Veteran film editor-director and television drama maker Saidul Anam Tutul died yesterday at the age of 68. He was admitted to a city hospital and later put on life support after suffering a heart attack on Saturday night.

Born in 1950 in Old Dhaka, Tutul was a filmmaker, film editor, film society movement activist and freedom fighter. After the Liberation War in 1971, he was a student of business studies in Dhaka University. In his connection to film society movement, he got a scholarship from ICCR for studying film editing in Film and Television Institute in Pune, India. After completing his study in film editing, he returned to the country in 1978.

Upon returning home, Tutul took the responsibility of editing the film ‘Surja Dighal Bari’, one of the best films of all time in the history of Bangladesh cinema. Ultimately, his hard work and dedication for the film paid off as he was awarded the prestigious National Film Award in the category of best film editor for ‘Surja Dighal Bari’ in 1979.

He also edited a few more popular films like Syed Salahuddin Zaki’s ‘Ghuddi’, Sheikh Neyamat Ali-directed ‘Dahan’, Morshedhul Islam’s ‘Agami’, ‘Dhukhai’ and ‘Dipu Number 2’.

Tutul made debut as a filmmaker in 2003 with his maiden film ‘Adhiyar’. Set against the backdrop of Tebhaga movement, initiated in Bengal by the Kisan Sabha, in 1946–47, the film received positive reviews from both audiences and critics.

On the other hand, Tutul was working on his second directorial venture titled ‘Kal Bela’, which received a grant from the government in the fiscal year 2017-18. He had completed 90 percent of the work of the film, and had planned to shoot the rest of the part in Rajshahi soon.

Tutul also showed his talent in the making of television drama. He directed many important dramas in the history of Bangladesh Television. ‘Nal Piran’, ‘Bokhate’, ‘Seku Sekandar’, 52 Golir Ek Goli’, ‘Apon Ghar’, ‘Gobor Chor’, Helicopter’, ‘Nishi Kabya’ and ‘Aparajita’, among others, are some of the notable dramas were made under his direction.

He also set a new trend as a television commercial (TVC) maker in the country. He made about 400 TVCs in his lifetime.

He was the first general secretary and a lifetime member of the Directors’ Guild, an organisation for television drama directors.  

Tutul is survived by his wife and two daughters, Oishee Anam and Amrita Anan.