Humayun Faridee: Unforgotten

Humayun Faridee, one of the best actors this country has produced, would have turned 65 yesterday if he was still among us. And much like the lives he touched through his acting on screen and stage, he left a lasting impact on the people who had worked with him or saw him from close quarters. Social media came alive in heartfelt tributes yesterday on Faridee's birth anniversary, with colleagues and fans alike remembering the iconic artiste. 

Actors Chanchal Chowdhury, Shahed Ali, Bonna Mirza and Runa Khan were among members of the fraternity remembering the actor in Facebook posts. Suborna Mustafa, who Faridee was married to for over two decades before separating, recalled him through nostalgic old photographs.

On social media groups of film, and also among TV aficionados as well, tributes were aplenty. Photos of Faridee's early days at Jahangirnagar University, anecdotes and quotes of the actor about his work, personal life and personality, audio of his poetry recitation, personal recollections of watching Faridee's work in yesteryears' BTV and films, and heartfelt essays were in high supply on Facebook groups like “Cinemakhorder Adda” and “Movie Lovers Polapain”, among others.

The impact Faridee has on the current generation of actors is also remarkable. In a recent interview, theatre and television actress Sanjida Preeti said, “He was a complete institution for me. Watching him, I came to learn how to use each muscle of my face or the whole body to diversify each character.” Actor Jitu Ahsan said “The things he would say, like 'The script is only the skeleton. To add flesh to it is the actor's job, or 'Be a thinking actor. Anyone can memorise lines and recite them, but not everyone can think' are words I still cherish and live by.”