Melancholic one year without Kayes Chowdhury

Sampa Das :
Raater Akashe Nischup Sakkhi Durer Oi Dhrubotara (Distant pole star is the quiet witness in the night sky), Aaj saradin tumitumi kore koste thekechhi ami (I was sunken in pain whole day calling you and only you) are some of the popular songs composed by Kayes Chowdhury whose time of departure has reached one full year today (October 21). The humblest regards come out from the core of heart spontaneously to the sweetest and loveliest memory of the creative and versatile intellect of the solitary man. He was born on April 1 in 1956 and died on October 21, 2021.
Kayes Chowdhury was a prolific genius and an extra ordinary personality portraying his creativity and merit in variety of areas. He at the same time was a dramatist, film-maker, film director, teacher, actor, trainer, presenter, an expert in communication and audio-visual performances, also an esteemed consultant in mass communication and journalism. This is very difficult for me to comment on his life and works at a very short pace. If his great works would only be measured quantitatively then it might take the shape of a novel, when qualitative evaluation could only be rested upon time to come. As a wife, I was in touch of this creative person for 11 years. Eleven years in length might be limited but the breadth of this time could be immeasurable. I had the opportunity to see him very closely. He is now above all the situation of our conjugal life as conflict of belief and thought, joy and pain, difference of opinion, loss and gain etc. Today at the date of his departure I will figure out some key points only.
In the late 1990s, the first TV series titled ‘Na’, scripted and directed by him, was aired on Bangladesh Television (BTV). It was treated as best according to the opinion survey among the viewers. Most of the plays and films of their time followed the orientation of ‘Phul Dao Phul Nao’ (make an exchange). On the context of demand of time, the serial was modern and appropriate. For this reason, this serial was further telecasted on ATN Bangla and Boishakhi Television. All the creative works made by Kayes Chowdhury was surpassed by the long work as documentary on the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ‘Tumi Robe Nishwashe Tumi Robe Bishwashe.’ He was the script writer and director of the documentary.
The documentary on the context of the political life of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, achievement of independence, the building of a nation in a newly born country and his tragic and pathetic departure had a premier show in the auspicious presence of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 15, 1995. While watching the documentary the Prime Minister burst into an emotional state. Afterwards this documentary was also screened in different countries outside the country.
Kayes Chowdhury’s another remarkable work is ‘Performance Study.’ It was made underthe finance of the government of Saudi Arabia. It was screened in 65 countries in the world. Another renowned work was as funded by the government of the United Arab Emirates was made under the title ‘The Golden Marine point.’
He made more than 700 national and international corporate profiles. A noteworthy documentary directed by him titled ‘Jonogoner Pala’ (People’s Ballad) is a ballad dependent upon folklore and ‘Nari O Shishupachar’ (Trafficking of women and children) was telecasted on German Television.
‘Bhasoman Jounokarmi’ (Floating Sex-worker) was screened on BBC. ‘Sundarbans, the Mangrove Forest and Amazing Fishing Way’ was also screened in Japan. A documentary made on child labour titled ‘Human Machine’ was presented by BBC. Therefore, the Saudi Arabia television telecasted ‘Arab Desert Life.’ ‘Child Labour in Bangladesh’ was broadcasted on BBC.
Another notable work on women’s labour titled ‘Somoyer Ek Phor’ (A Stitch in Time) won the award from BBC in 2000 on the Best Documentary and Best Director categories. The most awakening documentary titled ‘Arsenic Alert’ was made on the content of the hazard of water drawn from tube-wells as contaminated by Arsenic. The making of documentary was funded by the World Trade Forum Netherlands, 2000 gained best Documentary award. ‘Jwaluk Alo Ghore Ghore’ is his also another documentary focusing ‘Adult Education of Bangladesh’ won the best documentary award of 2022. He produced 65 commercials and directed 105 Television dramas. ‘Chittagong-last stop over’ – is a documentary made under the financial and technical cooperation of Hollywood and some European countries which was dubbed in Bangla, English and French.
Like his brilliant working and personal life of Kayes Chowhdury was also colourful. I pay my sincere homage again to this very much polite, humble and conversationalist Kayes Chawdhury, who is also a teacher in literal meaning.
(Sampa Das is wife of late Kayes Chowdhury, she is also noted Nazrul artiste and researcher, and teacher)