Tanvir Mokammel bags Ekushey Padak for 2017

“I want to dedicate the honour to all Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh who have made the biggest contribution to the country,” said eminent director Tanvir Mokammel on his selection for the prestigious Ekushey Padak for 2017.

Tanvir received the exciting news of the  award on February 14 while he was taking a stroll in the picturesque mountains of India's famous hill station Darjeeling, West Bengal,  where he has gone for a break before returning to a packed schedule to attend a screening of his feature film “Laal Shaalu” and giving a lecture on “The Language of Cinema” in North Bengal University in nearby Jalpaiguri. 

"I believe in the message of the Gita to go on doing your work and not to worry about the results,” said National Award-winning Tanvir who has made a number of feature films against the backdrop of the Bangladesh Liberation War including “Chitra Nadir Paarey,” “Rabeya”, “Nodir Naam Madhumati”, “Jibondhuli” and the epic documentary “1971”.

In a career spanning 34 years, Tanvir, 61 directed six feature films and 14 documentaries and won national awards for “Nodir Naam Modhumati,” “Chitra Nodir Paarey” and “Lal Shalu.” His documentaries include “Bastra Balika,” “Swapnabhumi,” “Achin Paakhi” and “Karnaphulir Kanna”. The director is currently shooting his latest documentary “Seemantarekha” on the Partition of the Indian subcontinent and its effects on the lives of millions of people on both sides of Bengal.

On February 18, Tanvir said he will participate in a seminar in Jalpaiguri on "The Partition, Communalism and Modern Bangladesh” before returning to Dhaka on February 19 to be on time to receive Ekushey Padak from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.