Due to the non-cooperation and oppression of the authority, he could only make four feature films from 1964 to 1988. He does not consider the films made before 1964 as 'proper films' in his standard. It was in 1964 that his name spread all over the world as a master filmmaker with the international release of his sublimely beautiful masterpiece Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors. It is a tragic love story that poetically recreated the folklore and traditions of a Carpathian village in Ukraine. It reveals a sensitive feeling for nature and landscape. It won many international awards and the whole world started looking towards him in appreciation.

His 'second' feature The Colour of Pomegranates was made in 1969, but he was forced to abandon the editing. The film, however, was edited by another filmmaker, Sergei Yutkevich and was released in 1971. It is dedicated to the 18th century Armenian poet Arution Sayadian known as Sayat Nova. It uses excellently the traditionally picturesque Armenian places and landscapes. It also uses colourful Armenian costumes, robes and musical instruments to have a mystical and surrealistic effect.

The Legend of the Suram Fortress was made in 1984. It is a series of episodes integrated in mood and feeling and characteristically poetic in approach.

His last film Ashik Kerib (1988) is dedicated to Andrei Tarkovsky, the world renowned Russian filmmaker and tells the tale of Ashik, a Turkish minstrel and his frustrated love. The visuals are exquisitely breathtaking and his adherence to rich style typical of his films is very much visible.

It is a pity that Paradjanov could not make more than 'four' feature films in his career. He was accused by the authority of having practised immoral activities and illegal trafficking of old and valuable antiques. He was sentenced to several years' imprisonment. But due to international protest, the authority had to release him from jail.

Sergei Paradjanov was born on 9th January 1924 in Tiflis (Tbilisi), in the then Soviet Georgia. He studied music for four years (1942-45). Then, he went to Moscow Film Institute, from where he graduated in 1951. Moldavian Fairy Tale (1951) was his graduation filwm, though short in length. He had made several films before 1964, but disowns these films. Paradjanov died in Yerevan, Armenia, of cancer, on 20th July 1990.

Zahir Raihan Film Society, in association with the Russian Cultural Centre in Dhaka, will screen three famous feature films made by Paradjanov and thus, will pay its tribute to this great filmmaker. These films will be screened at the auditoruim of the Russian Cultural Centre at Road No. 7, Dhanmondi as per schedule given below:

Sunday, 11 January: A Chef in Love by Nana Djordjadze at 4:30 pm and The Colour of Pomegranates by Sergei Paradjanov at 6:30 pm.

Monday, 12 January: The Legend of the Suram Fortress by Sergei Paradjanov at 5:00 pm and Ashik Kerib by Sergei Paradjanov at 6:30 pm.

Sabbir Chowdhury, a film activist and critic, teaches in the department of English at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka.