Message of communal harmony
It is not the first time acclaimed director Morshedul Islam is making a feature film based on Humayun Ahmed's novel. He has done so earlier with “Durotto” (2004) and “Priyotomeshu” (2009).
But what has primarily motivated the director to make his third film “Anil Bagchir Ek Din”, whose shooting was completed recently, based on yet another story written by Ahmed set in the midst of the 1971 Liberation War is the message of communal harmony that saw people of all faiths fighting shoulder to shoulder against the occupational Pakistani forces for the emergence of a new independent country.
“Anil Bagchir Ek Din” is set in the middle of 1971. Fighting rages during the liberation war. Anil Bagchi, who works in an insurance company in Dhaka besieged by Pakistan occupation army, gets a letter from the headmaster of a high school in his native village where he studied, that broke the news that his father has been killed by Pakistani troops. Anil's sister Atasi, who has kept her affair with a Muslim boy under wraps, has taken shelter in the headmaster's house. The headmaster, however, asks Anil not to visit his house as the village is still not safe for young people. But Anil, breaking from his image of a person lacking courage, decides to risk his life and takes a bus to the village.
Morshedul Islam, who has 12 feature films to his credit since taking the Bangladeshi parallel cinema by storm with his two documentaries “Aagami” (1984) and “Chaka” in 1993, told The Daily Star what inspired him to make “Anil Bagchir Ek Din”, expected to be released next March, was the humanitarian appeal and message of communal harmony emerging from Humayun Ahmed's story.
He said the fight for liberation of Bangladesh itself is the greatest symbol of communal amity as Bengalis cutting across religious affiliations were equal victims of Pakistani army's atrocities and fought against it in unison. Anil Bagchi's story is just one of the many examples of that.
Replying to a question, the director said there were several real-life instances of Muslims either saving or attempting to protect the Hindus from marauding Pakistani troops during the liberation war.
Produced under the banner of Bengal Creations Limited, “Anil Bagchir Ek Din” features Aref Syed, Gazi Rakayet, Toufique Emon, Jyotika Jyoti and Farhana Mithu in the lead roles.
The cinematography is by L. Apu Rozario, editing by Ratan Paul and music has been composed by Swani Zubayeer. Morshedul Islam has also used a part of famous Tagore song “Aaj Jyotsna Raatey Sobai Gechey Boney” in it.
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