Approach to history through Films

Mohammad Riead hasan and Md. Yeasen Hossain

Tahmidal Zami, a guest speaker discussing about the independence movement during Pakistan period. Photo: Md. Yeasen Hossain

To introduce the history of independence movement, "Cholochitre Itihash Path" titled a film screening event was held in ULAB.
This film exhibition was organized by Cinemascope starting from 1 December-3 December based on the  independence movement and its effects in Indian subcontinent.

Film and history is related to one another. According to Mohammad Shazzad Hoassain, adviser of Cinemascope and senior lecturer of ULAB, history is important for mass people. People have to watch films to know the history. Because it gives us the instructions to understand the current situation. 

"If we don’t know the history, then we can’t deal with the present situation. If we want to understand what is happening nowadays, we must know the history." “Films are great witness of history. That’s why we tried to introduce the history through films,” he added.

He also said that this event will help the young film-makers  not to represent the history in wrong way.

“Former great film-makers had given instructions on publishing a history-based film and what should be the role as a film-maker,” said Shazzad.

For the very first time Cinemascope organized an event which was totally directed in Bangla language. Its posters, banners, post-discussions after film screening all were delivered in Bangla language.

“As we are screening films to read the history of Indian subcontinent through the movement against the British, we have boycotted their language,” said Arif Arman Badol, research and publication head of Cinemascope.

There was a discussion session after screening each film. On first day of this event, the guest speaker was Afsan Chowdhury. He described briefly about the film Muktir Gaan and Ekattorer Jishu which were screened earlier that day. On second day, Tahmidal Zami was the guest speaker. He talked about the division history of Pakistan during 1947. And Professor Dr. Salimullah khan was the guest speaker on the last day of this event. He described the period of 1857.

These discussion sessions were held to get the background information and clear idea of those screened films.

“We arranged a discussion session after screening each film. After watching a particular film, we had some ideas which were not clear or correct. But after the discussion session, we got a clear image on that particular film. Because the guest speakers described that film and gave background information on them,” said Mir Wadud Islam, CEO of Cinemascope.

Zahin hasan, a new member of Cinemascope family said, ‘The films which were screened during this event, were based on different particular movement in Indian subcontinent. The audience will understand how the filmmakers of these films represented that period and how they visualized them through films.’ 
This event exhibited 5 films whice were ‘Muktir Gaan‘-directed by Tareque Masud, ‘Ekattorer Jishu’- Nasiruddin Yousuff, ‘Midnight’s Children’- Deepa Mehta, ‘Komal Gandhar’- Ritwik Kumar Ghatak and ‘Shatranjee Ki Khiladi’- Satyajit Ray.