Shamim Zaman

Shamim Zaman with co-artist Shubhra Das in a scene from Aadhiar

Although Aadhiar is Shamim's first film, it however was not his first foray in acting. To the regular TV viewers and theatregoers, he is quite a well-known face with several remarkable roles to his credit. Shamim's acting career began through theatre when in 1990 he joined the group Aranyak.

Besides acting, Shamim can also play a few musical instruments like harmonium, tabla and dhol. In fact, his first work with Aranyak was in the music of the group's play Khela Khela. And it is this same ability that Shamim accounts for regarding his acting in Aadhiar too. '[Saidul Anam] Tutul Bhai was looking for someone who can act as well as play the traditional instruments of this region,' he says.

When he met Tutul, the director asked him 'to live rather casually like not to have my hair cut, not to wear shoes,' recalls Shamim. The entire cast tried to live the very ordinary life of the farmers of the northern part of Bengal. When the team went to Rangpur for shooting, 'we didn't change back into our regular clothes for 25 days since we had worn our film costumes,' says Shamim.

Shamim's role in Aadhiar portrays a youth who sacrifices his personal life for the cause of the Tebhaga movement that fought for the equal rights of the farmers. Madhob comes to the village, where the events of the film take place, at a time when the movement is just germinating. He stays in the house of Shyam Doyal, portrayed by Raisul Islam Asad, who has a young niece named Shyamla. The girl falls in love with Madhob and wants to marry him, which he refuses. At one time, however, Madhob cannot resist and agrees to marry Shyamla. But it is the same auspicious moment when comes the call of the fight they have so long waited for. Madhob joins the resistance.

Towards the end of the fight, when farmers almost win over the Zamindars and the police are also leaving the scene, a spirited Madhob, armed with a scythe, goes to puncture the tyres of the police van. The police shoot him and he dies. Thus ends the heroic life of Madhob.

Shamim believes that every actor should work in all media, 'for that is how one's acting can be evaluated properly. 'Besides theatre and film he has acted in a good number of TV plays and telefilms. Among his TV plays, the 200-episode drama serial Jowar Bhata, became very popular. Other plays that he worked in are Nayikar Naamey Naam, Dwitiyo Jibon and Ebong Ami. In 1999 he played in Abdullah Al Mamun's special play on Ekushey Droho Binash. Apart from the serials, Shamim's single-episode plays include Asroy, Bashor, Swadhinota Tomar Jonnyo, Nibhu Nibhu Bhalobasha etc. His telefilms are Alochhaya, Shotyodaho, Swapno Moti, Bangla Namer Desh. Besides these, he has also acted in two short films--Chhana O Muktijuddho of Badal Rahman and Bangla Maayer Damal Chhele of Rafiqul Bari Chowdhury.

Shamim Zaman believes that if the present hype of making films like Aadhiar goes on, our film industry would be able to revive its golden era.