaka College University of Dhaka
Occupation	Actor, film director, Music composer, Singer
Years active	(1963–1997)
Spouse(s)	Shirley Mahabuba Hasnat Nilufar Yasmin (1968–1997)
Children	Rumana Islam Agun

Khan Ataur Rahman (11 December 1928 – 1 December 1997; mostly known as Khan Ata) was a Bangladeshi film actor, director, producer, screenplay writer, music composer, and singer. He became renowned for his role in the film Jibon Theke Neya (1970). In this film, his rendition of the song "E Khancha Bhangbo Ami Kemon Kore" echoed the national psyche following the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Early life and education

The son of Ziarat Hossain Khan and Zohra Khatun, who lived in Singair Upazila, Manikganj District, Khan Ataur Rahman was born on 11 December 1928. When Khan Ata was a student in class three, he won the first prize of the Dhaka Zilla Music Competition. He rendered the song Mon paban-er dinga baiyya.

Khan Ata attended Dhaka Collegiate School, Dhaka College, and Dhaka University, completing a Bachelor of Science degree. Rahman was extremely obsessed with films. After enrolling in Dhaka Medical College, a career he later decided not to pursue, he made an attempt to escape from the family home and join the film industry. He had only Taka 60 in his possession at the time. His brother-in-law spotted Rahman in the Rail Station and he was forced to return home.

As a result of Rahman's bohemian attitudes, he left Dhaka University in 1949 and ran away from home for the second time. This time he went to Bombay (present-day Mumbai). He started frequented the film industry and slept on the side walks. He met Jyoti Studio's cameraman Jal Irani, who gave Rahman the chance to work as an apprentice but it was not satisfying enough for him.

Career

In 1950, Khan Ataur Rahman went to Karachi and took a job as a News Presenter for Radio Pakistan. Here he met with another notable Bengali media personality, Foteh Lohani. At this time, Khan Ata started taking music lessons from renowned Pakistani Sarnagi player Jawahari Khan. After some days Foteh Lohani moved to London. In 1952, Khan Ata went to London as well. There he performed as a singer and actor in several Bengali programs. He met with artist SM Sultan and helped him with his savings to buy art supplies. Rahman and his companions also made arrangements for displaying and selling Sultan's paintings.

In 1953 Rahman enrolled in the Theatre department at City Literary Institute. Rahman studied in the Netherlands when he was awarded a UNESCO fellowship in 1954. Thereafter, he worked as a teacher in London but also took to the stage for several years. In 1956, he returned home and starred in a film called Jago Hua Severa directed by AJ Karder. He played many roles with notable Bengali actress Tripti Mitra. In 1963 he made his directorial debut with the film Onek Diner Chena, and continued making many notable films like Nawab Sirajuddaula (1967), Saat Vai Champa (1968), Arun Barun Kironmala (1968), Abar Tora Manush Ho (1973), Sujon Sokhi (1976), Ekhono Onek Raat (1997).

In addition to acting, Khan Ataur Rahman was a songwriter with over 500 compositions, some of which remain popular.

Personal life

Khan Ataur Rahman married three times. When he was in London, completing a higher course in Cinematography, he met an Englishwoman named Shirley and married her. On their return to Bangladesh and after having a child, they got divorced. Shirly returned to London with the child. Then Khan Ata married Mahabuba Hasnat. They met in a radio station. They had a daughter named Rumana Islam, a Bangladeshi singer. In 1968, Khan Ata married Nilufar Yasmin, a Bangladeshi singer. They had a boy from this family, named Agun, who is also a notable Bangladeshi singer.

Filmography

As director

3

As actor

3

As composer

3

Awards

• Pakistan Film Festival Award
• Nigar Award
• International film festival awards at Moscow and Tashkent
• National Film Award of Bangladesh

External links

• Khan Ataur Rahman at the Internet Movie Database