For the love of film

Fakhrul Arefin Khan is an independent filmmaker. He first released his documentary Al-Badar in 2007, which traces the course of war crimes committed by the local collaborators of the Pakistan army during the Liberation War.

The documentary has been screened in different districts in 2009 and received a huge response for its boldness and credibility. It also won the maker an award in 2011. And for its credibility, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) used it as an authentic document for investigation.

His latest documentary, “The Speech” sheds light on the historic speech of March 7. Ekattur TV recently aired the film, which involves a lot of research. “I tried to put an end to the debate, surrounding the announcement of our independence. Through my work, I tried to explain how that speech carried the announcement of independence. After March 7, 1971 a massive change came in the administration. I believe that the announcement of independence was a follow-up of the March 7 speech,” said the filmmaker.

Fakhrul came in touch with films while he was a student in the History Department of Jahangirnagar University in the late 1990s. “I have great interest in photography and I have a soft corner for the history of our Liberation War. I used to watch a lot of films but did not have any intention of stepping into filmmaking,” he said.  

“On October 25, 2007, when Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid said there were no Razakars in Bangladesh, I decided that I would answer this through documenting actual history. Then my mother gave me some money to buy a camera and I started shooting my first documentary “Al Badar” with that money. I received threats from different quarters for making the film but did not stop,” Fakhrul said while telling this writer about his journey with the camera.

He has not yet gone into making commercial films. He mostly makes research-based docu-fictions. His third documentary “Haq-er Ghar” is based on the appalling eviction of the true followers of Fakir Lalon from his shrine in Kushtia. "Haq-er Ghar” (Home of Truth) will release soon, marking the death anniversary of Lalon on October 17.

Asked how he finances his projects, Fakhrul said, “My family gives me a lot of support and I finance my work from my salary and family income. My father and mother are private service holders, my wife is a banker and I get a lot of support from them. I also take bank loans and use my surplus income for making films. I am currently working at an international development agency. It is my profession.”   

Fakhrul is now making his first full-length feature. “I have finished shooting my first fiction “Aim in Life” which is currently under post-production. The movie is inspired by a story of my life. It will release soon in November under the banner of Monon Cholocchitro,” he said.

“Now I am primarily focusing on fiction films but if I get a good script I will make a documentary. My next project is “Muktijoddhar Laash” which is also a fiction. I have plans to make a documentary on Tajuddin Ahmad, but I am not sure whether I will be able to make it,” he concluded.