Bangladeshi cinema always has been close to Bengali Art and Literature. The fact that many of the powerful film makers, story writers, and lyricists were also successful and accomplished novelists and/or poets are a strong marker of this close bond. The film-makers were also have been fond of making films on popular and famous novels. This close relation of art, culture and literature has ensured that the films reflect the true life stories and thus can create a close affinity with its audience. Many of the famous and awarded films, which were also based on equally popular novels, illustrated the struggle of the poor, the homeless and also the struggle of morality of the middle class. ‘Surjo Dighal Bari’ (The Ominous House, 1979)a novel by Abu Ishaque is an example of such a film.

The pre-liberation Bangla films manifest the great language movement, fight against the oppressive and autocratic military rule and ultimately the fight for independence. These films were not only meant to be depicting the contemporary socio-political scenario but also used as a vehicle for provoking the emotions of the mass. Other than the storyline itself the songs used in these films where also very significant. In fact several of the films had the Bangladeshi National Anthem incorporated into the storyline, e.g. ‘Jibon Theke Neya’. Most of the films that came out after the liberation war and independence had subject-line related to the war, the independence, massacre of three million people and huge violation and harassment of womenfolk and loss of property.  Stop Genocide (1971),Ora Egaro Jon, Aguner poroshmoni, Orunodoyer ognishaksi, Matir Moyna (The Clay Bird, 2002), Muktir Gaan are the example of films those are based on our liberation war.

Village life was the core theme of a huge number of films. Bangladesh being a country mostly made up of villages (approximately 66 thousand), this is quite understandable and correctly reflected. Sometimes it centered the superstitious village mind or the oppression by the influential groups on the common people, some other times depressed womanhood took this place. Love between men and women in pastoral context were also a subject of many films. As middle class society began to evolve along with urban life, a good number of films started to portray the arising problems and complexities, uprising middle class people, their social context and the human emotions in their life. Lal salu (Tree Without Root 2001), by Tanvir Mokammel ,Kittonkhola (200), by Abu Sayeed are example of  more social conscious movies of this region those highlight the identity struggle especially the gender, religion and ethnic identity of the village people.

Until recently Bangladeshi films have not clearly followed the distinctions of genres such as Action, Comedy, Romance, War, Thriller, etc. Almost all of them could be classified as social-family movie. All the films had little bit of all human emotions such as sorrow, laughter, love, drama and conflicts. Other than the liberation war movies most of the Bangladeshi movies are mostly void of Action or War. There is not any clear instance of scary movie as well. So, most of the movies reflected the socio-cultural realities of time and straggle of human life.

Some Socially conscious Bangladeshi movies :

Jibon Theke Neya

Screenplay: Zahir Raihan
Director of Photography: Afzal Choudhury
Editor: Enamul Huq
Music: Khan Ataur Rahman
Producer & Director: Zahir Raihan
Release Year: 1970
Genre: Drama

Cast:
Khan Ataur Rahman, Rowshan Jamil, Anwar Hossain, Rosy Samad, Razzak, Suchanda etc…

Story plot:

Jibon Theke Neya is one of the most eminent Bangla movies directed by  Zahir Raihan. The movie is a political satire based on the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The main roles are portrayed by Khan Ataur Rahman, Rowshan Jamil, Anwar Hossain, Rosy Samad, Razzak, and Suchanda. Zahir Raihan used the metaphor of a family dominated by an autocratic woman which symbolize the political dictatorship of Ayub Khan in the then East Pakistan . Both  stories run in parallel where  the people rise in political protest outside and inside, the family members gather courage to rebel the dictatorial woman. At the end of the movie the director showed  the release of political workers and  the punishment of the autocratic woman which is also a metaphor. Zahir Raihan took  a bold step  to portray the contemporary political turmoil in the then East Pakistan with this movie . In this movie the National Anthem of Bangladesh, Amar Shonar Bangla Ami Tomae Bhalobashi was played for the first time which is first in  a  Bangla movie. The song was not only used as the National Anthem but also was able to  generate the  sense of Bengali nationalism among the masses. So,Jibon Theke Neya was not only a movie to be depict the contemporary socio-political scenario but also used as a vehicle for provoking the emotional upsurge of the mass.

Ora Egaro Jon

The first and most famous movie released on our Independence War is  ‘Ora Egaro Jon’, directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam. The movie is considered to be one of the best feature films based on the Liberation War. Khasru, Sumita Devi, and Shabana were in  the leading roles in the film.The film was made with a genuine feeling of the liberation war because people involved in this movie were involved in the Liberation war. Hence, Ora Egaro Jon was able to create the actual  feeling and emotion during the war among the audience at that time which we notice is  missing in today’s movies. So,the movie Ora Egaro Jon , is considered  a socially conscious movie from Bangladesh that portrayed the geopolitical struggle of this nation.

Shurjodighal Bari (1979):

Directors: Mashihuddin Shaker and

Sheikh Niamat Ali

Director of Photography: Answar Hosen

Rawshan Jamil in Shurjo Dighal Bari (left) and Anwar Hossain (right). Photo: Mumit M. Source: The Daily Star

Release Year: 1979

Review:

The first  Bangla movie financed by the Bangladesh government is Surjodighal Bari (The Ominous House),portrayed in a rural setting, Jointly directed by Mashihuddin Shaker and Sheikh Niamat Ali. In the film the practicality of life was depicted in  a very natural way. Surjodhighal Bari another socially conscious movie of Bangladesh that portrays the eternal struggles of the subjugated poor of this country. Rowshan Jamil, Dolly Anwar, Keramat Moula, and Elora Gohar played the major characters in the movie. The movie  received several National Awards.

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]]> http://jbpv.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/pics-of-zarah/feed/ 3 jbpv IMG_8596 IMG_8582 IMG_8553 IMG_8592 IMG_8639 IMG_8541 IMG_8559 IMG_8563 IMG_8663 IMG_8546 IMG_8540 IMG_8567 IMG_8574 IMG_8610 IMG_8585 IMG_8594 IMG_8538 http://jbpv.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/festivity-in-bangladesh-part-eleven/ http://jbpv.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/festivity-in-bangladesh-part-eleven/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:05:09 +0000 jbpv http://jbpv.wordpress.com/?p=230 ]]> Pohela Falgun:

Bangladesh is the country of six seasons and Spring is the last of them. With new leaves in the trees, various known and unknown colorful flowers, and the coos of cuckoos, the spring comes to Bangladesh. ‘Pohela Falgun’ is the first day of spring and eleventh month in the Bengali Calendar. Falgun announces the coming of Spring with its glamorous color. The festival lover Bengalis welcome and celebrate this day with great respect, love and in a colorful manner.

Krishna Chura, Flowers of Spring in Bangladesh

Pohela Falgun brings joys and colors in the life of Bangladeshi people. After the dryness of winter, new leaves start to come out again and the nature adorns the brunches with new colorful flowers. Especially the Krishnachuras (gold mohar) bring the news of spring first. Cuckoos start singing from trees to trees. Nature becomes magnificent with coming of Spring. Everything in nature gives an impression of youthfulness or freshness as if the nature takes a new birth. Falgun represents ‘rebirth’ for all these reasons.

Various types of festivals take place on Pohela Falgun. The blazing red and yellow are the representative colors of Pohela Falgun. Bengali people embellish themselves with these two primary colors. On this occasion we see an example of secularism. Everyone enjoys and celebrates together. The slogan of this day is- ‘‘Esho mili Pran er utshobe’’ (Come mingle in the festival of Life). Many cultural organizations like ‘Jatiya Boshonto Utshab Udjapan Parishad’ arrange programs. Besides  the fine art institutes celebrate the day with special attention all over the country . The festivals start with traditional musical and dance shows performed by the artists of Chayanat and Shishu Academy. People play with colorful paints. Some fabricate their faces with Bengali Alpanas. After the musical and dance shows a rally takes place. This is also a ‘Mangal Yatra’. The Bengali nation welcomes the day with humble respect, love and care.

Girls performing dances at "Bokultola" in the Institute of Fine Art on Spring Festival

Idols and masks used on pohela boishakh

”Pohela Boishakh”, the Bengali New Year, is the most special day for every Bengali national. Bengalis are usually a festival lover nation. Their every special occasions are full of festivities and they celebrate their new year with most love, care and excitement. This is the biggest public festival of Bangladesh. The most glorious side of this occasion is on this day each and every Bengali, regardless of their religion; creed or clan welcomes the New Year and celebrates the day together. This unity makes the day more significant. On this day forgetting all dissensions everyone gets absorbed deeply into the one nationality feeling.

The Bengalis start preparing for the festival at least one month before the New Year. The biggest preparations are taken especially by the fine art institutes all over the country. The most colorful New Year’s Day festival takes place in Dhaka. Large numbers of people gather early in the morning under the Banyan Tree at Ramna Park ( Ramna botomul) where Chhayanat artistes open the day with a famous Tagore song, Esho he Boishakh esho esho (Come O Boishakh, come), welcoming Boishakh (April-May). A similar ceremony welcoming the New Year is also held at the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Students and teachers of the institute take out a colorful procession and parade round the campus. In the rural areas farmers’ wives prepare ‘amani’ by soaking green mango and rice in a large earthen vessel on the last day of Chaitra (March-April). A leafy mango twig is also placed in the vessel. At dawn everybody eats the soaked rice while the water in the vessel is sprinkled on the bodies with the help of the mango twig. This keeps the body cool in the hot summer. Families prepare special dishes in the belief that a good meal at the start of the year will set the trend for the whole year.

To observe the day young women wear white saris with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles,flowers, and bindis. Men wear white pajamas or dhoti and kurta. In cities people starts the day with the traditional breakfast of panta bhat (cooked rice soaked with water), green chilies, onion, and fried hilsa fish.

One of the main feature of celebrating Pohela Boishakh and welcome the new day is with the procession called ‘‘Mangal Yatra”. This ”Mangal yatra” is believed to be an auspicious starting for New Year. On every New Year bengali people uses different auspicious symbolic idols for the ”Mangal yatra”. Such as Owl (symbol of Laksmi), Elephant (symbol of strength), Horse (symbol of energy and progress), Tiger (symbol of power), Peacock (symbol of beauty), Dove (symbol of peace) etc. One or two idols are taken as the leading icon of ”Mangal Yatra” and the followers behind hold various types of masks in their hands. Those masks also symbolize many aspects of human and nature. The total ”Yatra” looks very meaningful with the long round walk of people with masks and idols.

Buddha Purnima:

The main festival of the Buddhists is Buddha Purnima or Baishakhi Purnima. It is celebrated on the day of the full moon in Bengali month Baishakh (April-May). It is believed by the Buddhists that three important events occurred in the life of Buddha on this day; his birth, his gaining enlightenment, and his death. On this day Buddhists arrange collective prayers and other religious ceremonies, recite stories of The Buddha and his disciples, organize socials and cultural events. The day is observed as a public holiday. Fairs are also held on the day at different villages in Bangladesh.

Prabarana Purnima:

Probarana Purnima is another Buddhist festival, also known as Ashshini Purnima. Prabarana means both adopting wholly and forbidding. Prabarana is observed on the day of the full moon in the month of Ashshin (September-October). At the end of Prabarana, every Buddhist monasteries celebrates the festival of Kathin Chibar Dan.  Kathin Chibar Dan means difficult (Kathin) cloth (Chibar: used by monks) donation (Dan). On this day, it usually takes 24 hours to prepare Kathin Chibar from thread processed by spinning jum cotton  It is the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist people. The festival  is celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour. Millions of Buddhist devotees from the  hill districts and other parts of the country gather during the occasion at  Bana Bihar, an internationaly famous  buddhists temple in Bangladesh in Rangamati Hill District  . Moreover, Ministers, MPs and high officials also attend the festival. To enjoy the festival  many people  along with the Buddhists  crowd at Bana Bihar . Devotees bring various gifts  on this occasion and robes are given to the monks .  Buddhists believe that on Probarana Purnima  day Lord Buddha went to the abode of the gods, and, after blessing his mother, returned to earth.

Buddhists send fanus (hot air ballon) in the sky on the day of Prabarana Purnima

The most attractive event on Probarana Purnima is making spacial hot-air balloons called ‘Fanush’  and send them in the sky as a symbol of lighting up the sky.

Children performing folk dance during pre-Christmas program held on Dec 19, 2008, at Bottomely School’s ground in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Festival of Christians:

Christmas Day ( Bara Din):

Apart from the Hindus, Christians also observe the religious festivals of their own. Islam is the state religion in Bangladesh, but the country’s constitution and secular laws guarantee religious freedom for the nearly 350,000 Christians in this nation of 140 million. The main festival of Christians is Christmas Day or birthday of Jesus Christ (PBUH), is celebrated on 25^th December. In Bangladesh Christmas is referred as Bara Din (Big Day).

Local lay, religious and clergies gathered at pre-Christmas programme held on Dec 19, 2008, at Bottomely School’s ground in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The main characteristics of this day are special prayer in churches, arrangements of feasts, sharing gifts among families and friends. Like all other countries Bangladeshi Christians also decorate trees, branches and lights up their houses. Some churches host religious gatherings while other churches invite the community to join them in decorating Christmas tree and singing carols. Some churches also organize feasts after the services.

The Christian village men cut down scores of banana trees and replant them in pairs along the paths to churches and outside their homes, for Christmas in Bangladesh.  They bend over the huge leaves to make an arch, and then make small holes in the bamboo poles, fill them with oil and tie them across the arches.  When the oil is lit the way to church is bright.

The festival is celebrated throughout the country with due religious enthusiasm, love, joy and sharing in tune with the celebrations all across the world.

Janmastami:

Two Hindu Kids dressed up as Lord Krishna and Radha

Janmastami is an old festival in Bangladesh. Janmstami or the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna is celebrated in this region with great devotion and festivity. Colorful processions, gatherings, Geeta Jaggyam (special prayers), Kirtan (devotional songs) and Puja (worship) at Hindu temples are the main features of Janmastami. Most attractive aspect of Janmastami procession is the tradition of dressing up as Krishna, Radha and other characters from the life of Krishna in Bangladesh. Devotees gather at the temple from morning to offer their prayers to Lord Krishna.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna, the embodiment of God, descended to this world with a promise to establish love, truth and justice. It is said that Shrikrishna (Lord Krishna) was born on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight in the Bengali month of Bhadra (August-September). So this day is a very sacred day to the Hindus. In almost all the regions of the subcontinent, this day is observed in some way or the other as a religious festival. It is a public holiday in Bangladesh.

Saraswati Puja:

Saraswati puja, Jagannath Hall, Dhaka University

On the fifth lunar day of the bright night in the Bengali month of Magh (January-February), Saraswati Puja is held. Saraswati is the Goddess of learning. According to Hindu mythology Saraswati is the wife of Brahma, the creator. She is represented as fair and wearing a white sari and a garland of white beads. The whiteness symbolizes the purity of Saraswati. Saraswati is mounted on a swan carrying a kacchapi vina on her hand. As she is the Goddess of learning specially Hindu students worship her. During the Puja, Hindu students place their textbooks and pens on her alter with the sacred books. The Hindu devotees believe that an ignorant person can acquire knowledge through the blessing of Saraswati.  All the academic institutions remain closed on that occasion. Tough Saraswati Puja is observed in the academic institutions; some Hindu families arrange worship at their home. The series of pujas that starts with Durga comes to an end with Saraswati Puja.

Kali Puja:

Kali, Source: Banglapedia: The National encyclopedia of Bangladesh

Hindus perform Kali Puja on the new moon day usually in the month of Kartik (October-November). According to Hindu myth Kali is the first of ten female energies of Shiva (the third God of the Hindu triad). Kali is also known as dark, four armed and wearing a string of human heads with blood dripping from them. Hindu mythology describes her as three eyed, with one eye in the center of her forehead. She stands on the chest of Shiva is circled by his worshipers.

Kali Puja is held when asking for a special boon. In rural areas of Bangladesh people arrange Kali Puja jointly during an epidemic. He-goats, sheep, or buffaloes are sacrificed on that occasion. There are a number of kali temples in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh.

Laksmi Puja:

Laksmi Puja is held on the full moon following Durga Puja. It is a religious festival of Hindus celebrating Laksmi, the Goddess of prosperity and good fortune. It is believed that on that

Devi Laksmi; Source: Banglapedia: The national Encyclopedia Of Bangladesh

night The Goddess Laksmi visits houses to distribute blessings, rewarding those who keep awake whole night worshiping her.

Alpana design; Source: Banglapedia:The national Encyclopedia of Bangladesh

People decorate the floors and courtyards of their houses with Alpanas or floral designs with rice paste on the occasion of Lakshi Puja. They also decorate  the path from the door of the houses to the alter of the goddess and the cowshed. The path is often marked with tiny footprints, made by dipping rounded fists in rice paste and stamping the ground with them which symbolizes Laksmi’s path. Distribution of foods, playing game , eating coconut and sweet balls made of fried or flattened rice, and drinking coconut water are the features of laksmi Puja.

“Some people also perform a special Puja for Laksmi every Thursday. In some areas, Laksmi Puja is held at dusk on the day of the new moon in Kartik (October-  Novemebr). Goddess Laksmi may be worshipped in the form of a statue or as a painted image on a pitcher or pot.”

If you visit the Hindu houses in village area you will find a seat for Laksmi in their home as Laksmi is widely worshiped in Bangladesh and also in West Bengal.