I want to create a ‘balanced portrait’ of Bangladesh’s independence : Shyam Benegal

Acclaimed Indian director Shyam Benegal, who is directing the much-awaited biopic on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, says that he is trying to create a 'balanced portrait' of the architect of Bangladesh's independence on the screen and not a 'hagiography.'

"I didn't know much Mujib very much except about the horrific tragedy. It was such an extraordinary thing, a tragedy of enormous dimensions," added the director.

"You have to get to the heart of the personality, without that the person doesn't remain a human anymore," Benegal told the portal Scroll.in in an interview in Mumbai yesterday.

His remarks came when asked one hopes to learn from the film "Bangabandhu."

Benegal, 86, said "Mujib started out as a conventional politician and later became a Bengali nationalist. He was an extraordinarily charismatic leader and incredible orator who would hold his audiences spellbound.

"What was interesting to me was that apart from being a great public leader, he loved his people too much. As you might say in Greek theatre, that was his tragic flaw. His betrayal was because he was so trusting. He had been warned [about attempts on in his life] from time to time, even Mrs [Indira] Gandhi had warned him," the director said.

On the other hand, Bangabandhu "was one of the few politicians of that stature who had such a full and cohesive family life. It's so rare," according to Benegal.

The director has completed the Indian part of shooting "Bangabandhu" and is waiting for the Covid-19 situation to improve to wrap up the final phase of shooting in Bangladesh.

"Bangabandhu" has been written by Atul Tiwari and Shama Zaidi and is a co-production between the governments of India and Bangladesh.

Starring Arifin Shuvoo as Bangabandhu, Nusrat Imrose Tisha as Bangabandhu's wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa and Nusraat Faria as their daughter Sheikh Hasina, the making of the film has been delayed by the pandemic.