Bangla film to be screened at Jaipur Film Festival

Eminent Bangladeshi director Tanvir Mokammel's latest film, which is based on the life of a Hindu drummer during the country's Liberation War in 1971, will be screened at the Jaipur International Film Festival to be held from February 1 to 5.
Mokammel, whose films have won national and international accolades, told PTI that he himself will be in Jaipur during the Festival where "Jibondhuli" (The Drummer) will be screened.
He said the 90-minute film is awaiting clearance from the Bangladesh censor board and is expected to be premiered in his country on December 17.
"Jibondhuli" is based on the life of Jibonkrishna Das, a poor lower-caste Hindu drummer who eked out a living with his wife and two children by beating drums during festivals. Being from lower-caste, Jibon was ill-treated both by his Muslim neighbours as well as by upper caste Hindus.

During the Liberation War in 1971 when Pakistan army occupied Jibon's village, the drummer, along with others, tried to flee to India but on the way, his family members were massacred by the Pakistani soldiers.
However, Jibon survived and returned to his village which was then being brutally ruled by an Islamic auxiliary force collaborating with the Pakistan army. The commander of the auxiliary force spared Jibon's life on condition that he had to play drum for his marauding force. Jibon's life became very ironic until the freedom fighters arrived.
Well-known Bangladeshi actor Shatabdi Wadud plays in the title role while veterans Ramendu Majumder, Tabibul Islam Babu, Wahida Mallik Joly, Chittralekha Guha, Joytika Joyti, Rafika Eva, Uttam Guha, Iqbal Hossain, Paresh Archyaja, Pran Roy are among the cast.

Mokammel's earlier feature films like 'Chitra Nadir Paarey' (Quiet Flow the Chitra) and 'Nadir Naam Modhumati' (River Named Modhumati) are also set in the backdrop of Liberation War. His mega documentary on the War was recently shown in Kolkata International Film Festival.