Fareedy still reigns in the heart of drama lovers

During this decade, the audience got a chance to enjoy the charismatic performance of some dynamic artistes who reigned both on stage and television.

MoodA bit whimsical but possessor of some unique characteristics, Humayun Fareedy is a name written in golden words in the heart of drama lovers. Carried away by his moods, he goes after things, which gives him satisfaction and pleasure.

CareerHe has contributed immensely in all forms of media. He started his career as a Jatra artiste at quite an early age and joined Dhaka Theatre when he was a student of economics at Jahangirnagar University. On stage, his debut performance was in Dhaka Theatre's Shakuntola. After this, he went on working to his path to success. In 1980 he started his career on TV in the play Nikhoj Sangbad produced by Atiqul Haque Chaudhury. Then onwards his spontaneous and variegated performance in one after another character proved him as one of the few artistes of our country who can perform in all roles. Santrash, produced in 1990, was his first film in main stream. In electronic media, he is also interested in the field of direction.

PassionFareedy admits with all modesty that he could do a lot better. The characters he desires most to perform are King Lear, Hamlet and Oedipus. Shakespeare being his favourite playwright, he is also fond of Ibsen, Lorka, Stringe and Selim-Al-Deen.

AdmirationHe never considers his wife Shuborna a rival in this field. He admires theatre workers like Jamil Ahmed, Selim-Al-Deen, Raisul Islam Asad, Asaduzzaman Noor, Mamun-Ur-Rashid, Shuborna, Afzal Hossain, Nazma Anwar and Rini Reza. Jamil Ahmed is like a living legend to him. To know about theatre, he thinks each and every theatre worker should go through Jamil Ahmed's Achin Pakhi.

FavouritesIn electronic media his favourite persons are- Atiqul Haq Chaudhury, Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Mustafizur Rahman and Mustafa Kamal Syed

ConvictionHe encourages the introduction of package drama but hates performers who are too professional and always go after money and awards. He doesn't consider award as a standard to measure performance. Fareedy thinks that some drastic changes should come in our culture otherwise this industry will collapse. Rather than doing negative criticism, enlightened and educated persons should come forward to make changes for its betterment.

Recreation He likes to spend his leisure time by watching cricket, cinema, reading books and flying kites. He enjoys cooking, doing household work and gossiping with old friends and never misses the re-union of the old friends.

Present thoughtsRight now because of his physical ailment, he is not performing on stage but he loves to help people coming to him for suggestions on theatrical display. He thinks theatre practice at this moment has decreased because all the big groups in our country are single family oriented and there is no perfect stage in our country. At present, he is busy with feature films. Fareedy relishes work and disregards rumours, which to him are mostly fallacies. Although the audience considers his contribution worthwhile he thinks he has yet a lot more to offer. We look forward to the fact that this whimsical man becomes an institution in the world of theatre.

Ershad Kamol Khan is an active member of Dhaka Theatre.