Enamul Karim Nirjhar
Encyclopedia
Enamul Karim Nirjhar is a Bangladeshi architect and film maker
. His skills also include photography, writing poetries, stories and lyrics, with graphics designing and involvement in various social and organizational initiatives.
of the then East Pakistan
, now Bangladesh
. Nirjhar and his family became refugees and had to take shelter in a neighboring country. After the war when he and his family returned in an independent Bangladesh
, found the house they used to live were burned down.
in the mid-1970s. After passing the exam for Secondary School Certificate
, he opt himself out of the institute and passed Higher Secondary exam from Rajshahi Government College. Nirjhar studied MBBS
for two years and later chose not to continue as he chose to study architecture
in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET)
.
he started different youth and culture oriented initiatives in and out of BUET
. A stage play of that time named Bibhajito Upakkhan organized by Enamul Karim Nirjhar became almost a part of the legacy of BUET
’s cultural activity. When studying, a personal experience changed Nirjhar’s overall approach to the world. At that time he led himself to various activities like film movement, poetry, story writing, publication and illustration. He joined the popular humor magazine Unmad
and later became a contributor of weekly Sachitra Shandhani in mid-1980s. An experimental magazine based on cinema named Kino Eye and a literary Potito Shubash was also initiated by Nirjhar at that period. The same year he formed a design concern named System Design & Ideas.
, UK. Nirjhar involved with Architectural & Interior Design of Head Office Complex for British American Tobacco
Bangladesh
in 2003, which later in 2005 earned him Architect of the year honor from AYA JK Cement Award. The same year Nirjhar completed a restaurant project named VOOT (ghosts in English) in Dhaka
which created hype among masses for getting frightened officially. Nirjhar started a trend of naming residential buildings in Bangla
like Jethay, Hochhe Hobe & Fera. He started working for a conceptual commercial building for the project entitled ‘ninaKABBO’. The poems of 12 prominent poets of Bangla Literature
were used in different faced of the building.
in Bangladesh
. After some practices with short films Nirjhar decided to direct a full length feature film.
the first feature film by Enamul Karim Nirjhar which later earned him National Film Award for best director. The story of Aha! grew up over a 100 year old house and the characters surrounding it.
A review of The Daily Star
wrote, "The USP of Aha! is its treatment. Nirjhar's directorial compositions maintain the 'language of cinema', which a lot of Bangladeshi filmmakers miss."
The cast of the film includes Humayun Faridi
, Tariq Anam Khan, Fazlur Rahman Babu
, Shathi Yasmin, Ferdaus and Khaled Khan. Songs used in the film are written by Nirjhar himself and music composed by Indian music director Debojyoti Mishra
.
Aha! won National Film Award 2007 in four categories including best director, best female singer, best cinematography and best editing. The film was viewed in many international film festivals in Cairo
, Dubai
, Munich
. It also got the National Nomination from Bangladesh
for the 81st Academy Awards.
. Apart from directing, Nirjhar also wrote the story, script and songs for Nomuna. As the director put it, his latest project was "more ambitious," and he "tried to overcome limitations previously encountered" in his last film. Debojyoti Mishra
, who did the soundtrack of Nirjhar’s previous film Aha!
, is the music director of Nomuna. The film follows an incident of a child being shot. Death of children, though appalling, becomes a reality in a dystopian world.
Nirjhar’s other fields of interest include photography
, lyrics
and story writing, painting
, graphic illustration and many more. Photography
has always been a passion for Nirjhar as he won KODAK FIAP National Award for Photography in 1993. He also wrote lyrics for his own films Aha!
, Nomuna and also for an Indian bangla movie named Shukno Lanka
. Nirjhar had many exhibitions over the years since his first solo exhibition in Rajshahi
in 1978.
Cinema of Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi film industry has been based in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, since 1956. As of 2004, it produced approximately 100 movies a year, with an average movie budget of about 20,000,000 Bangladeshi taka...
. His skills also include photography, writing poetries, stories and lyrics, with graphics designing and involvement in various social and organizational initiatives.
Family and background
Enamul Karim Nirjhar was born to Muhammad Afsar Ali and Momtaz Begum in RajshahiRajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
of the then East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
, now Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Nirjhar and his family became refugees and had to take shelter in a neighboring country. After the war when he and his family returned in an independent Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, found the house they used to live were burned down.
Education
Nirjhar was admitted to Rajshahi Cadet CollegeRajshahi Cadet College
Rajshahi Cadet College is a military high school, located in Sardah, Rajshahi.-History:The college was initially named as Ayub Cadet College . It was established in 1966 during the Pakistan period. Pakistani dictator and self-proclaimed Field Marshal Ayub Khan named the institution by his own name...
in the mid-1970s. After passing the exam for Secondary School Certificate
Secondary School Certificate
The Secondary School Certificate, also known as SSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa in India after successfully completing at least ten years of schooling. It is followed...
, he opt himself out of the institute and passed Higher Secondary exam from Rajshahi Government College. Nirjhar studied MBBS
MBBS
MBBS was a popular BBS system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers such as...
for two years and later chose not to continue as he chose to study architecture
Bachelor of Architecture
The Bachelor of Architecture is an undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. It is awarded for a course of study that lasts up...
in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
(BUET)
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
.
Cultural and organizational involvement
Along with the study of architectureBachelor of Architecture
The Bachelor of Architecture is an undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. It is awarded for a course of study that lasts up...
he started different youth and culture oriented initiatives in and out of BUET
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
. A stage play of that time named Bibhajito Upakkhan organized by Enamul Karim Nirjhar became almost a part of the legacy of BUET
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
’s cultural activity. When studying, a personal experience changed Nirjhar’s overall approach to the world. At that time he led himself to various activities like film movement, poetry, story writing, publication and illustration. He joined the popular humor magazine Unmad
Unmad
"UNmad" is a Bangladeshi humor magazine, which was founded by Ishtiaq Hossain and Kazi Khalid Ashraf in 1978. "UNmad" is a Bengali word, which means 'paranoid', or, 'mad'...
and later became a contributor of weekly Sachitra Shandhani in mid-1980s. An experimental magazine based on cinema named Kino Eye and a literary Potito Shubash was also initiated by Nirjhar at that period. The same year he formed a design concern named System Design & Ideas.
Architecture
In 1994 Nirjhar formed his architecture firm SYSTEM Architects, which came up with varieties of architectural and interior projects in next two decades including many commercial, residential, industrial and restaurant projects. His theme based works with contemporary thoughts in many of his projects gave him acclamation around the architecture zone. In 2001 Nirjhar designed for WE the Restaurant at HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, UK. Nirjhar involved with Architectural & Interior Design of Head Office Complex for British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 2003, which later in 2005 earned him Architect of the year honor from AYA JK Cement Award. The same year Nirjhar completed a restaurant project named VOOT (ghosts in English) in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
which created hype among masses for getting frightened officially. Nirjhar started a trend of naming residential buildings in Bangla
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
like Jethay, Hochhe Hobe & Fera. He started working for a conceptual commercial building for the project entitled ‘ninaKABBO’. The poems of 12 prominent poets of Bangla Literature
Bengali literature
Bengali literature is literary works written in Bengali language particularly from Bangladesh and the Indian provinces of West Bengal and Tripura. The history of Bengali literature traces back hundreds of years while it is impossible to separate the literary trends of the two Bengals during the...
were used in different faced of the building.
Film
Nirjhar started his film career with short films on different social issues. In 2005 he made a documentary named Tini (The Architect) on the life and work of architect Muzharul Islam, a pioneer of modern architectureModern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. After some practices with short films Nirjhar decided to direct a full length feature film.
Aha! (2007)
Aha!Aha!
Aha! is a 2007 Bangladeshi film, directed by Enamul Karim Nirjhar. It was the first film directed by Nirjhar. He won the National Film Award 2007 for Best Direction for Aha!.-Plot:...
the first feature film by Enamul Karim Nirjhar which later earned him National Film Award for best director. The story of Aha! grew up over a 100 year old house and the characters surrounding it.
A review of The Daily Star
The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
The Daily Star is the largest circulating English daily newspaper in Bangladesh. Established by Syed Mohammed Ali in 14 January 1991, the newspaper is owned by Mediastar a venture of the Transcom Group, headed by Latifur Rahman...
wrote, "The USP of Aha! is its treatment. Nirjhar's directorial compositions maintain the 'language of cinema', which a lot of Bangladeshi filmmakers miss."
The cast of the film includes Humayun Faridi
Humayun Faridi
Humayun Faridi [Alternative: Humayun Faridee] is an popular actor in Bangladeshi TV drama, theatre and cinema.He is well-known for his villain roles in Bangladeshi drama and cinema....
, Tariq Anam Khan, Fazlur Rahman Babu
Fazlur Rahman Babu
Fazlur Rahman Babu is a Bangladeshi actor and singer. Also known simply as Babu, he has acted in more than one hundred telenovelas, in addition to appearing in films and several television advertisements....
, Shathi Yasmin, Ferdaus and Khaled Khan. Songs used in the film are written by Nirjhar himself and music composed by Indian music director Debojyoti Mishra
Debojyoti Mishra
Debojyoti Mishra is an Indian film composer. He became popular with his minimalist classical compositions for the film Raincoat. He also worked on a Bengali film, Chaturanga....
.
Aha! won National Film Award 2007 in four categories including best director, best female singer, best cinematography and best editing. The film was viewed in many international film festivals in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. It also got the National Nomination from Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
for the 81st Academy Awards.
Other works
In 2009 Nirjhar directed his second feature film Nomuna (The Example). The film is yet to be released due to some objections from censor board of BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Apart from directing, Nirjhar also wrote the story, script and songs for Nomuna. As the director put it, his latest project was "more ambitious," and he "tried to overcome limitations previously encountered" in his last film. Debojyoti Mishra
Debojyoti Mishra
Debojyoti Mishra is an Indian film composer. He became popular with his minimalist classical compositions for the film Raincoat. He also worked on a Bengali film, Chaturanga....
, who did the soundtrack of Nirjhar’s previous film Aha!
Aha!
Aha! is a 2007 Bangladeshi film, directed by Enamul Karim Nirjhar. It was the first film directed by Nirjhar. He won the National Film Award 2007 for Best Direction for Aha!.-Plot:...
, is the music director of Nomuna. The film follows an incident of a child being shot. Death of children, though appalling, becomes a reality in a dystopian world.
Nirjhar’s other fields of interest include photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
and story writing, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, graphic illustration and many more. Photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
has always been a passion for Nirjhar as he won KODAK FIAP National Award for Photography in 1993. He also wrote lyrics for his own films Aha!
Aha!
Aha! is a 2007 Bangladeshi film, directed by Enamul Karim Nirjhar. It was the first film directed by Nirjhar. He won the National Film Award 2007 for Best Direction for Aha!.-Plot:...
, Nomuna and also for an Indian bangla movie named Shukno Lanka
Shukno Lanka
Shukno Lanka is a 2010 Bengali-language Indian film directed by Gaurav Pandey, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Debashree Roy and Sabyasachi Chakraborty- Plot :...
. Nirjhar had many exhibitions over the years since his first solo exhibition in Rajshahi
Rajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
in 1978.
Commercial
- Head Office Complex for British American Tobacco Bangladesh
- 8 storied CGS School Complex
- 13-stoired Ninakabbo (Under-construction)
Restaurant
- WE the Restaurant
- Asparagus, a Restaurant with Café Theatre
- VOOT Restaurant (Currently Dead)
- ULTAVOOT Restaurant
Residential
- Shudha Sadon
- Hochhe hobe, A Residence
- Fera, A Residence
- Jethay, A Residence
- Navana Platinum Residence
- Liakot Ali Reidence
Documentary
- Tarona (2001)
- The Shadow Gap (2003)
- Kheyal (2003)
- Kohen (2004)
- Tokhon (2004)
- Ebong Porobashi (2004)
- Tini; The Architect (2005)
- Manush (2006)
- Koyta (2006)
- Ashchhe (2006)
Exhibitions
- Solo Art Exhibition-1978, Organized by Bangladesh Parishad, An agency of information Ministry of Bangladesh Govt.
- Solo Art Exhibition-1980, At Rajshahi College, Rajshahi
- Solo Art and Photography Exhibition-1986, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel Art Gallery, Dhaka, Organized by ORCA for Blood Donation Fund.
- Participated in 8th National Art Exhibition of Bangladesh, 1987, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts
- Participated in National Victory Day Art Exhibition, 1987, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts
- Participated in young Artist Painting Exhibition, Organized by Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts-1990
- Solo Exhibition “Barnadhara” [Alphabets], a Photographic Tale at Zainul Gallery, Institute of Fine Arts in 1992.
- Solo Exhibition on Installation “Atma Kendrik Moshkora” in 1997 at the Gallery of Russian Cultural Centre, Dhaka.
- Conceptual Planning and participation on an Installation JOJON Art Gallery In 2000 at Central Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
- Solo Series Exhibition-Phase-1, “Light for Shuchi” a Photographic Exhibition to contribute in the Treatment Fund for Shuchi, a young Cancer Patient at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhanmondi, Dhaka [September 7 to September 14, 2001]. Phase-2, “Dual Pulse’-an installation with the conceptual Reflection against all terrorism, anti social activities etc. at the Zainul Gallery, Institute of Fine Arts [September 14 to September 19, 2001]