Iconic television anchor Hanif Sanket tells Mushfique Wadud that he would not have made such a tremendous journey with now 21-year-old television show Ityadi without the love of the people of Bangladesh
Rickshaw puller Monir Ahmed has been blind since birth. He, his wife and their son live in the village of Modhupur under Rampur in Feni.
Monir’s son Sharif Ahmed can see and little Sharif provides Monir the assistance to manage his livelihood. As Monir cannot see, Sharif shows him the way when he pulls the rickshaw. Monir comes to Feni town with the prospect of higher earnings. His wife and daughter live in their home town where his wife works as a maidservant. As they have no place to stay in town, Monir and his son spend the nights at different construction sites in Feni town.
The poor rickshaw puller and his feeble rickshaw pulling with his son was seen in the Ityadi variety television show on its 21st anniversary programme. Monir was given Taka one lakh from Ityadi for his children’s education and living expenses.
This is a unique characteristic of Ityadi which turned 21 this year. The programme’s main attraction is its anchor Hanif Sanket. Hanif Sanket believes artists have some social commitments, which is why social awareness programmes have been telecasted on Ityadi from the very beginning, though it is an entertainment television show. ‘I prefer a social awareness documentary for my social responsibilities. Irregularities in society hurt me. But I cannot do anything against them since I have no administrative powers. So I try to make people aware with the help of Ityadi,’ says Hanif Sanket.
Sanket first appeared in the media in the early 80’s. He started with comic skits on Fazle Lohani’s variety show ‘Jodi Kichhu Mone Na Koren’ (‘If You Don’t Mind’). Sanket’s variety television show Ityadi (Etcetera) was first telecast on Bangladesh Television in 1989. From that time Ityadi has been telecasted without any change of anchor or format. Ityadi is the sole BTV programme that has been telecasted with the same anchor for such a long time.
‘Sometimes I myself cannot find a clue as to how I made such a long journey. Then I find the answer – the people of Bangladesh love me and this love helps me reach such milestones,’ he says.
Ityadi was shown twice in a month in 1989 when it first started. After two years it became a monthly programme and now it is telecast every fifth Friday. ‘I believe in quality, not quantity. Now I am very conscious of the quality of Ityadi, so there are gaps between the programmes now,’ Sanket says.
The veteran presenter believes every work should have some output. ‘The audience’s time is valuable, so we cannot telecast whatever we like. Every programme must have a message,’ he says. Mainly for that reason he does not want to give interviews as he does not like the interview format in Bangladesh. ‘You will see most of the interviews are about celebrities’ very personal matters. Journalists ask about his or her favourite food, about his or her favourite hobby and so on and so forth with which readers have no benefits. And I always avoid such interviews. I believe you have to be creative even when you are taking an interview,’ he explains.
For television programmes, there is measuring system to judge which is the most popular programme on all the channels – the top rated programmes (TRP) ratings. Ityadi has always been ranked first in TRP ratings. TRP also includes private channels’ programming. In spite of having some popular programmes on private channels, Ityadi has held its place at the top for a long time. ‘In our country many producers claim their programmes are the most popular. But in TRP ratings they are invisible. Ashole ami kothay na kaje bishashi (I believe not in words but in work).’
For its 21st anniversary programme, Hanif Sanket arranged Ityadi at the Lalbagh Fort premises. Ityadi is the first programme that has been shot on the premises of Lalbagh Fort. Like Lalbagh, Sanket always shows innovation even in selecting sites. ‘When I first wanted to arrange a programme at Bangladesh China friendship Conference Centre, its authorities said they could not give me permission for security concerns. But I insisted and got permission. Now the centre’s authorities are making profit by giving it for rent,’ he says. In the past, variety shows were shot in any indoor hall. Hanif changed the system by doing shootings in different outdoor locations.
Ityadi and Hanif Sanket have many achievements. In May 2007 ARTE television’s producer Mathew Sarfaty and cinematographer Paul Paskan visited Bangladesh to make a documentary on Ityadi and Hanif Sanket. ARTE television authorities picked Ityadi from the most popular programmes from 40 countries and showed this documentary in France and Germany.
Sanket works hard for the script. On Ityadi, most of Sanket’s dialogues are in rhyme. He speaks with reference to literature, an indicator of his letter marks in Bangla in his Secondary examination.
Hanif Sanket has interviewed many celebrities from home and abroad in Ityadi including Shah Rukh Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Wasim Akram, Saurav Ganguly and many others.
From the beginning, Ityadi was telecast on Bangladesh Television. Even with so many private television channels today, Ityadi remains telecast on BTV. ‘I want to give messages through Ityadi. The number of viewers is important for this purpose, which makes BTV the best option,’ says Sanket.
Sanket has also directed dramas that were highly praised by critics and viewers alike. His ideas about drama are distinctive. He believes directors should give social awareness messages through their works. He also talks about the recent trend of dramas. ‘At present a group of so-called media figures try to bring vulgarity in dramas. We should beware of them,’ he says.
‘Once I was watching a drama. The scene was of a girl and a boy talking in a room. Then the girl’s mobile starts ringing. The girl says to the boy “Stop, stop. My father is calling.” Then the girl tells her father that she is in class. After telling the lie they hug each other. What was the message the drama gave?’ he asks. He also objects to the recent trend of directors of using languages that are not up to standard. ‘Any one can speak rough language but it cannot be language for drama since people follow the language of drama,’ he says.
Apart from an excellent job with Ityadi, Hanif proves his innovativeness in other tasks. He gives programme ideas to different private channels. He made a programme for the occasion of Ekushey television’s first anniversary named ‘Ekusheyr Halkhata’ which is copied even now for the programme of any television’s anniversary programme. He used to direct and present ‘Meril Prothom Alo’ taroka jorip’ award show. The show was very popular because of him.
Many private channels’ slogans were given by Sanket as well. He came up with ATN Bangla’s slogan, ‘Abirum banglar mukh’, NTV’s ‘Shomoyer sathey agameer pothey’. He has also performed in some movies. In personal life Hanif is married with a son, Fagune and a daughter, Bornona.
Sanket interviewed Goher Ali, a beggar in the village of Sikarpur of Naogaon district as part of Ityadi’s 21st anniversary special. Ali manages his livelihood by taking rice, lentil and different things as alms. Along with them he also takes ‘taler aatee’ (palm seeds) as alms. With these seeds he nurtures 12,000 trees in Rajshahi and Naogaon highway, creating a greener Naogaon. Ityadi, living up to reputation as a social conscience, honoured the man with a cheque for taka two lakh. In the interview, Ali says ‘I want to die peacefully.’ Sanket replies, ‘We want you to live forever’.
Monir’s son Sharif Ahmed can see and little Sharif provides Monir the assistance to manage his livelihood. As Monir cannot see, Sharif shows him the way when he pulls the rickshaw. Monir comes to Feni town with the prospect of higher earnings. His wife and daughter live in their home town where his wife works as a maidservant. As they have no place to stay in town, Monir and his son spend the nights at different construction sites in Feni town.
The poor rickshaw puller and his feeble rickshaw pulling with his son was seen in the Ityadi variety television show on its 21st anniversary programme. Monir was given Taka one lakh from Ityadi for his children’s education and living expenses.
This is a unique characteristic of Ityadi which turned 21 this year. The programme’s main attraction is its anchor Hanif Sanket. Hanif Sanket believes artists have some social commitments, which is why social awareness programmes have been telecasted on Ityadi from the very beginning, though it is an entertainment television show. ‘I prefer a social awareness documentary for my social responsibilities. Irregularities in society hurt me. But I cannot do anything against them since I have no administrative powers. So I try to make people aware with the help of Ityadi,’ says Hanif Sanket.
Sanket first appeared in the media in the early 80’s. He started with comic skits on Fazle Lohani’s variety show ‘Jodi Kichhu Mone Na Koren’ (‘If You Don’t Mind’). Sanket’s variety television show Ityadi (Etcetera) was first telecast on Bangladesh Television in 1989. From that time Ityadi has been telecasted without any change of anchor or format. Ityadi is the sole BTV programme that has been telecasted with the same anchor for such a long time.
‘Sometimes I myself cannot find a clue as to how I made such a long journey. Then I find the answer – the people of Bangladesh love me and this love helps me reach such milestones,’ he says.
Ityadi was shown twice in a month in 1989 when it first started. After two years it became a monthly programme and now it is telecast every fifth Friday. ‘I believe in quality, not quantity. Now I am very conscious of the quality of Ityadi, so there are gaps between the programmes now,’ Sanket says.
The veteran presenter believes every work should have some output. ‘The audience’s time is valuable, so we cannot telecast whatever we like. Every programme must have a message,’ he says. Mainly for that reason he does not want to give interviews as he does not like the interview format in Bangladesh. ‘You will see most of the interviews are about celebrities’ very personal matters. Journalists ask about his or her favourite food, about his or her favourite hobby and so on and so forth with which readers have no benefits. And I always avoid such interviews. I believe you have to be creative even when you are taking an interview,’ he explains.
For television programmes, there is measuring system to judge which is the most popular programme on all the channels – the top rated programmes (TRP) ratings. Ityadi has always been ranked first in TRP ratings. TRP also includes private channels’ programming. In spite of having some popular programmes on private channels, Ityadi has held its place at the top for a long time. ‘In our country many producers claim their programmes are the most popular. But in TRP ratings they are invisible. Ashole ami kothay na kaje bishashi (I believe not in words but in work).’
For its 21st anniversary programme, Hanif Sanket arranged Ityadi at the Lalbagh Fort premises. Ityadi is the first programme that has been shot on the premises of Lalbagh Fort. Like Lalbagh, Sanket always shows innovation even in selecting sites. ‘When I first wanted to arrange a programme at Bangladesh China friendship Conference Centre, its authorities said they could not give me permission for security concerns. But I insisted and got permission. Now the centre’s authorities are making profit by giving it for rent,’ he says. In the past, variety shows were shot in any indoor hall. Hanif changed the system by doing shootings in different outdoor locations.
Ityadi and Hanif Sanket have many achievements. In May 2007 ARTE television’s producer Mathew Sarfaty and cinematographer Paul Paskan visited Bangladesh to make a documentary on Ityadi and Hanif Sanket. ARTE television authorities picked Ityadi from the most popular programmes from 40 countries and showed this documentary in France and Germany.
Sanket works hard for the script. On Ityadi, most of Sanket’s dialogues are in rhyme. He speaks with reference to literature, an indicator of his letter marks in Bangla in his Secondary examination.
Hanif Sanket has interviewed many celebrities from home and abroad in Ityadi including Shah Rukh Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Wasim Akram, Saurav Ganguly and many others.
From the beginning, Ityadi was telecast on Bangladesh Television. Even with so many private television channels today, Ityadi remains telecast on BTV. ‘I want to give messages through Ityadi. The number of viewers is important for this purpose, which makes BTV the best option,’ says Sanket.
Sanket has also directed dramas that were highly praised by critics and viewers alike. His ideas about drama are distinctive. He believes directors should give social awareness messages through their works. He also talks about the recent trend of dramas. ‘At present a group of so-called media figures try to bring vulgarity in dramas. We should beware of them,’ he says.
‘Once I was watching a drama. The scene was of a girl and a boy talking in a room. Then the girl’s mobile starts ringing. The girl says to the boy “Stop, stop. My father is calling.” Then the girl tells her father that she is in class. After telling the lie they hug each other. What was the message the drama gave?’ he asks. He also objects to the recent trend of directors of using languages that are not up to standard. ‘Any one can speak rough language but it cannot be language for drama since people follow the language of drama,’ he says.
Apart from an excellent job with Ityadi, Hanif proves his innovativeness in other tasks. He gives programme ideas to different private channels. He made a programme for the occasion of Ekushey television’s first anniversary named ‘Ekusheyr Halkhata’ which is copied even now for the programme of any television’s anniversary programme. He used to direct and present ‘Meril Prothom Alo’ taroka jorip’ award show. The show was very popular because of him.
Many private channels’ slogans were given by Sanket as well. He came up with ATN Bangla’s slogan, ‘Abirum banglar mukh’, NTV’s ‘Shomoyer sathey agameer pothey’. He has also performed in some movies. In personal life Hanif is married with a son, Fagune and a daughter, Bornona.
Sanket interviewed Goher Ali, a beggar in the village of Sikarpur of Naogaon district as part of Ityadi’s 21st anniversary special. Ali manages his livelihood by taking rice, lentil and different things as alms. Along with them he also takes ‘taler aatee’ (palm seeds) as alms. With these seeds he nurtures 12,000 trees in Rajshahi and Naogaon highway, creating a greener Naogaon. Ityadi, living up to reputation as a social conscience, honoured the man with a cheque for taka two lakh. In the interview, Ali says ‘I want to die peacefully.’ Sanket replies, ‘We want you to live forever’.
