Abrar Athar

Abrar Athar
আবরার আতহার
Born
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Alma materNorth South University
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, screenwriter
Notable work
  • Mainka Chipay
  • Ei Muhurte

Abrar Athar is a Bangladeshi filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for Life in Other Words (2017), Koli 2.0 (2018), Mainkar Chipay (2020), and Ei Muhurte (2022).[1][2] He also makes web series and TV commercials.[3][4][5]

Early life

Abrar Athar was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He received his primary education at Sunbeams School in Dhaka and Assam Valley School in India.[6] He graduated from North South University with a degree in Business Administration. He started his career as a copywriter and director at Grey Advertising Dhaka, where he worked on several campaigns for local and international brands.[7] He has also worked in the marketing department for Interspeed and Radio Foorti.[6]

Career

Athar made his debut as a director with Life in Other Words, a short film that explores the lives of three people who work as signboard painters in Dhaka.[8] The film received positive feedback from critics[9][10] and was selected for and won in several international film festivals, including the Dhaka International Film Festival, the Kolkata International Film Festival, the Jaipur International Film Festival, San Jose International Short Film Festival, Bahamas International Film Festival, Around International Film Festival in Paris, Gold Movies Awards in London, Ekadeshma International Short Film Festivaland, and the Seattle South Asian Film Festival.[11] The film also won four awards at the Bioscope Global Film Festival in 2018.[12]

Athar's Koli 2.0 is a web series released in 2018. It stars Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Nawaf Nasser, Sohan Rahman, Pijus Bandyopadhay, and Irfan Sajjad.[13]

In 2020, Athar directed Mainkar Chipay, a musical thriller film that revolves around a drug dealer, a policeman, and a rickshaw driver who get involved in a cat-and-mouse game on one night.[14][15] The film was produced by ZEE5 Global, being the first Bangladeshi content on the platform,[16] and starred Afran Nisho, Shamol Mawla, and Sariful Razz. The film was praised for its innovative use of music, cinematography, and editing.[17]

Athar directed Adhkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan, a musical film that tells the story of Arnob.[18][19] The film was presented by Daraz Bangladesh. The film was released on Chorki in September 2021.[20]

In 2022, Athar was one of the three directors for the Bangladeshi anthology film, "Ei Muhurte".[21][22] The film was produced by Chorki. Each director contributed a segment to the film, with Athar's segment titled "Swapno" (Dream). The film received positive reviews and was praised for its unique storytelling and cinematography.[23][24]

Athar's latest film is reportedly in the making since February 2023, titled "Babu Number 1", starring Afran Nisho in the lead.[25]

He is the founder of Medium Rare, a boutique creative agency, and Little Big Films, a film production company in Bangladesh.[6]

Personal life

Athar is married to Aneire Khan, a fashion designer, vocalist, entrepreneur.[26] His favorite directors are Martin Scorsese and Danny Boyle.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Abrar Athar's top-secret project with Afran Nisho". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  2. ^ "'এই মুহূর্তে'র তিন পরিচালক" [Three directors of "Ei Muhurte"]. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  3. ^ "Abrar Athar". The Daily Star. 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  4. ^ এখন থেকে আমাকে নিয়মিত নির্মাণে পাওয়া যাবে: আবরার [Abrar will be seen regularly from now on]. Channel i (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  5. ^ "Abrar Athar's 'Life in Other Words' tells story of typical Bangladeshi family". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  6. ^ a b c "Abrar Athar Biography". ICOM Network. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  7. ^ Coca-Cola Bangladesh WC TVC, retrieved 2023-04-20
  8. ^ "Abrar Athar". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  9. ^ "Athar's 'Life in Other Words' receives international recognition". Dhaka Tribune. 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  10. ^ "A unique glance on middle class Bangladeshi life". The Asian Age. Bangladesh. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  11. ^ Khan, Rubab Nayeem (2017-12-05). "This month, we raise the curtains on Abrar Athar's Life in Other Words, a short film which captures the struggles of a deshi middle class family". Ice Today. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  12. ^ "Abrar Athar: Your films should be the representation of you". Dhaka Tribune. 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  13. ^ "Koli 2.0 (2018)". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  14. ^ স্বাধীনের দারুণ শুরু. Channel i (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  15. ^ "Mainkar Chipay, starring Afran Nisho now streaming on ZEE5 Global". Business Insider Bangladesh. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  16. ^ "'Mainkar Chipay': First Bangladeshi original launched on ZEE5 Global". United News of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  17. ^ "First Bangladeshi Original streaming now on OTT". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  18. ^ "2021: A successful year for OTT platforms, web series". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  19. ^ চেনা অচেনা অর্ণব, স্ট্রিমিংয়ের অপেক্ষায় ভক্তরা. Channel i (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  20. ^ "Abrar Athar demonstrates what a larger than life artist Arnob is". The Business Standard. 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  21. ^ এক সিনেমা, তিন পরিচালক; চরকিতে আসছে নতুন চমক. Channel i (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  22. ^ 'এই মুহূর্তে' তিন সময়ের তিন পরিচালক. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  23. ^ "Chorki film 'Ei Muhurte' helmed by three directors". Dhaka Tribune. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  24. ^ এক ঝাঁক অভিনেতা ও তিনটি গল্পের 'এই মুহূর্তে' ["Ei Muhurte" three stories with an ensemble cast]. Channel i (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  25. ^ 'বাবু নাম্বার ওয়ান' নিয়ে বড় পর্দায় আসছেন আবরার. deshrupantor.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  26. ^ "'Adhkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan': the duality within Arnob's odyssey". Dhaka Courier. Retrieved 2023-04-20. Aneire Khan (backing vocalist, Abrar's wife and Arnob's childhood buddy
  27. ^ Mustafa, Aporajita (2019-01-11). "Abrar Athar". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2023-04-20.