Imdadul Haq Milan looks back on ‘Shongshoptok’

Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Literary Award-winning writer Imdadul Haq Milan is a prominent name in Bangla Literature. The novelist, screenwriter, dramatist and journalist has not only been able to reach readers with different interests with his experimentation in picking up an array of genres, but has also managed to write some of the most popular books in the last four decades, including Liliyan Upakhyah, Ekattor O Ekjon Maa, the Noorjahan series and Jabojjibon.  With his realistic plots and relatable characters, his fame managed to spread across West Bengal and Bangla readers all over the world. He was also a scriptwriter on Shongshoptok, the acclaimed television series from the 1980s, starring Ferdousi Mazumder and Humayun Faridee among others. It is currently rerunning on Bangladesh Television (BTV) at 8:30 pm daily. The writer shares his memories and experiences of making the show, his views on the coronavirus crisis and more, in a recent conversation with The Daily Star.  

One of your most popular television shows, Shongshoptok, is back on BTV. Tell us a bit about how you became a part of the production.

Back in 1987, producer Abdullah Al Mamun approached me to come up with a script based on Shahidullah Kaiser's novel Shongshoptok. I was nervous, because the drama series previously started airing in 1971, with a screenplay from Mamunur Rashid. But that production had stopped due to the Liberation War. However, it was an amazing learning experience as I was new to scriptwriting. The rest, as they say, is history.

Can you share some of your memories from the sets of Shongshoptok?

We used to shoot in a small village in Savar. I have many fond memories from those shoots, but there is one incident that I will never forget. One day, when we were about to shoot an intense scene, Ferdousi Mazumder could not stop laughing. She even burst out laughing in the middle of the take. Abdullah Al Mamun, a little irritated, instructed everyone to be serious about the work. I still remember how all of our expressions just changed instantly at that moment!

 What are you writing at the moment, now that you have some quiet time to yourself at home?

Till now, I have managed to finish five short stories. Some of them are based on the Liberation War, while the others are based on more contemporary issues, such as rape. As of now, I have not come up with anything based on the coronavirus pandemic, as I believe that I need more time to grasp the entire situation. I have also started writing my autobiography. It is a vast project and I assume that it will take at least two more years for me to finish it. Being an avid bookworm, I also finally have some free time to read without distractions.

You are also the editor of the daily newspaper, Kaler Kantho. How do you think journalists are battling the coronavirus crisis?

Like other frontline professionals, journalists are also risking their lives daily. They have not stepped back from their duties, against all odds. Unfortunately, few of them have passed away in this battle. I feel that we need to be more considerate towards the journalists, as they have families too.