Humayun Ahmed: at the home he built with a lot of love, Nuhash Polli.

Arriving on the literary scene with novels like “Nondito Noroke” and “Shonkhonil Karagar”, Humayun Ahmed was an immediate favourite among readers. His skills with the pen did not go unnoticed by the critics, as he became the recipient of the prestigious Bangla Academy award at an early age, and the Ekushey Padak later in his life.
The author, who enjoyed unprecedented levels of popularity, also won accolades as a playwright and director. He created timeless classics like “Kothao Keu Nei”, “Bohubrihi”, “Oyomoy” and “Eishob Dinratri” for the television, while making a new record for National Film Awards with his celluloid feature “Aguner Poroshmoni”.
The creator of literary characters like Himu, Misir Ali and Shubhro breathed his last on July 19, 2012, while undergoing medical treatment in New York. On his first death anniversary today, many stars who worked with the maestro gave their take on how he had influenced their lives.

Jayanta Chattapaddhay:
As far as I can tell, I've worked with Humayun Ahmed in almost all his projects – be it TV dramas or films. Our relationship was not confined to the artiste-director label. We were very close. There were only a few people who would address Humayun Ahmed as 'tumi'; I was one of those few. There are countless memories with him that I cherish. It's hard to even imagine that he is gone. We had wonderful chitchats during the shooting of “Ghetuputro Komola”. I've never met a more knowledgeable person than him. I miss him every step of my life.

Munmun Ahmed:
My first work with Humayun Ahmed was in the drama “Shawkat Shaheber Gaari Kena”. I went on to do many more TV plays with him. We had so many memorable conversations during the shooting for “Amar Achhe Jol” in Sylhet. My final work with him was in “Ghetuputro Komola”. Humayun Ahmed had a long standing relationship with my family, and we saw him as a guardian. Whenever I visited Nuhash Palli, he would show me the trees that he had collected. He once gave me lychees from his tree and advised that I should make 'Achaar' with the sour ones. I get emotional whenever I talk about him. A person like him needed to be with us for a longer time.

Zahid Hassan:
In my acting career, most of the TV dramas that brought me the most popularity were directed by Humayun Ahmed. I was fortunate enough to be close to such a talented person. There was a time when we grew very close. His addas always kept everyone in good spirits during shooting breaks. My performance in his “Srabon Megher Din” won me a National Film Award. I also worked in “Amar Achhe Jol”. It's a strange feeling to realise that a year has passed since he left us.

Shadhin Khoshru:
The credit for my identity as an actor belongs completely to Humayun Ahmed. He brought me to the world of acting. There was a time, when I was in all of his dramas and films. I had the chance to travel to many countries with him. He was not only a popular author-playwright, he was also a wonderful human being. I learned a lot from him. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that Humayun Ahmed is no more. I feel like I've lost a guardian.