Salman Shah’s cinematic debut was nothing short of a fairytale. The 22-year-old heartthrob became the national crush with his film “Keyamot Theke Keyamot”, and soon he racked up 26 hit movies under his name.
However, tragedy struck the actor in his prime when he was found dead at his home on September 6, 1996.
It has been 27 years since his untimely demise, and yet his death remains mystery to his fans– Was it suicide or did he become a victim of a a planned murder?
Amidst the ongoing legal battle, this year we witnessed various depictions of Salman Shah in the media. Recently, his Artificial Intelligence (AI)-rendered images went viral sparking debate among online users. A web-series allegedly based on his life was also released this year, and his first film with Shabnur was re-released in theatres on February 10.
While his fans appreciated the homage, his family vehemently objected to the use of his photos due to religious significance. Consequently, the user had to take down the post.
Although the picture was removed from the artist’s page, Salman Shah’s fan club used the AI image as its profile picture for the group. This was a huge feat for the fans as they were thrilled to see their superstar come alive through digital art.
When the makers of “Buker Modhe Agun” announced that they were creating a series about a 90’s superstar allegedly based on Salman Shah’s life, fans were curious about how they would portray the actor on OTT.
However, they were left disappointed as it focused more on ASP Golam Mamun and his story. However, it didn’t delve deeper into the character’s inner thoughts.
They nailed the actor’s iconic bandana and teashade sunglasses in the web-series, but there was a sense of emotional emptiness. For instance, the struggling period of his character was omitted in the flashback scenes and couldn’t see the highs and lows of his character or his unwavering love for fans, which made him vulnerable in his personal life.
It was well-researched, for sure, but the emotional scenes couldn’t melt the heart of Salman Shah’s diehard fans, who wanted a more honest representation of the character. Perhaps, the fans could have seen more of the character if there wasn’t a legal problem with the airing of the series.
On February 5, Salman Shah’s uncle, Alamgir Kumkum, sent a legal notice, through Sylhet Judge Court lawyer, Mohammad Moinul Islam, urging the makers to halt production as the case is still ongoing in court.
Additionally, Salman Shah’s mother, Neelufar Chowdhury, filed a writ-petition in the High Court, through lawyer Farooq Ahmed, requesting that the series be halted. She also requested a complete ban on the production of songs, dramas, movies and web-series related to Salman Shah.
While we can sense the feelings of his family regarding the tragic death of their beloved son, is it necessary to remove his films and songs, which are his fans only treasured memories?
An artiste becomes immortalised through his works. The actor left behind a legacy that his fans continue to cherish. As long as his works remain, he will forever live in our hearts.
