Shimul Yousuf
{{short description|Bangladesh actress and singer}}
{{infobox person
| name = Shimul Yousuf
| native_name = শিমুল ইউসুফ
| native_name_lang = bn
| image = Shimul Yousuf.jpg
| caption = Yousuf performing at the birth centenary program of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2021
| occupation = Actress, singer
| birth_place = Dhaka, East Pakistan, Pakistan
| nationality = Bangladeshi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|3|24|df=y}}
| children = Esha Yousuff
| parents = Mehter Billah
| spouse = Nasiruddin Yousuff
| relatives = Minu Haque (sister)
| awards = See full list
}}
Shimul Yousuf (born 24 March 1957) is a Bangladeshi actress, director, and singer.{{cite news |script-title=bn:শিমূল ইউসুফ পেলেন সম্মাননা |trans-title=Shimul Yousuf is awarded |url=http://www.prothom-alo.com/entertainment/article/471712/শিমূল-ইউসুফ-পেলেন-সম্মাননা |language=bn |newspaper=Prothom Alo |date=March 9, 2015 |accessdate=March 13, 2017}}{{cite news |author=Fahim Abrar |date=April 5, 2014 |title=Through the Eyes of Shimul Yousuf |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/through-the-eyes-of-shimul-yousuf-18570 |newspaper=The Daily Star |accessdate=March 13, 2017}} In 2023, she was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second highest award for civilians in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=Bidyanondo Foundation to get Ekushey Padak |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bidyanondo-foundation-get-ekushey-padak-3245801 |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}
Early life
Yousuf was born in Dhaka on 24 March 1957 and is the youngest of seven siblings. Odissi dancer Minu Haque is her sister.{{cite news |author=Tamanna Khan |date=April 29, 2011 |title=A Reticent Freedom Fighter |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/04/05/interview.htm |work=Star Weekend Magazine |publisher=The Daily Star |accessdate=April 11, 2016}} Her father Mehter Billah from Bikrampur was a singer in Kamlapur. Shimul started singing at the age of five. She performed on radio and television and went on to sing in a children's show named "Kochi Kanchar Mela". She trained in classical and traditional songs from Ustad Helaluddin, P C Gomez, Altaf Mahmud, and Abdul Latif .{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} Shimul completed her Honours in Social Science. {{citation needed|date=March 2013}} She was admitted to the Institute of Fine Arts and also went to Baroda School of Fine Arts for schooling.{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/showbiz/through-the-eyes/through-the-eyes-shimul-yousuf-1370362 |title=Through the eyes of Shimul Yousuf |date=March 4, 2017 |accessdate=March 13, 2017 |author=Shawreen Rahman |newspaper=The Daily Star}}
Career
Yousuf first appeared in theater in one of the Abdullah Al Mamun's plays to raise funds for the freedom fighters in 1972. In 1974 she incorporated her in Dhaka Theatre after her siblings asked to be a proxy for another actress. Shimul began to take acting seriously after her 1975 drama "Muntasir Fantasy". She worked on Kasai (1976), Char Khakra (1977), Shakuntala (1978), Phani Monosa (1980), Kitton Khola (1981), Keramot Mongol (1985), Hat Hadai (1989), and Chaka (1990). During the 1990s she performed in Joiboti Kannyar Mon (1995) and Bono Pangshul (1998). {{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
=''Binodini''=
One of her works in theater is the drama Binodini, based on a 19th-century actress Binodini Dasi. It is a one-person show where Yousuf portrayed the character of Binodini and also delivered the speeches of the remaining characters. The play was written by script writer Saymon Zakaria and directed by Shimul's husband, Nasiruddin Yousuff. The play mainly perpetuated the life of Binodini Dasi as she struggled to prolong her career in theater. Shimul said that "[the drama] shows the reality, the conflicts and contradiction an actress faces today, has not changed much since Binodini's time. Obviously I am affected by such realities."
Awards
- Munier Choudhury Award (2024){{Cite news |date=2024-11-26 |title=Shimul Yousuf and Jahangir Alam to receive Munier Choudhury and Zakaria Memorial awards |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/theatre-arts/news/shimul-yousuf-and-jahangir-alam-receive-munier-choudhury-and-zakaria-memorial-awards-3762091 |access-date=2024-11-27 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
- Ekushey Padak (2023)
- Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Costume Design (2009)
- Bachsas Award for Best Music Director (2009)
- Bachsas Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2009)
- Anannya Top Ten Awards (2003)
- Zakaria Memorial Award (1999)
- Diboshri Padak
- Lokonatto Padak
- Aronno Dipu Padak
- Rishi Padak
- Rudra Padak
- Md. Shahidullah Award
- Jahangir Award
- Prothom Alo Jorip Award
- Women's Day Special Award
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Best Costume Design}}
{{Bachsas Award for Best Female Singer}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yousuf, Shimul}}
Category:Bangladeshi stage actresses
Category:20th-century Bangladeshi women singers
Category:20th-century Bangladeshi singers
Category:Bangladeshi television actresses
Category:Bangladeshi film score composers
Category:Bangladeshi women songwriters
Category:Bangladeshi female dancers
Category:Bangladeshi choreographers
Category:Bangladeshi costume designers
Category:Best Costume Design National Film Award (Bangladesh) winners