Misir Ali (Bengali:মিসির আলি) is a fictional character in a series of novels byBangladeshi authorHumayun Ahmed.[2][3][4][5] He was described as one of the most famous characters in Bengali literature, TV and film over the last three decades.[6]
In the books, Ali plays the role of a part-time professor of Psychology[3] at theUniversity of Dhaka. Despite his not being a professional psychiatrist, people come to him for psychiatric treatment because of his special interest and knowledge inparapsychology. Later he was expelled from the University. Misir Ali is intelligent and often seen solving mysteries, although never accepting money for them. He is a logical person and doesn't believe in any paranormal activities. He has a personal diary named 'UNSOLVED,' in which he writes about those mysteries not solved by him. He is dark, tall and thin but in another story it was mentioned that he is short.
He always lives in a small flat with a servant. Most of the time those servants are seen to be running away by stealing his money. His age in 'Nishithini' was 41 and in 'Misir Ali's "Aumimaangsito Rauhosso" his age is 51. He has a nephew named Amita. His mother died when he was two years old. His father was a Hujur (Muslim priest), who died when he was in class five. He grew up in his relatives' house. He is a chain smoker, but in every story he tries to quit. Every times he gets a letter he reads it three times. He is attracted to a girl named Nilu who was his university student. He is unmarried but in the story 'Onnobhuvon' only it was mentioned that he married Nilu and had a child with her.[7][8]
The movie adaptation of the first book of the series (Debi) directed byAnam Biswas, starringChanchal Chowdhury as Misir Ali andJaya Ahsan as Ranu was released in October, 2018. The movie received widely positive reviews from fans and critics alike.[9]
Among these 21 books there are 19 novels and 2 short story collections containing 11 short stories and one semi-fictional short story. He has a minor appearance inHimu's (another popular character by Humayun Ahmed) story Himur Ditiyo Prohor.[10] Bhoy is a collection of 3 short stories and Misir Ali Unsolved is a collection of 8 short stories.
নিষাদ: Nishad (Hunter orNiṣāda (1989) - the hunter-gatherer aborigines fromHindu epics, or alternatively theuntouchablecaste of corpse disposers also known asChandalas)
বৃহন্নলা: Brihonnola (Eunuch orBṛhannalā (August 1989) - the eunuch guise of one of the protagonist characters in the Hindu epicMahabharata)
^"Mourning the death of a legend",United News of Bangladesh, July 20, 2012.InfoTrac Newsstand. Gale Document Number: GALE|A331090294. Retrieved August 14, 2013. Quote: "Humayun Ahmed, 64, was a popular author, playwright and film director who captivated millions of people with his famous characters Himu, Shuvro, Misir Ali, and Baker Bhai in Bengali literature, TV and film over the last three decades."
