Studio Padma: 37 years of giving birth to stars, ideas and romance
‘400 New Eskaton Road’ was once a haunt for celebrities, journalists and aspiring young people. While studios rapidly disappear in the digital age, Studio Padma’s owner Akkas Mahmood holds on to this unique bit of Dhaka’s history
In the 1980s, "400, New Eskaton Road" was a posh address, housing a two-storey market with 10 shops in total. Among those, were two popular stores: actor Amirul Haque Chowdhury's Dhaka Coffee House and Studio Padma.
"All the prominent actors, singers, journalists and politicians of the country used to gather at the coffee house. Their chatter spread to the adjacent Studio Padma. At that time, the studio was not just a place to take photos – it was more of a hub for the stars and celebrities," recalled Akkas Mahmood, the owner of the studio.
On the way from Banglamotor to Moghbazar intersection, the studio still catches the attention of many pedestrians. A portrait of the late mayor of North Dhaka, Anisul Haque, hangs in the front. On entering the studio, one will find portraits of celebrities like Jaya Ahsan, Chanchal Chowdhury, Sabina Yasmin, Munni Saha, Shakib Al Hasan and more – many of whom are the studio's regular customers.
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Akkas Mahmood, who is also one of the most prominent photographers in Bangladesh, spoke about how his studio had maintained popularity even after 37 years.
More than just a place to take photos
After graduating from Dhaka University, Akkas Mahmood was involved in journalism for some time. He used to work in the youth magazine Saptahik Bichinta. By then, he had grown a passion for photography.
An idea for a new type of photo studio came to his mind while browsing various fashion-photography magazines. In the meantime, he received his diploma from Begart Institute of Photography, the institute founded by famous photographer Manjur Alam Baig.
"Baig sir once asked me what I want to do. I told him about my desire to build a photo studio. Surprised, he said no one came to this institution to train to build a studio. I replied the studio won't just be a place to take pictures. People will come here to discuss and study photography. He was quite impressed with my plan," said Akkas Mahmood, who in the early 1980s was dreaming of becoming a famous portrait photographer.
Later, he also received a diploma from the Global Press Agency of Kolkata. In 1985, he opened Studio Padma in a 20-by-6-feet shop in Eskaton's Khursheed Mahal Market.
Eskaton, back then, was one of the notable diplomatic areas of Dhaka housing embassies of China, Pakistan, Italy and France. Foreign ambassadors, government officials, the country's best actors, intellectuals and journalists used to live here.
And many used to gather at '400, Eskaton Road' – in love with Studio Padma's pictures and Dhaka Coffee House's famous cutlets and potato chops. Famous names such as actors Golam Mustafa, Hasan Imam, Asaduzzaman Noor, Ali Zaker, Afzal Hossain, journalist Minar Mahmud, writer Taslima Nasreen, actor Salman Shah and singer Abdul Jabbar frequented this hub.
According to Akkas Mahmood, journalist Minar Mahmud would hardly ever miss a day in visiting the studio and actor Golam Mustafa used to come from Banani, making time between his shooting schedule.
"Producers would follow him [Golam Mustafa] to the studio. Film contracts, taking advances, would take place during our conversations," said Akkas, adding, "while passing by rickshaw in front of the market, girls would turn their heads to see their favourite stars."
It was business as usual to find crowds gathered in front of the market in the hope of catching a glimpse of the famous stars.
Sometime later, "Muktijudda and Lalitkala Granth Kendra" was started with a room rented on the market's second floor. "There used to be talks, arguments and stories about the Liberation War. We used to eat muri bharta and watch TV together," said Akkas.
The studio's telephone number (412070) was popular among many youngsters in those days. Students from DU or Buet would advertise tuition services using this number.
Many of them would even talk to their loved ones on the studio's telephone. The telephone also witnessed the love affair between journalist Minar Mahmood and writer Taslima Nasreen.
After the two-storey "Khurshid Mahal Market '' was demolished and turned into a multi-storied building, Studio Padma and Coffee House faced a period of decline. While the glory days of yesteryears are long gone, the studio has not become forgotten just yet.
Journalists still flock to this place. Conversations about the country's politics, society, music, trade union, journalists union and many other issues are still being held. For senior journalist Sukanth Gupta Alok, who came to take pictures of the studio during the interview, this is a place of emotions.
Stars born from Studio Padma
"It was around 1986 or '87. FDC issued a circular looking for new faces, requiring applicants to submit three poster-size portraits from three angles. Would-be stars like Sohail Chowdhury, Manna and Diti came to take photos, beside many others. And when they were selected, they visited the studio and met me," Akkas Mahmood recollected.
He recalled another interesting memory.
"The cost of each poster-size picture was Tk30 – a huge amount in those days. Most people would be economical and take no more than five or six photos. But one day, Sohail Chowdhury [film star] came and asked me not to worry about money.
After taking two rolls of pictures, I was tired, and I said, 'Sohail bhai, you don't need any more pictures. One of these will do.' Then he brought out an audio player. He said, 'I'll dance, and you will take photos.' I had to take his dancing poses. I vividly remember this incident," said Akkas.
Later, he started a modelling agency where the likes of Mou, Nobel, Tania and Pallab were instructors.
Padma Studio in the era of film rolls
Things were different with analogue cameras in the 1980s. Akkas Mahmood remembered when he had to capture photos in the studio with bowl lights, which generated extreme heat. In the summer, he would bring an extra set of panjabi to change into after half a day's work and sweating profusely in the heat.
Editing styles were completely different from that of today. Modern tools like Photoshop would be a thing of a much later time. A film consisted of 12 pictures, and finesse with hand was needed while creating the negative images.
He would use a narrow pencil to cover the various defects of a picture. In front of a 100-watt bulb, a picture's details were first scrutinised by holding the two-and-a-half-inch negative.
The areas that needed to be edited were marked with a pencil. But the pencil marks were not completely smooth. Therefore, the pencil stain was removed by using a thin brush. After the wash, the image would come out quite smooth.
Festival meant taking group photos in the studio.
"Nowadays, studio photography is far behind its glory days. 20 years ago, I would have hardly any time for you for this conversation. Back then, the studio was filled with customers all the time.
Every Eid, people used to come here and take family photos after their prayers. A scene with fountains, boats and plants was painted in the background. People would take photos in front of the painting," said Akkas Mahmood.
Just like fashion houses nowadays make special arrangements before big festivals, the same kind of preparations used to be taken for the studio. During Eid or Pohela Boishakh, studio owners aimed to raise an entire year's expenses. Keeping the studio closed for a day to paint a new background and adding decorative lights were part of the preparation for the annual events.
Aiming to survive
In a time of smartphones and cameras, studio photography is no longer in vogue. Now the studio takes photos for official purposes, such as passport-size ones. Many people come to Studio Padma from different parts of Dhaka and even outside districts to take pictures for passport-size photos.
Akkas Mahmood believes that these customers come because of their love for Studio Padma.
Besides, Studio Padma is a well-known destination for many for photography related to fashion, news presenter auditions or election campaign posters.
At present, there are five people in the photographer team of Studio Padma. Akkas Mahmood has a separate team for wedding photography called "Wedding Colours." Furthermore, he takes classes on various forms of photography at different times.
According to him, 30 studios and five colour labs are being closed every month in the country and sustaining the studio business these days is a big challenge for him.
However, his aim is to keep the photography world's posh address "Studio Padma" always running, and he hopes to do it with more modern equipment, in line with the digital age.
