Television of Softness

Abdullah Al Mamun

Television is around our life as a friend. Many things can be said from that television history. The name of the artist of the first television drama is Ferdousi Mojumdar. And the name of the first singer was Ferdousi Rahman. Both of their names are Ferdousi. But we have taken almost 30 years to speak out these words together in television screen.

The one who has taken the initiative to compile these things is Mostofa Kamal Syed. As I have said about Abdullah Al Mamun, he was the first star producer to the audiences. And Mostofa Kamal Syed is a star to the people who are behind the camera. Mostofa Kamal Syed was the only person after Khaleda Fahmi who has become the centered person whatever his designation was. He was really faithful to his position and was honest wherever he worked at.

Ferdousi Mojumdar

When Mostofa Kamal Syed was the head of the anchoring department, he had to stay at the station in most of the day. He has been seated in many positions and he took all his responsibilities with full priority and honesty. Mostofa Kamal Syed deserves the credit of taking television as a government representative to the people. He has one of the persons who have took this responsibility with full of honesty and dedication.

Mostofa Kamal Syed even could memorize which tape in the archive carries which program. When it needs any filler Mostofa Kamal Syed could easily tell sitting in his 212 No room that which rack contains the tape of the Runa Laila's song. He could even tell the number of the track that had to be chosen for the filler.

Mostofa Kamal Syed has given his 100 percent for a modernized presentation of drama and musical program in television.

Ferdousi Rahman

He has played an important role in bringing foreign programs for television. In his time the audiences of Bangladesh could watch best foreign movies and other LIVE programs. It has to be mentioned that the time when Mostofa Kamal Syed brought the best movies from abroad it was even harder to do a phone call to abroad from Bangladesh. But Mr. Kamal has showed that if you have the dedication and strength then you can make any impossible work possible. Because it was really difficult to send letters, deciding which Hollywood movie is good bringing the brochure. But, the movies the television has shown in the late 70s and early 80s blew the audiences minds away. Mr. Kamal has shown modern lifestyle movie like Dynasty.

Runa Laila

Though one more person also deserves the credit who was behind bringing these foreign movies is A.K. Qurayeshi. His lifestyle is very strange. Even currently in his leisure time he is doing a lot of works. He is involved in many social welfare activities of Anjuman Mofidul. Earlier he used to be a pilot. Then he became a renowned sound engineer. Before and after joining television he has acted in many dramas and cinemas. He might have acted in the role of a judge in most cinemas. A.K. Qurayeshi and Mostofa Kamal Syed have jointly worked and presented drama serials, foreign movies and musical programs to the audiences.

The writer is Managing Director, Channel i
Translated by Imtiaz Salim