Discussion session on alternative film and display of Chitra Nodir Parey

Professor Momtazuddin Ahmed and Rawshan Jamil in a scene from Chitra Nodir Parey

Drishyarup, a cultural organisation that brings out a little magazine on films, arranged a discussion session recently. The objective was to exchange views on the present status of art and culture in Bangladesh. The venue of the session was the German Cultural Centre.

Manjare Hassin Murad, an alternative filmmaker as well as the organiser of the discussion session, briefed the audience. He also introduced them to the main discussant Tanvir Mokammel. The topic of Mokammel's speech was 'Experiences and achievements of the 20 years of the alternative films in Bangladesh'

He first talked about some bitter experiences that he had encountered in the course of screening the films in the remote areas of Bangladesh. He then touched on the scenario of contemporary films, the trend and limitations of making the alternative films. Finally, he called for a film institute and a film centre for the alternative films in Bangladesh.

After his speech, an alternative film titled Chitra Nodir Parey, directed and written by Tanvir Mokammel, was screened. The film, set against the backdrop of the Partition of 1947, focusses on the sufferings of Bashonti, a Hindu middle class woman. During a riot, which occurred at that time, the woman's family is threatened by the Muslims who order them to return to India. When Bashonti's family refuse to leave their ancestral home, the reactionaries rape her and she commits suicide by drowning in the waves of river Chitra near Norail district.

The film is in the 16-mm format and runs for two hours. However, the pace of the film tends to be slow at times, which is the main drawback of Chitra Nodir Parey.