Salman Shah is a name of a short-lived maestro in the world of entertainment in Bangladesh. This heartthrob of the Bengali film world was born on September 19, 1971. It has been 25 years since the death of this popular hero on September 6, 1996. Even then, his popularity did not diminish in the hearts of cinephiles. This actor is also remembered by the actors and actresses of this generation. Let's reminisce about Salman Shah with some of his best films and his life stories.
Salman Shah: A look back at a legend
His birthplace is at Daria Para in Sylhet. Currently, the house is known as the Salman Shah Bhaban. Shahriar Chowdhury Emon is the eldest son of Komar Uddin Chowdhury and Neela Chowdhury. This Emon became Salman Shah at the time of working in the film ‘Qeyamat Theke Qeyamat’.
Salman Shah started his education at Boyra Model High School in Khulna district where the actress Moushumi also studied. After matriculating from Dhanmondi Arab Mission School in Dhaka in 1987, he was admitted to Adamjee Cantonment College for Intermediate. He later completed B.Com. from Maleka Science College, Dhanmondi, now known as Dr Maleka University College.
On August 12, 1992, Salman got married to beauty parlour businesswoman Samira Haque.
Salman's appearance on the TV screen through modelling in the music video of the song 'Namti Chhilo Tar Opurbo' sung by Hanif Sanket in a popular magazine show named ‘Kothar Kotha’.
Salman Shah started working on the drama through the 1985 TV drama 'Akash Chhoya'. Then in 1993, he entered the world of cinema through 'Qeyamat Theke Qeyamat'. Since then, he has acted in a total of 27 movies, all of which have been commercial successes.
This young star of the film world died September 6, 1996, at the age of 25 at his residence in Eskaton, Dhaka. His mysterious death caused quite a stir across the country. In a police investigation on February 24, 2020, suicide was finally declared as the cause of his death.
On January 17, 2016, Salman Shah was posthumously honoured at the 'AJAHICAF Performance Award 2016' organized by the Asian Journalist Human Rights and Cultural Foundation.
7 best movies starring Salman Shah
Qeyamat Theke Qeyamat (1993)
This remake of the then Bollywood hit 'Qeyamat Se Qeyamat Tak' was made under the direction of renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker Sohanur Rahman Sohan.
It is an innocent love story of a young man and a woman of two dominant families quarrelling in the village. In contrast to Salman, who played the role of Raj, the actress Moushumi played the role of Reshmi. The Salman-Moushumi duo made their debut through this film.
During the making of the movie, Salman was offered to work on a remake of the Hindi film 'Sanam Bewafa'. But out of keen interest in 'Qeyamat Se Qeyamat Tak', Salman showed his eagerness to work in the movie 'Qeyamat Theke Qeyamat'.
Anondo Osru (1997)
The movie is all about a love triangle directed by Shibli Sadiq. Salman Shah's bohemian and song-lover Performance is widely acclaimed. The glamour girl Shabnur played the role of 'Dola' opposite him.
This movie based on tragedy won the hearts of thousands of viewers at that time. Even today, every community of the Dhallywood industry finds the success of naming with the story of this movie.
Shopner Nayok (1997)
This film, dialogue made by Ali Hassan and directed by Nasir Khan, is one of the best romantic Bangladeshi movies of the 90s. The co-artist of Salman was Shabnur, the busiest heroine of that time.
The movie came to the theatres after the death of Salman Shah. Due to his death, significant changes were made in the movie plot. Contemporary actor Amin Khan gained a lot of viewers by working on this unfinished film of Salman.
Tumi Amar (1994)
Another blockbuster 'Tumi Amar' starring Salman Shah directed by Tamizuddin Rizvi and Zahirul Haque. Zahirul Haque died after making some parts of the film. Later Tamizuddin Rizvi finished the rest of the work.
Salman played the role of 'Akash', a talented but unemployed youth. Shabnur has acted as the heroine in the film.
This was Salman Shah's second film in his acting career. And this was the first work of the Shabnur with him.
Shujon Shokhi (1994)
Shah Alam Kiron remade the famous black-and-white film Shujon Shokhi (1975) directed by Khan Ataur Rahman on the colour screen. Instead of the Farooq-Kobori duo, this time Salman-Shabnur played the title role. After working with several urban characters, Salman Shah also showed his skills in this rustic love story.
The songs, which have already become very popular, have firmly taken place in the hearts of the viewers through this movie. The song 'Shob Shokhire Par Korite' is still hummed by people.
Bikkhob (1994)
This film, a landmark in the history of Bangladeshi Cinema, remarkably highlighted the situation of student politics. Mohommod Hannan directed this contemporary movie with the suspense-rich story of Farida Hossain.
The Salman-Shabnur duo's outstanding performance captivated the audience and movie critics. Salman Shah played the role named Anik who is a dedicated student activist and aware of the rights of students.
Shopner Thikana (1995)
Directed by MA Khaleq, it is the second most profitable movie in Bangladesh.
Salman Shah's character name was Sumon. As his main co-artist in the movie, Shabnur played the role of 'Sumi'. The Salman-Shabnur duo's popularity peaked after this film.
The film set a milestone in the traditional rich-poor love story-based film. Accordingly, this film is considered to be at the top of popularity after 'Beder Meye Josna'.
The Bengali version of Hindi music has been around since then and it was pretty well accepted by the cinema lovers of Bangladesh. The Bengali version of the Bollywood hit song 'Neel Samundar' became very popular in this movie.
In a nutshell
The short-lived maestro created a unique position in the film industry by virtue of his own style of acting. Though his film career spanned only three years, no one could replace his place to date. Just as viewers still miss him on the silver screen, filmmakers feel Salman Shah at the moment of directing any hero.
On the day of Salman’s death, a report about him was published in the world-famous Time magazine's Talk of the Street, where his death was compared to the death of world-renowned actress Marilyn Monroe.
