In Conversation With a Talented Young Director Wahid Anam
YI desk
Wahid Anam is a Bangladeshi American filmmaker, writer and producer along with the founder Director of the SHUNNO ENTERTAINMENT Ltd. He made his directorial debut with a Telefilm named New York in the year of 2011. He became one of the most successful young directors within a very short period of time. Wahid has been awarded several times already. In 2013, he was awarded from Meril-Prothom Alo as best director for his Telefilm PARI. Later in 2014 he was awarded again for another Telefilm named CHINNO from Meril-Prothom Alo. Wahids committing and creative approach for his works gives him a whole different dimensions in his career. YI met with him for an Interview.
When and what made you get into direction?
While I was living in the USA, my elder brother died of heart attack. Then I realized that I need to live with my parents. I also wasnt feeling comfortable living away from them in the USA, specially after by brothers death. So I finished my education and moved back to Bangladesh to live with my parents and started working as a drama director here.
Did you get any institutional training in this field?
I grew up in Sagardi, Barisal Sadar. I passed SSC from Barisal Udayan High School, then moved to Malaysia for my A level. After completing that, I moved in to USA and lived there for six years. I completed my Bachelor in Advertising and marketing communications from Baruch College (New York, USA) , later I did my Masters in Film Making from New York Film Academy.
How would you define the actual role that a director is supposed to play?
In order to be a director I think that a person needs to be a good story teller first and also needs handful knowledge in acting. These are the primary baseline. But as we all know a director is called the captain of the ship, and the captain has to know his ship from every corner so as the director has to have knowledge in all sections in the process of film making.
How would you define your style as a director?
Well, I really dont follow any particular style. I always define my style of storytelling by the script. Whatever the script demands, I usually go on that route.
Whats the hardest part of direction?
Make the story believable to the audience and get the audience hooked with the story that I am visualizing for them.
Beside a director you are a writer and producer, please tell us about that?
As a writer all of my successful projects are written by me and my brother Rana Alam. I always love to write fast moving script. I love creating little moments in the scene.
As a producer some of my assistant directors who are working with me for last four years, couple of them are ready to make dramas now. I am working as a producer for them. A real producer who doesnt just give away money for projects but also supervise it all through.
What do you think the present state of drama in our media industry?
The main problem of our country is that there are lack of script writers. End of the day the audience only remember the story that they have seen not how well we have made it. There are lot of drama directors currently. Many of them are very good when it comes to making. If we can bring some more good script writers, then our drama industry will be on the top.
please tell us about your Remarkable works so far.
From the very beginning of my three years journey in television drama making I have tried telling different kind of stories. It might be a comedy, romance, thriller, social issues, adventures etc. Most of the time I have succeeded.
Dramas that audience has appreciated a lot and critically acclaimed are :
Pari, Chinno, New York, Tomar E Asi, Bondi, Trivuj, Kufa Bibaho, Kinara, Dhoa Nesha
Tell about your current and future projects.
After I have moved back into Bangladesh, I decided myself that first three years I am only going to practice story telling. Thats why I choose the drama industry. As three years are gone and I also think that I am good enough to move into larger scale, because of that I stopped making dramas completely from this year. I have started making TVCs now. Bengal Bucket TVC was my last hit production. Some more are coming soon. One of them is RFL gas stove which has a very emotional story between a son and his mother. Audience will love it, Insallah. I am in pure love with TVC making. Because I can think in a larger scale, be very specific on every shot. There are no time hurries and most importantly I can engage myself in many different stories. I only want to work as a TVC director now along the side I am writing my first commercial feature film On Lonch Sinking.
