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Today is the first anniversary of the death of legendary film director, producer, lyricist, screenwriter and music director Gazi Mazharul Anwar.

Gazi Mazharul Anwar was born on February 22, 1943 to lawyer Mozammel Hossain and Khodeja Begum in Daudkandi, Cumilla.He entered the cultural arena in 1963-64 with radio and television as his vehicle. In 1967, he began writing playback songs for films.

Gazi Mazharul Anwar wrote over 25,000 songs till date — highest number of songs written by an individual in this subcontinent.

Numerous patriotic songs like Ek nadi rakto periye, Swajan harano diner smarane, Ektara tui desher katha, Ekbar jete dena, Amay jadi proshno koro and others were penned by him right after the country gained its independence.

Besides these songs, super hit film songs like Hayre hay miss Lanka, Chokher nazar emni koira, Onek shadhonar pore ami, Ami rajanigandha phuler moto, Ei mon tomake dilam, Aguner din shesh hobe ekdin, Shobai to bhalobasha chay and others are the gifts that Bangladesh music industry got from Gazi Mazharul Anwar.

He was the lyricist of numerous popular films, namely Bhat De, Orunodoyer Ogni Shakkhi, Biyer Phul, Madam Phuli, Dipu Number Two, Beder Meye Jyotsna, Premer Tajmahal, Phul Nebo Na Osru Nebo and others.

He has directed and produced more than 30 films including Shasti, Khuda, Samor, Amma, Jibaner Golpo and others.
He wrote playback songs for more than five decades. For his contribution to the music and film industry Gazi Mazharul Anwar has been awarded with countless awards along with prestigious National Film Award in the best lyricist category for six times in 1992, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2016.

He also worked at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War. For writing Joy Bangla Banglar Joy, he received the first President Award in Bangladesh from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Among other prestigious awards, he won Zia Gold Medal, Ekushey Padak and Independence Award.