Renowned film actress Shabnam has been offered to become a member of the new committee of the Bangladesh Film Certification Board. She asked for two days to consider the offer but later graciously declined, citing her inability and disinterest in taking on the role.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting decided to reconstitute the Censor Board into a new Film Certification Board. This change comes in response to criticisms surrounding censorship in the film sector. The newly formed members of the censor board will serve in the newly constituted certification board. However, with two members having resigned, Shabnam had received a proposal to fill one of the vacant positions.
Shabnam, received an offer to join the Film Certification Board during a phone call on Thursday. She then confirmed her decision to the media herself.
Shabnam said, "An official of the ministry proposed me to become the board member over the phone. But right now my body doesn't allow me to take on such responsibilities. I have to visit the doctor regularly. I don't even get time to think about movies. Still, I'm grateful to the ministry for remembering me, as they could have easily chosen not to consider me as a member."
The legendary actress also said, 'If the body doesn't permit, nothing feels right. I would have loved to be on the board. A few days ago I was offered the post of Chairman of Pakistan Film Development along with a substantial payment. But at this age I don't have the physical ability to take this responsibility. Moreover, I do not want to leave the country and go anywhere else. In the days I have left, I want to stay in my motherland, surrounded by everyone, living joyfully.”
Born on August 17 in 1946 in Dhaka, Shabnam began her career when her father got her admitted into the Bulbul Lalitakala Academy. A close friend of her father got her a role in a dance sequence in the movie “Ei Desh Tomar Amar”. Her next role was as a dancer in the movie “Rajdhanir Bukey”. When the song became a hit, then Ehtesham cast Shabnam as a lead actress. That was when she starred in her Bengali debut film as a heroine, “Harano Din”.
Shabnam was a leading actress in the Pakistani film industry for 28 years. She has been nominated for Nigar awards several times, winning it 13 times (the most for an actress). Shabnam worked in over 180 films, including 152 Urdu films, 14 Bengali, and 4 Punjabi films. Her debut film was a Bengali film. Her first Urdu film, “Chanda” was filmed in Bangladesh.
Shabnam-starrer notable films are “Ayna”, “Nacher Putul”, “Sondhi”, “Sondeho”, “Karon”, “Sohodhormini”, “Shorto”, “Jogajog”, “Juli”, “Bashira”, “Dil”, “Edesh Tomar Amar”, and “Rajdhanir Buke”.
