| Abdullah Al Mamun | |
| Native Name: | আবদুল্লাহ আল মামুন |
| Native Name Lang: | bn |
| Birth Date: | 13 July 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Jamalpur, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Death Place: | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Nationality: | Bangladeshi |
| Alma Mater: | University of Dhaka |
| Education: | MA (history) |
Abdullah Al Mamun (13 July 1942 – 21 August 2008) was a Bangladeshi playwright, actor, and filmmaker.[1] He earned the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1978 and the Ekushey Padak in 2000 from the Government of Bangladesh.[2] As a filmmaker, he won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Director twice for the direction of the films Ekhoni Somoy (1980) and Dui Jibon (1988).[3] [4] [5]
Mamun was born on 13 July 1942 in Jamalpur District. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Dhaka.[1] He wrote in his memoirs Aamar Kotha, which was serially published in the fortnightly Tarokalok, "When I first got admitted in the Dhaka University, I turned to Najmul Huda Bacchu vai to get a chance in theatre. He took me to Natyaguru Nurul Momen. Hearing that besides acting, I write plays also, Momen Sir asked me, 'Have you read Bernard Shaw?' He cast me in his next play. That was my beginning. Since then I never had to look back". In 1950, he wrote his first stage play, Niyotir Parihas. Subsequently, under the guidance of Muneir Chowdhury, he further developed his skills as a playwright, director, and actor.[1]
Since 1965, Mamun was associated with Pakistan Television (PTV), later renamed Bangladesh Television (BTV). He wrote 25 dramas, seven novels, an autobiography titled Amar Ami, and a travelogue titled Manhattan. His literature mostly depicts the middle-class lifestyle of Bangladesh. His notable plays include Ekhono Kritadas, Tomrai, Amader Sontanera, Kokilara, Bibisab, Meraj Fakirer Maa, Mayik Master, Songsoptok, Pathar Somoy, Jibon Chhobi, and Baba.[1] He was a founding member and playwright-director of the theatre troupe Theatre.[6]
Mamun was also a filmmaker. He made his debut as a filmmaker with Angikar in 1972. His other notable films include Sareng Bou (1978), Ekhoni Somoy, Dui Jibon, Sokhi Tumi Kar, and Bihanga.[1] He wrote stories and songs for films including "Oshikkhito".[7] His last films, Doriya Parer Doulati and Dui Beayar Kirti, were released in 2010 and 2015 respectively.[8] [9]
Mamun joined BTV as a producer in 1966 and retired in 1991 as a director.[10] He served director general of the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO) and director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.[1]
Mamun was suffering from acute coronary syndrome along with diabetes, hypertension, and kidney and liver complexities.[11] He died on 21 August 2008.