Ferdaus is perhaps the only contemporary Bangladeshi film actor to have become hugely popular in two movie industries of Dhaka and Kolkata. Before him only Rahman had achieved this distinction in Urdu and Bangla films.
Soon after releasing India-Bangladesh joint production Hathat Brishti simultaneously in Kolkata and Dhaka, Ferdaus became popular in both the countries. He received two major awards for Hatath Brishti in both countries—National Award for Films in Bangladesh (1998) and Anandalok Award in Kolkata.
He even performed the main role in a Hindi movie titled Mitti (2001), directed by Iqbal Durani. Sharbani Mukherji, who made her debut in the blockbuster movie Border, played the female lead. But the movie was a flop.
Ferdaus became so popular in Kolkata that at the initial stage of his career he did more movies there compared to Dhaka. So far, he has played the lead in over 30 movies in Kolkata, most of which have been hits. Now he has seven movies in hand for the Tollywood industry, for which he spent almost the first quarter of this year in Kolkata.
‘Some of these seven movies are continuation of previous year’s unfinished works and some are fresh. However, I’m more busy in Kolkata than in Dhaka,’ Ferdaus told New Age.
‘In fact, I love working in both the countries and enjoy my popularity in both of the countries. Kolkata dwellers often invite me to inaugurate their major festivals like Durga Puja, Kali Puja and others. In Dhaka, on the other hand, I’m invited in social and cultural programmes,’ said Ferdaus.
This year Ferdaus has won the national film award for the second time in his career. And he is excited for having won the national film award after 12 years in the best male character category for his role in the movie Gangajatra directed by Syed Ohiduzzaman Diamond.
‘I’m really excited winning the highest recognition for an actor in the film industry after 12 years, performing in a challenging role of Dom (coroner’s assistant) in the movie Antarjatra,’ Ferdaus told New Age.
Ferdaus evaluates the Dhaliwood movie industry as ‘technically backward’. To quote him, ‘We have a few talented actors, directors and technical hands. But the major problems we face here are low budgets combined with the lack of technical equipment such as camera and editing panels.
‘None of the directors do their spade work before making movies in Dhaka. We are still using the same techniques of the 1970s for cinematography. The allocation for make-up artistes is low. Even the costume designers are few and far between, which impedes the quality of the films. And the actors should be physically fit and aware of recent trends in fashion,’ he said.
On the import of Indian movies in Bangladesh, Ferdaus said, ‘Such rules should be equal and reciprocal. It should also be ensured that Bangladeshi movies are also exported in India. To get a better solution, I believe more joint productions forming a common censor board including people from the both the countries could provide a better solution to the crisis.’
While a student of journalism of University of Dhaka, Ferdaus suddenly got offer to act in films in 1996. Director Anjan Sarkar offered Ferdaus the lead role of his movie Prithibi Amarey Chay Na watching his performance as a ramp model. After the death of Salman Shah, Ferdaus completed a half done movie titled Buker Bhitorey Agun, which Salman could not complete. Seeing the rush print of Buker Bhitorey Agun, Indian director Basu Chatterjee picked Ferdaus to play the protagonist for the joint venture title Hothat Brishti. Indian actress Priyanka Trivedi was paired up with him. The movie became a blockbuster in Bangladesh and Bangla-speaking regions in India.
-With New Age input