The voice was deep. The gaze was commanding. And when Anwar Hossain appeared as Sirajuddaula, Bengal’s last independent Nawab seemed to step out of history and onto the screen. Decades later, that image remains inseparable from Bangla cinema. For generations, Anwar was not merely an actor. He was the uncrowned Nawab.
Born on 6 November 1931 in a village in Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur, Anwar spent much of his school life in Jamalpur and Mymensingh. His passion for acting grew during his student years. He made his film debut in 1958 with Mohiuddin’s Tomar Amar, followed by Surya Snan, Zahir Raihan’s Kancher Deyal and Kazi Zahir’s Bandhan.
Then came 1967 and Khan Ataur Rahman’s Nawab Sirajuddaula. Anwar’s regal presence, deep voice, restrained expressions and commanding performance made Sirajuddaula unforgettable. The role earned him Pakistan’s prestigious Nigar Award and gave him the title that would follow him for life: the ‘uncrowned Nawab’.
Yet his career stretched far beyond one historic character. From Jibon Theke Neya, Golapi Ekhon Train-e, Lathiyal and Shat Bhai Chompa to political figures, family roles and characters rooted in rural society, he constantly revealed another side of his craft. His appearance in ‘Achen Amar Moktar’ from Golapi Ekhon Train-e remains especially memorable.
Social media later turned his frequent heart-attack death scenes into a running joke, earning him the playful label ‘king of heart attacks’. But no joke can reduce the scale of his contribution.
Anwar won Best Actor at the first National Film Awards in 1975 for Lathiyal and Best Supporting Actor in 1978 for Golapi Ekhon Train-e. He became the first actor to receive the Ekushey Padak in 1988 and received the National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010, alongside honours from Bachsas and other organisations.
He died at Square Hospital in Dhaka on 13 September 2013. The screen lost its Nawab that day. Bangla cinema never lost his presence.
