A tribute and loving memory of Khaled Khan

Director cum actor Khaled Khan was born in Tangail on February 9, 1958. He started his acting career in the 1980s with theatre after receiving masters degree from Dhaka University in 1983. He gained huge popularity both on television and on stage for the numerous roles he played. His television debut was 'Shirighor' on Bangladesh Television in 1981. He acted in many popular dramas and his notable works are 'Shokal Shondha', 'Eishob Din Ratri', 'Roopnagar', 'Lohar Churi' and many others. Rupnagar, a drama that aired in 1993, is still remembered by people for his famous dialogue, "Chi chi, tumi eto kharap"? His negative role in the drama made him very popular with the viewers. His role in Humayun Ahmed's 'Eisob Dinratri' was also particularly very popular.
Khaled Khan graced more than 30 plays including 'Dewan Gazir Kissa', 'Nurul Din er Sara Jibon' and 'Darpan' for Nagarik Natya Sampraday and directed over 10 plays including 'Putul Khela' and 'Kkhudito Pashan'. He also played the role of 'Bishu Pagla' in the play 'Rokto Karabi' of Nagarik Natyangan. He had also directed Subachan Natya Sangsad's play 'Rupaboti'. He directed two plays of Nagorik Natya Sampradaya, one was 'Muktadhara' by Rabindranath Tagore and the other was 'Kalshandhya' by Buddhudev Basu. 'Kalshandhya' was a very colourful and vibrant production with music and choreography which was adjudged as the best production of 2002 by several organisations and earned both Khaled and Nagorik Natya Sampradaya a number of honours.

Thespian Ataur Rahman recalled Khaled Khan, "Khaled also left his unique marks as theatre director. His directed play, which he had done for Konthoshilon -- a prominent group of Dhaka for voice training and recitation -- had earned appreciation from the audience of Mohila Samity of Natak Saroni. It was a very toil-some and disciplined directional work. He had earned a reputation for his acting in several TV plays and serials and one cinema he had done titled "Poka Makorer Ghor Boshoti". He was also well-known for lending his voice in innumerable Radio commercials."
About Khaled Khan, director Shajahan Chowdhury said, "He was a great son of the soil, who loved his country, its people and alongside loved theatre, music, recitation of poems and all other related art forms. Khaled was a man of indomitable energy; he was a workaholic. His unseen-presence in our life and posterity will never be diminished. His spirit will always be the source of our inspiration."
December 20 marked the fifth death anniversary of actor-director Khaled Khan.
The writer is a freelance contributor.