Marking his 60th birthday, National Film Award-winning filmmaker Tauquir Ahmed reflected on a life shaped by art, time, and creative pursuit. He began his career as an actor in the early 80s. He gained popularity through television dramas and especially as a romantic hero at that time.
Known for his exceptional talent both in front of and behind the camera, he has earned widespread acclaim for his directorial work. His film “Joyjatra” was highly praised, while “Oggatonama” and “Haldaa” brought him international recognition and awards. Years ago, he directed the commercial film “Daruchini Dwip”, which remains widely discussed even today. He also explored the Language Movement in “Fagun Haway”, bringing his total number of directed films to seven.
Also, the founding general secretary of the Actors’ Equity, Tauquir, spoke to The Daily Star at the Shilpakala Academy on the occasion of his milestone birthday. “Every age has its own beauty, and this one surely does too. My understanding of life is quite clear—at its core, it is a game of passing time. We all spend it in different ways: watching sports, films, listening to music, and sleeping. But this game becomes truly compelling when one immerses oneself in the act of creation.”
He added, “Earning money alone cannot be the purpose of life, though I also know how essential it is.”Looking back on life and time, he said, “At this stage, we realise that we have already lived a full life. The days that remain must be used wisely. It is important to live, but also to make that time meaningful.”On his body of work, he noted, “I’ve made seven films. If the environment had been more favourable, perhaps there could have been more, 14 or even 21. Interestingly, I’ve done a great deal of work for television. I made a telefilm called ‘Naiori’, which was widely discussed. In terms of quality, we have come a long way.”
He also recalled that Tanvir Mokammel once told him “Naiori” could have been a film, but since it aired on television, it did not receive the recognition it deserved. “The structure of our industry has, in many ways, limited us. More work could have been done, but quality is always a consideration,” he added.Speaking about his plans, Tauquir said, “I haven’t made a film in quite some time. I hope to begin work on a new one towards the end of this year, centred on my father-in-law, Abul Hayat, building a full character around him. Of course, my stage work will continue.”
