Lost ‘Moinna’ Found by National Film Award

From carrying cement bags under the scorching sun in Boardbazar, Gazipur, to standing in front of the camera and touching the hearts of audiences, Mohammad Lion’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. On his shoulders rested the weight of bricks and concrete, yet beside his name appeared a recognition that many search for a lifetime. Despite being lost in the harsh realities of life, it was ultimately the awards that found him. Lion has been honoured with the Best Child Artist award at the 2023 National Film Awards for his role in Aam-Kathaler Chhuti (“Mango–Jackfruit Vacation”), having previously received the Meril–Prothom Alo Critics’ Award.

Lion’s life story, originating from Charpara in Mymensingh, resembles a cinematic narrative devoid of glamour. There are no glittering sets, no artificial lights—only struggle, responsibility, and survival. Before reaching adolescence, the weight of his family’s hardship fell upon him. He moved to Gazipur hoping that work in a garment factory might ease life’s burden, only to be turned away due to the lack of a national identity card. From that day, Lion stayed in Boardbazar, taking up casual construction work under the guidance of his father, Abdul Khalil, a mason. Day after day, he braved the sun, sweat, and heavy loads to climb staircases carrying bricks and mix concrete, working ten to fifteen days a month and sending whatever he could spare back home.

A decade earlier, however, Lion had stepped into a very different light. In 2016, he was cast as the spirited boy “Moinna” in director Mohammad Nuruzzaman’s film Aam-Kathaler Chhuti. At just thirteen, he faced cameras for the first time in Tongi, alongside his parents, feeling both fear and awe. Gradually, the character and reality merged, and Moinna became more than a role—it became a reflection of life itself.

Even as audiences adored him, life’s harshness eclipsed the cinematic glow. His studies were halted, and caring for his younger brother fell on his shoulders. By the time the Meril–Prothom Alo nomination was announced in 2024, Lion’s whereabouts were unknown. A social media search led the director to his aunt, reconnecting them and bringing Lion back into the spotlight.

On 24 May 2024, at the United Convention Centre in Dhaka, Lion received the award, surpassing established actors like Shahiduzzaman Selim and Nasir Uddin Khan. The applause of the audience marked an emotional homecoming for the young artist.

“Many chase awards in our country, but some awards find the person instead. Lion Ahmed is one of them,” presenter Hanif Sanket remarked.

Returning to Boardbazar with the award, Lion now dreams of studying again. “Friends message me in Bengali and English. I feel sad that I cannot read,” he confessed. For him, the National Film Award is more than recognition—it is the courage to begin anew.

Awards Summary

Moinna may have existed on screen, but today, Mohammad Lion’s life tells a real story of struggle, loss, and rediscovery—proof that sometimes, life imitates art in the most remarkable ways.