A call for high quality films

Alamgir in the film Amar Janmabhumi.

Alamgir still remembers those days vividly. Says a nostalgic Alamgir, "We shot Padma Nadir Majhi beside the bank of Padma in Bikrampur. I have fond memories of making the film. True, there was limited technical support and insufficient equipment compared to the present day scenario. However, we still had a lot of fun and the excitement of the unit members was palpable." The film was a hit, which inspired him to direct more films. In 1973, he directed a film on the Liberation War, titled Amar Janmabhumi.

Among Alamgir's most popular films are Chabi, Aporajito Nayak, Amar Shangi, Jibon Chobi and Kabin. As he says, "I usually made films with a social message. I made many quality films that could have won national awards. Although I don't have any regrets on this score, I strongly feel that the authorities didn't do justice to my films."

The top artistes of the '70s and '80s acted in his films. He recalls, "They were always very cooperative, no matter how popular they were. Razzak and Kabori featured in many of my films. Their forte was that they could easily identify with their characters and I didn't have to explain every minute detail about their roles to them. Their professionalism and experience were definite plus points."

Alamgir has a regret about the present film scenario, "A film should be decent, by which I mean that a person should be able to view it with his family members. There should be an end to obscenity in films, so that viewers flock to cinema halls once again."

According to Alamgir, "The main feature of a good film is a good script that reveals a commitment to society. A director must develop his or her own distinctive style." At present Alamgir is not making any films for personal reasons. However, his long cherished dream to make a film on the Liberation War may materialise in the near future.