A film portraying the life and political journey of Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was screened at Universiti Teknologi Brunei yesterday in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Brunei-Bangladesh diplomatic ties.
The film, Mujib – The Making of A Nation, was made by Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal and released in October last year.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Nahida Rahman Shumona said the film is the first biopic in the film industry of the familiar and well-loved figure of the Bangladeshi people.
She said Benegal captured the many dimensions of Bangabandhu’s life and works from his childhood and young adulthood to his marriage and birth of Sheikh Hasina and other children.
The Bengali language movement, closeness with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and repeated arrests and important events such as the formation of the constitution of an independent country and death of Bangabandhu were also included in the movie.
The high commissioner said a song in the film – Achin Majhi sung by Rathijit – is especially moving.
She noted that there are minor inaccuracies in the movie but they do not affect the movie’s quality much.
It is still worth watching to learn about many unknown stories, the envoy said. The high commissioner said it is evident that the cast in the film are passionate about the movie and also noted that many shots are in long takes making the scenes feel like a stage play.
She said the nearly three-hour film showing how a country and its people turn around and stood up for the motherland at the call of Bangabandhu’s leadership is a beautiful narrative from start to finish making it a must watch movie for everyone, particularly the younger generation.
Among the attendees of the screening yesterday were members of the diplomatic corps. – Lyna Mohamad
