Abu Nur Muhammad Ehteshamul Haq (1927 – 17 February 2002), known as Captain Ehtesham, was a Bangladeshi and Pakistani film director. On his death in 2002 he was described as a pioneer of the film industry in Dhaka, and one of Bangladesh's leading directors.^[1]

Birth and early life

Ehtesham was born in Dhaka on 12 October 1927. His father, Mohammad Yusuf, was a professor at Islamia College and his mother, Mosammat Kaniz Fatema, was a house wife.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Ehtesham first became a film cinema distributor in 1950. He was credited with the discovery of many noted actors.^[1] In 1956 he began his first film, Ei Desh Tomar Amar ("This country is yours and mine"), which marked the first film acting appearance for both Subhash Dutta^[2] and Shabnam.^[3] He made successful films in Urdu and then, after the independence of Bangladesh, in Bengali. Another discovery was actor Nadeem, who later married Ehtesham's daughter.^[1] Ehtesham directed Nadeem and actress Shabana in Nadeem's debut (and Shabana's first Urdu film) Chakori in 1967.^[4][5] He also launched two other successful actresses - Shabnur in Chandni Raatey (1993) and Munmun in Moumachi (1996).

Filmography