The names of the recipients of this year’s Ekushey Padak were announced on Thursday (5 February). This year, nine individuals and one institution are receiving the honour. Legendary actress Farida Akhtar Babita has been awarded the Ekushey Padak for her contribution to cinema. She has dedicated the award to the late filmmaker Zahir Raihan.
Reacting immediately after hearing the news, Babita said, “Even if it’s late, I am very happy to have received the Ekushey Padak.” She added that it feels especially meaningful to receive such a state honour during her lifetime, calling it a matter of great fortune. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the state and to those who finally selected her for the award.
She also said, “My sincere thanks and gratitude go to my fans and audiences. They have always inspired me through their support and care, in good times and bad. It is because of their encouragement that I am the Babita I am today. I am also grateful to the media.”
Babita entered acting under the guidance of Zahir Raihan, which is why she has dedicated the Ekushey Padak to him. She said, “It was through the respected Zahir Raihan that I came into acting and into cinema. So I am dedicating my Ekushey Padak to him with deep respect.”
In 1975, Babita won her first National Film Award for Best Actress for the film ‘Badi Theke Begum’. She went on to receive the same award in 1976 for ‘Nayanmoni’ and in 1977 for ‘Bosundhora’. Later, she won National Film Awards for ‘Ramer Sumati’, ‘Hasan Raja’, ‘Poka Makorer Ghor Bosoti’ (as Best Producer), and ‘Ke Apon Ke Por’.
For her contribution to cinema, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In addition, she has received numerous national and international awards and honors. Babita earned widespread acclaim at home and abroad for her role as ‘Ananga Bou’ in Oscar-winning world-renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s film ‘Ashani Sanket’.
Babita was born on 30 July 1953 in Bagerhat. Her real name is Farida Akhtar Poppy. She made her film debut as a child artist in Zahir Raihan’s film ‘Songsar’ in 1968, where she played the daughter of Razzak and Suchanda. Later, under Zahir Raihan’s direction, she became known as ‘Babita’ through the Urdu film ‘Jaltey Suraj Ke Nichey’.
Babita’s first film as a lead actress was Shesh Porjonto, released on 14 August 1969—the same day her mother passed away. Her co-actor in the film was Razzak. While the popular film ‘Taka Ana Pai’ established her strong position in cinema.
Over a long career, Babita has acted in more than 250 films. Notable titles include ‘Ashani Sanket’, ‘Nishan’, ‘Mintu Amar Naam’, ‘Protigya’, ‘Love in Singapore’, ‘Mayer Jonno Pagol’, ‘Taka Ana Pai’, ‘Swaralipi’, ‘Tinkanya’, ‘Shoshurbari’, ‘Miss Lanka’, ‘Jibon Sangsar’, ‘Laili Majnu’, ‘Golapi Ekhon Train-e’, ‘Lathial, and ‘Jonmo Theke Jolchi’.
