National Film Award-winning director Zahidur Rahim Anjan passed away on Monday night while undergoing treatment in Bengaluru, India.
He was 60 years old.
Anjan, who had been in Bengaluru since January for a liver transplant, succumbed to post-operative complications at 8:30 PM, his younger brother Sazzadur Rahim confirmed. The transplant was performed on February 19, but his condition worsened afterward, leading to his placement on life support.
Anjan had been battling liver complications for several years and was receiving treatment at Sparsh Hospital in Bengaluru. His family is in contact with Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki to complete the necessary formalities, which may take two to three days.
Born to Language Movement veteran Mizanur Rahim and married to acclaimed writer Shaheen Akhtar, Anjan was a prominent figure in Bangladesh's film industry. He made his directorial debut with Meghmallar (2014), based on Akhtaruzzaman Elias' short story Raincoat. The film earned him National Film Awards for Best Director and Best Dialogue Writer.
Anjan's latest project, Chander Amaboshya, was completed with government funding. Although its release was delayed due to his health and the country's situation, he recently unveiled the film's poster and was eager to bring it to audiences soon.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Anjan also served as a faculty member at Stamford University Bangladesh. He was a key figure in the country's independent cinema movement and former president of the Short Film Forum.
Following the news of his passing, colleagues and admirers, including Cultural Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and directors Amitabh Reza, Gias Uddin Selim, and Akram Khan, paid heartfelt tributes to the late filmmaker on social media.
