In memory of Najma Anwar

Najma Anwar

I had planned to write about Najma Anwar and this was something I wanted to do for her from the moment I heard the news that she had breathed her last.

Najma Apa's death was a classic example of the fate of an hapless actor. We, who work in the audio-visual industry, cannot understate the tremendous contribution Najma Anwar had in portraying the role of the inimitable middle aged woman who is more often a non-central actor (side role) but in the everyday real lives has this enormous contribution in a Bangalee Sangsaar. And in one big puff the entire episode of fine histrionics was out!

Najma Apa had a sudden massive heart attack. I can never believe that she who was so fit--always full of joy and ready to pour out her heart--could have an ailing heart--it is unbelievable! If one was in the midst of office work where she has been called up to sign a contract--one would fear that she would start up with anecdotes about her wonderful experiences in the course of portraying a role. Sometimes I lacked patience to listen to those stories but now I regret this. I wish I had a tape recorder to record all the details of "behind the camera stories" she had talked about.

I had once cast her for a role in a play I had written. It was the role of a house-help, wrongly suspected by the lady of the house for stealing an ornament, which has immense sentimental value for her. The name of the play was Jahanarar Kotha. This play has not yet been aired. But I would like to give out a small secret, which lies behind this play as probably lies behind all drama productions. Najma Apa played the role of this house-help so well that we decided that we would change the interpretation of the play.

In effect, the play was about the lady of the house who suffers from guilt for putting her maid (Jahanara) through the ritual of chewing a morsel of pora chaal (magic rice) in order to determine whether she was guilty. Later, it transpired that the maid is not guilty of stealing and has in fact been wrongly accused as a thief.

Najma Apa portrayed the role of the maid so well, that we reviewed the production and decided to build more on the character of Jahanara and give the role its rightful place. Najma Apa, I have to say, I miss you, I never came around to rerecord and restructure the role that you played so well and with such élan!

Najma Apa, I will also not forget the role you played as the head mistress in Zafar Iqbal's story of Shaat Chaar Dui under Sarwar Farooki's direction aired on Ekushey Television in 2000. I was offered the role of this very foul- mouthed head mistress, who is a villain. I was so naively conscious of my image that I decided that I would not be seen as the terrible raccoon on the mass media. Najma Apa, of course, did not bat an eye lid and accepted the role.

Need less to say she came out with flying colours.

These are the smaller achievements of Najma Anwar compared to Murshed's Dukhai, Farooqi's Korimon Bewa, Abu Sayeed's Shankhanaad or Touqir Ahmed's JoyJaatra.

I have to end my tribute with a personal note. My daughter (who was involved in one of the productions) cried on being told of your demise. She sat up in her bed early in the morning and cried, "I do not believe Baby Khala [the name of the role] is no more." She said, "maa, take care of your self."

Najma Apa did you leave us, just to remind us that we all need to take care of you and that we too have to be careful so that we avoid such untimely departures? You had so much more to do. We will miss you forever.

And if you can, tell me about all your roles in my dream and I will have the patience to hear your stories.

The author is an actor