DVD of Tanvir Mokammel's 1971 launched

(From right) Tanvir Mokammel, Mofidul Hoque and Chitralekha Guha at the launching ceremony. Photo Courtesy:
Kino-Eye Films

The DVD of Tanvir Mokammel's documentary on the Liberation War, “1971”, was launched at a programme held at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium, Central Public Library in Dhaka on December 6. Publisher and one of the trustees of Liberation War Museum, Mofidul Hoque, unveiled the DVD, while many noted personalities attended the event.
The documentary, named after the glorious year from Bangladesh's history, predominantly narrates the Liberation war from every aspect. The nearly four-hour long film features 176 personalities who were directly involved or were eyewitnesses as interviewees.
In his remark, Mofidul Hoque emphasised on the need to preserve the “true history of our Liberation War”. He hoped this kind of documentaries would help to achieve that goal.
Tobibul Islam Babu, president of the theatre troupe Natyajan, felicitated Mokammel with a bouquet.
Mokammel also spoke at the event and talked about the background of making the documentary.
After the launch, the documentary was screened at the venue.
The primary research and shooting for the documentary took nearly seven years. A total of 250 hours of stock footage was collected for it. The shooting was done in Bangladesh and India. In Bangladesh, the documentary was shot in Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet, Rangpur, Khulna and Barisal. The team also went to Kolkata, Delhi and other places in India where Bangladeshi refugees stayed during the Liberation War.
For the film, Mokammal also collected footage from archives in Europe and USA. The filmmaker interviewed freedom fighters, politicians, sector commanders, Biranganas, refugees and witnesses of the Liberation War in general.
Anwar Hossain was behind the camera as director of photography, while Mahadev Shi did the editing. The background score was done by Syed Shabab Ali Arzu. Uttam Guha is the assistant director.
Apart from direction, Mokammel also did the research and screenplay.
The DVD will be available at different outlets.