Going back to his early days, Mamun recalls, 'In the early 1950s I wrote my first play Niotir Parihash when I was a student of class nine. In the intermediate level I used to perform in the plays arranged by the students of Dhaka College. And in the university, I along with my friends and some teachers including Shaheed Muneir Chowdhury established the Teachers Students Centre to stage plays as there were no formal theatrical groups.

After the Liberation War we established the drama group, Theatre, in 1972. We started our activities by publishing a magazine titled Theatre. In 1974 we started staging plays on a regular basis. Shubochan Nirbashone is my first stage-play for any theatrical group, which we staged in 1974.

'So far I have written 22 stage plays which are basically social plays and the characters of the plays belong to the middle-class. Of these, Theatre has produced 16 plays. Moreover, I have directed most of the Theatre productions. And I have performed in all the Theatre productions except Kokilara, which is a one-character play performed by Ferdausi Majumdar. But I had directed and dramatised Kokilara, the first such production in Bangladesh.'

Mamun had been involved with the then Pakistan Television (PTV) from the very inception in 1965, which was later transformed to Bangladesh television (BTV). Mamun says, 'After completing my studies I joined the newspaper Sangbad as a reporter. And then I shifted to the then PTV in 1965 on a contract basis for two years. Later, I joined as a producer in 1967. Retiring from BTV in the post of Deputy Director General, I became the Director General of the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO). I retired as the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.'

Abdullah Al-Mamun has been a prolific playwright and a versatile actor in the theatre and TV plays. However, Mamun is not pleased with the present scenario of the electronic media. Mamun says, 'Dynamism is a must for quality production of the electronic media. BTV has become a static institution as no new talents have emerged from it. Moreover, due to government control since the mid 80s the situation has deteriorated further.

'Private channels are engaging young and dynamic talents. However, the approach of the sponsors is not quite adequate for the betterment of the programmes. The artistes, directors, playwrights and technical crews have very little freedom. I too have become a part of the system. And I agree that I am not maintaining the same standard as a director what I did in my earlier works like popular drama serial Shongshoptak.

'If the system is not changed, the standard will deteriorate. But, I believe that we have talented artistes and technical hands. And I think our potential is at par with that of India, which basically produces hi-tech productions. The government should take initiativess so that our channels can be launched in India as in other places.'

Abdullah Al-Mamun is also a popular film director. Mamun says, 'I made the first movie Angikar in 1972. I earned immense popularity as a filmmaker for my work in the movie Shareng Bou in 1978. My other box-office hits are Ekhoni Shomoy, Dui Jibon, Shokhi Tumi Kaar and Bihanga.

The film industry is now replete with producers and directors with questionable talent, that is why I prefer to stay away from the media. But, I have plans to make a film at the end of this year for ATN Bangla.'

In his long diversified performing art career Abdullah Al-Mamun has won many awards at the national level. Of those he considers the Ekushey Padak as the most prestigious .