Sara Zaker
 |
Sara Zaker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Education | MA (English) |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse | Aly Zaker |
| Children |
|
Sara Zaker is a Bangladeshi theater and television actor, director, business entrepreneur and social activist.[1]
Early life & Family
Zaker is the daughter of Late Major Salauddin Mohammad Amin & retired school teacher Alia Amin. Sara Zaker married to famous stage actor Aly Zaker.[2] Aly Zaker is a director in Bangladeshi National Television drama and theater. He is also a writer,[3] freedom fighter and a well known business entrepreneur. They have two children, Iresh Zaker and Sriya Sharbojaya. Sriya is associate executive director of Asiatic EXP. Iresh Zaker[4] is executive director of Asiatic MCL and also a well known actor and entrepreneur. Initially Zaker started off in the field of hard core science with a major in Biochemistry. She completed her BA Honors and Masters from Dhaka University in English Literature. She was also trained at the British Theater Institute in 1981.
Acting career
Zaker has been active on the stage as an actor since 1973. She works with Nagorik Natya Sampradaya, a leading theater group of Bangladesh. Some of the notable dramas she has acted in Bangladesh are –
- Baaki Itihash (1973)
- Bidogdha Ramonikul (1973) - Adaptation of Molière’s Les Femmes Savantes
- Ei Nishiddo Pollite (1973) - Adaptation of Edward Albee’s Everything in the Garden
- Cross Purpose (1973) - Adaptation of Albert Camus’s Le Malentendu
- Bohi Peer (1974)
- Dewan Gaazir Kissa (1977)
- Shot Manusher Khoje (1976)- Adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechwan
- Shahjahan (1978)
- Copeniker Captain (1980) - Adaptation of Carl Zuckmayer’s The Captain of Kopenick
- Nuruldiner Shara Jibon (1981)
- Macbeth - Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
- Kobor Diye Dao - Adaptation of Irwin Shaw’s Bury the Dead
- Irsha
- Adaptation of Anton Chekov’s The Sea Gull
- Kathal bagan - Adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard
- Naam Gotrohin – Manto’r Meyera (2014)
She also directed Ariel Dorfman's "Death and the Maiden" and Anton Chekhov's The Sea Gull.
Amongst Zaker's Television, Radio and print media associations; some notables which are currently[when?] running are -
- Sara Zaker is running a column - ‘Shubondhu Shomipeshu’ on one of the highly read Bangla newspaper - Prothom Alo –“NOKSHA” from 2000.
- Sara Zaker is anchoring ‘AMI EKHON KI KORBO’ – A talk show airing on Bangla Vision Channel.
- Sara Zaker conducts a Radio Show on Radio Shadhin name ‘Tumi Bolo Amra Shunchi’.
She was invited to perform on various platforms outside Bangladesh as well. Some notable performance are –
- India - On different festivals of India (Bohurupi- twice, Nandipat- twice) on invitation of I.C.C.
- U.S.A - On Bengal Conference and on tour of Nagorik.
- Japan - For raising fund for Liberation War Museum.
- Australia - For raising fund for Liberation War Museum
- Pakistan - Co-production by 2 organizations, BITA (Chittagong), AJOKA (Lahore) directed shows in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Dhaka, and Chittagong.
Corporate career
Sara Zaker's professional career began in 1995 in the field of Market Research. She is working as the project head of Nayantara Communications since its inception in 2004.[5] Nayantara is the co-producer of Sesame Workshop New York in producing Sisimpur, the Bengali edition of the Sesame Street. She is the Managing Director of Asiatic 360,[6] director of Asiatic Events Marketing Limited, and the managing director of Ddhoni Chitra Ltd.[7][8] Asiatic 360 is a group of company consisting
- MRC - Mode
- Asiatic MCL
- Talking Point
- Asiatic EXP
- Footprints
- Ddhani - Chitra
- Nayantara
- Radio Shadin 92.4 FM
- Forethought PR
- MAXUS
- Mindshare
- Mediaedge Consultant
Communication for Development
Zaker has led many campaigns and projects related to both male and female rights, women health, family planning and environmental issues. Some notable projects she led are -
- Accelerating progress towards Maternal and Neonatal mortality and Morbidity reduction UNICEF - 2009.
- Advocacy Activity for FP & RH through print and electronic Media UNFPA – 2009
- “Jibon-O-Jibika” Save the Children – USA.
- Male & Female Reproductive Health Campaign (Marie Stopes Clinic Society).
- “Safe Water Campaign” (IDA).
- Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) Communication Campaign UNICEF- Bangladesh.
- Arsenic Mitigation Campaign UNICEF- Bangladesh.
- Emergency Preparedness Awareness World Health Organization - WHO
- Prevention and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking in Bangladesh International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Awareness on Human Trafficking International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Safe Migration International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Comprehensive information campaign to enhance public awareness on safe migration in Bangladesh International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Women Migration Campaign International Organization for Migration – IOM.
Other Association
- Sara Zaker is a founder member of the Board of Trustees of Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh.[9]
- Sara Zaker is the Secretary of Nagorik Natya Sampradaya (Workshop & Training Organization & Cultural Affairs).
- Sara Zaker is Secretariat-In-Charge Dramatic Theater Committee, I.T.I (International Theater Institute).
- Sara Zaker is the presidium member Dramatic Theater Committee, I.T.I (International Theater Institute).
- Sara Zaker is special Honorable Member of Bangladesh Group Theater Federation.
- Sara Zaker is ex Chairperson of Secretariat Body, Bangladesh Group Theater Federation.
Awards
- Sequence Award for Acting – Given by Alamgir Kabir in 1975.
- Ananna Shirsho Dosh’95
- Bishishtho Nattojon – Loko Natto Goshthi’ 2014
- Inspiring Change – Appreciation for the contribution towards inspiring change in the society in positive manner.
- Srijan Shamman Award given by Kolkata
Sources
- Sara Zaker Interview on the Daily Star
- [2] Interview regarding Liberation war museum on VOA
References
- ^ Samuel L. Leiter, Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: A-N, page 4, Greenwood Press, 2007, ISBN 0-313-33530-3
- ^ Kamol, Ershad (February 22, 2009). "Aly Zaker: Reporter in the frontline". The Daily Star. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Zaker, Aly (June 24, 2011). "So, Asharh is here again!". The Daily Star. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
- ^ Cultural Correspondent, "Iresh Zaker: On the heels of actor parents, November 20, 2006, The Daily Star
- ^ Cultural Correspondent, "Sisimpur steps into fifth year", September 17, 2009, The Daily Star
- ^ Shamma M. Raghib, "Promo Logic 2006", Star Campus, November 5, 2006, The Daily Star
- ^ Shudeepto Ariquzzaman, "Manufacturing Entertainment", September 17, 2010, The Daily Star
- ^ [1]
- ^ Mofidul Hoque, Liberation War Museum, page 270, volume 6, Banglapedia, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, January 2003, ISBN 984-32-0576-6