“Moner Manush” goes to Lalon's shrine

Gautom Ghosh with the veteran Baul Abdul Karim. Bauls perform at the event (up).

Campaign for the film “Moner Manush”, which frames the life and times of Lalon Shai, kicked off at the mystic bard's shrine at Chheuria in Kushtia last Thursday afternoon.
Helmer of the film Goutam Ghosh, one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of India, launched the campaign.
Among others, noted Lalon researcher and Professor of Bangla at Islamic University, Dr. Abul Ahsan Choudhury; Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan; the Bangladeshi distributor of the film Ashirbad Chalachchitra's head Habibur Rahman; general secretary of Lalon Academy Taijal Ali Khan; Additional Police Superintendent of Kushtia Subhas Chandra Saha and Khulna Divisional Sales Manager of Banglalink Tanvir Ahmed spoke on the occasion.
The film has been produced by Impress Telefilm Ltd.
On the occasion, a cultural programme was also held at the shrine. Baul artistes from Lalon Academy presented the bard's timeless songs. Banglalink sponsored the programme.
Channel i aired the programme live from Chheuria. Star Ananda, an Indian satellite television channel, aired the programme in India.
The film is likely to be released on December 3 simultaneously at theatres in Bangladesh and India.
According to the director, the film is a sketch of Lalon, his background and creation of his songs.
“I think I had a responsibility to bring Lalon's story to the screen. I invested all my efforts on this particular project from this point of view,” Goutam Ghosh told this correspondent at Chheuria.
Legends and stories about Lalon, and his philosophies have been given serious attention while working on the film, Ghosh said.
The filmmaker is also hopeful that people of both Bangladesh and India will like the movie.
At the programme, Impress Telefilm Ltd. honoured seasoned Baul singer Abdul Karim with a crest and Tk 50,000. Habibur Rahman, on behalf of the producers, handed over the cheque to the artiste.