Afzal Hossain’s video raises awareness on the pandemic

A Chitragantha (pictorial visual), titled Together, to raise awareness on the current coronavirus pandemic, was recently launched. The nearly 11-minute video was widely shared on social media. Afzal Hossain, who planned, scripted and directed the made-at-home video featuring renowned actors, posted it on his YouTube channel on May 12.

"We never thought of facing such circumstances. Documenting this time and its harsh reality is a social responsibility. We, the actors, have tried to share our experiences in it to raise awareness. Most people in the country are callous and don't want to abide by rules. As a result, a disorganised and haphazard lifestyle has engulfed us. Many are carrying on their practices as usual in these critical times as well," said Afzal Hossain during a telephone conversation with The Daily Star. "Our hospitals cannot accommodate a large number of patients and the healthcare professionals will be overwhelmed. Some unwise decisions like the opening of garment factories and shopping malls, along with falsifications of the real scenario and people escaping from hospitals has made circumstances even more dire. How can we save humanity with such mismanagement?"    

The video begins with the continuous ringing of mobile phones. Renowned actor and Member of Parliament Asaduzzaman Noor receives a phone call with reciting a poem. Celebrated thespians Ramendu Majumdar and Ferdousi Majumdar exchanged dialogues such as, "Forgetting normalcy of life we were running around like machines. The machine itself yet stops working, but we never stopped…"

Renowned artistes, including  Abul Hayat, Rahmat Ali, Wahida Mollick Jolly, Mamunur Rashid, Afzal Hossan, Subarna Mustafa, Tariq Anam Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Zahid Hassan, Tauquir Ahmed, Mosharraf Karim, Chanchal Chowdhury, Afsana Mimi, Tropa Majumdar, Apon Ahsan, Tarin, Aupee Karim, Sajal, Jitu Ahsan, Dipa Khandaker, Sadia Islam Mou, Tahsan, Zakia Bari Mamo and others also featured in the video with their families, exchanging outstanding dialogues amongst themselves.

Apart from urging people to stay at home, the video shows appreciation and respect for the frontline fighters, like healthcare professionals. It also depicts how we need to be compassionate towards vulnerable communities. "Negligence towards the victims, and people's so-called social taboos and heartlessness may become even more dangerous than the virus," mentions Aupee Karim in the video. "We salute and take pride in those who are serving mankind during these critical times," adds Afsana Mimi in the video.

A white bearded and contemplative Afzal Hossain is seen in the video. He paints and prays for others. Ashraf Uddin edited the video. Anowar Hossain Bulu and Arif Khan also contributed to the making of the production.