Film-maker Mithu dies as tree falls on him

Staff Reporter :Renowned artist and national award winning film-maker Khalid Mahmood Mithu, died in a tragic accident as a tree fell on him in the capital’s Dhanmondi area on Monday.Officer-in-Charge of Dhanmondi Police Station Noor-e-Azam said a tree fell on a rickshaw carrying Khalid Mahmood, husband of noted artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma, while he was passing through Road-4 around 2 pm, leaving him critically injured.He was taken to Gonoshasthya Nagar Hospital where duty doctors declared him dead around 2:30 pm.However, the rickshaw-puller escaped unhurt.Meanwhile, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu expressed profound shock at his tragic death and prayed for salvation of the departed soul. Mithu won the National Film Award for his first movie ‘Gohine Shobdo (Dark Resonance)’, which released on Mar 26, 2010.He did his post-graduation at the Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts in 1986. He had written a book on novelist-filmmaker Humayun Ahmed. Bidya Sinha Saha Mim shared the National Award-2014 in the best actress category for her role in Mithu’s film Jonakir Alo (Glow of the Firefly) with Arifa Parvin Moushumi.His wife Kanak Chanpa was adjudged the best costume designer for Jonakir Alo.Mithu left behind his wife, son Arjo Srestha and daughter Shiropa Purna. Many media and cultural personalities and artistes rushed to his house on hearing of the death. They include Faridur Reza Sagar, M Hamid, Morshedul Islam, and Adam Dawla.Film-maker Dawla said that funerals for Mithu would be held after Arjo arrives from abroad on Tuesday.He termed his demise an irreparable loss to art, films and the film industry. “As one of his oldest friends, I knew him from the age of 15. He was a good father and friend; a great painter and efficient organiser for art exhibitions,” Dawla said.He said Mithu was involved in organising many art exhibitions including the International Miniature Art Biennale in October 2015.