Suspension on Farooki's Doob: What's going on?
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki shook up the Bangladeshi film fraternity when he announced last year that he was making a film starring Irrfan Khan, one of the most internationally-sought after Indian actors. The India-Bangladesh joint venture project, titled “Doob” (No Bed of Roses), went on floors in March 2016. The film became the epicenter of attention again in November when an Indian newspaper reported that it was based on iconic Bangladeshi novelist Humayun Ahmed's life. Humayun Ahmed's wife Meher Afroz Shaon expressed deep concern in reaction, while Farooki clearly stated this was not a biopic, and that it was an original work of fiction (which he had written himself). Now, “Doob” is in the spotlight again, this time after the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) suspended its no-objection certificate (NOC) to the film, just a day after issuing it.
The film's script was reviewed and cleared by the BFDC committee for reviewing scripts of joint venture films last year on March 8, after which the film went to production. The completed film was submitted to the committee again for review, which was screened by the committee on February 12, and a no-objection certificate was issued on February 15. However, Shaon wrote to the Bangladesh Film Censor Board (BFCB) on February 13, raising concerns about the film being made based on some incidents on Humayun Ahmed's life which could portray him in bad light, asking the censor board to review it for such instances and take action.
On February 16, just a day after issuing the NOC, the BFDC suspended it, based on a letter in this regard from the information ministry.
“What I have found from various reports is that the film's story does not reflect Humayun Ahmed's life, rather its story is based on some rumours spread by 'yellow journalists' after his death,” Shaon told The Daily Star. “I have raised those concerns in my letter.”
Farooki, meanwhile, said he would take the matter to court, saying there was no basis for the suspension. “The committee that saw it had no objections about it. Then why was it suspended a day after it was cleared, and with no reasons provided?”
Although Shaon's complaint was raised to the Chairman of the Censor Board, the film had not even reached their jurisdiction. The film would go to the censor board after the BFDC committee for reviewing scripts of joint venture films cleared it, according to Munshi Jalal Uddin, secretary of the board.
Tapan Kumar Ghosh, the managing director of the BFDC, could not be reached for comments.
However, when contacted, M Aiub Ali, director (Production) of the BFDC, told The Daily Star the information ministry had requested for another review of the film, and suspend the NOC until then.
He, however, said the ministry did not raise any specific issue with the film that caused the suspension. The BFDC letter suspending the NOC also did not cite any grounds for the suspension.
M Aiub Ali also said the initial NOC was given on the basis of the information ministry's recommendation. The committee sent its report of the screening to the ministry, who gave thumbs-up for the NOC. Then on February 16 the ministry sent another letter asking for a review of the film, which is why the NOC was suspended.
But when contacted, Martuza Ahammad, secretary of the information ministry, said he had no knowledge of the matter. “I am telling you I don't know anything about this matter, okay? Talk to the BFDC about it.”
Manzurur Rahman, additional secretary (admin) of the ministry of information declined to comment on the matter, and the ministry's public relations officer was unreachable.
Shahin Ara Begum, deputy secretary (Film) of the ministry and also a member of the joint venture film review committee, said the ministry did not send a letter to suspend the NOC.
“It's not true that the ministry issued a letter to suspend it. The ministry received a complaint, and forwarded it to the BFDC asking it to review the complaint,” she told The Daily Star. She, however, said she “could not remember” what the complaint specifically was or who it was from.
Bangladeshi cinema has been making waves in the Asian and international circuit over the last few years with a number of recognitions at major film festivals. Such a big project with an international star hitting a roadblock will certainly dent that growing reputation, but more importantly, such a quagmire surrounding is quite disheartening for film lovers of the country.