Toronto

Veteran Indian film director Shyam Benegal’s latest biopic “Mujib – The Making of a Nation” was screened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, eliciting a rousing response from the viewers.

“Delighted to be unveiling the film at this prestigious festival. I’m sure the story of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his journey to create the Nation of Bangladesh will resonate with people and communities across the globe. It has been an honor to be able to tell this inspiring story of the Making of a Nation,” said Benegal who could not be present at the screening.

Bangladesh Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said “I’m brimming with emotions at this screening of ‘Mujib – The Making of a Nation,’ our Bangabandhu – under whose leadership we gained a free nation. I’m grateful to the teams from both countries for portraying his journey, his unfathomable love, and supreme sacrifice for the country and its people. Shyam Benegal is sorely missed as he’s not present for the screening.”

Nuzhat Yasmin, Managing Director, Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, said, “It’s a proud moment for us to be at the TIFF screening showcasing the film about the father of our nation. Gratitude to all the efforts from the cast & crew of the film. The response has deeply moved us today and it’s not possible to express it in words.”

Prithul Kumar, Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation of India, said “This film about the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh will surely be loved in Bangladesh and will also touch everyone’s heart as the film travels all over the world.”

Arifin Shuvoo, who appears in the title role, said, “The research, the attention to detail to look like Mujib, is evident on the screen. I may not be able to put into words what a feeling it is to see the film with an audience. It is an honor to play Bangabandhu in this magnificent biopic and to be here to witness the response myself. May Mujib continue to touch our hearts and inspire the world as he always did!”

Nusraat Faria, who was also present at the screening, said “it has been a great privilege to portray the character of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the Father of our Nation, in the film. Working with Shyam Benegal sir has always been a dream come true. The film has truly turned out well, and seeing the love and support it is receiving is truly fulfilling.

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Courtesy: Daily Sun, Dhaka (Posted on September 14, 2023)

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By Irteza Hasnain

This day fifty years ago on the 4th of April 1971 I left Dhaka, my janmobhumi (Birth place) with mixed feelings. I flew out with a heavy heart for leaving behind my friends, my cherished memories, the streets, the lanes which I called my own, not sure if I would ever return and be recognized. There was also a feeling of relief of escaping from the atmosphere of fear I had been living in for sometimes, being the other and becoming a target of reprisal. I had also seen firsthand the scenes of the former Iqbal Hall, Shakhari Patti and the bodies on the streets. I was also told of the madness that took place in the university quarters.

I landed in Karachi after a long detour around Colombo and stayed there in a hotel for two days before flying again to Islamabad to live with my brother who was the Commandant Police Training College Sihala, Rawalpindi. My parents joined us a couple of weeks later. In Pindi I was struck with the smugness of the top Bureaucrats as if all was normal and things under control. They would be surprised when I told them what I saw.

To pursue my studies I soon left for Lahore and joined the Engineering University Lahore and it is here that I met somebody from Gregory’s the first time. It was Jamshed and his elder brother Khurshed. The university would mostly remain closed and I would be spending more time in Rawalpindi. Friendless and bored I would spend more time in the USIS and BC libraries and listening to BBC which was my only source of reality being in Pakistan. However, during this time, I don’t remember how, I bumped into Akhtar Mateen whose father was in Pindi with the Atomic Energy Commission. I visited him several times but hardly discussed events in Bengal.

Soon it was December and the surrender in Dhaka. There was despondency and tears all around in Pakistan and also I could hear the cheers and jubilations in BD via BBC. I cried for my beloved land and its deliverance. In between we were also getting the news of the infamy that was taking place on the portion of the population to which I belonged. I met Mateen once or twice after December then he suddenly vanished to emerge in Dhaka. After December we were visited by Ishtiaq and Kochi in the University hostel in Lahore and that was the last time I saw them in Pakistan.

Soon Bhutto took over and Mujib was still in Pakistan. I was in Pindi Sihala with my brother when one day as fate would have it we learnt that a VVIP prisoner was being moved into the rest house of the Police Training College Sihala. Sure enough it was Bogobondhu.

The rest house was not far from the Commandant’s Bungalow and I had stayed there a number of times when the Bungalow was being reconstructed. It is quite possible that we may have shared the same room.

I was quite excited on seeing Mujib so close and often I would train our telescope to see him during his walks late in the afternoon. He would be in a long overcoat due to the chill of the winter and in white pajamas taking slow walks up and down in the lawn of the rest house. Finally one day we were told that Bhutto visited him one night, they had a long talk and a couple of days later Bongobondhu left for London. Later I spent hours listening to running Commentary on BBC of his landing in Dhaka. I cried once again for Bengal, my friends and for missing this moment of ecstasy.

Fast forward eight years later early in the morning on the 4th of April 1979 Bhutto was hanged.  Some say it was the strike of the first omen to be followed by others. Two days later on the 6th of April we had our wedding in Karachi. Although we were quite apprehensive, it passed on without any event.

After all these events I visited Bangladesh for the first time in 1989. It was like a home coming to be among my friends and my haunts. But those streets and those houses somehow felt strange. Although I have been to Dhaka a number of times since then but with every visit the city felt yet stranger. I guess it was time to move on.

But O’ 4th of April how can I forget you.

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About the Author

The author Irteza Hasnain is a graduate of Engineering College Lahore, and a retired Engineer who lives in Karachi. He had narrowly escaped death on the fateful night.

The post Memoirs: The 4th of April first appeared on Sindh Courier.