Behind the lens

Manzare Hassin Murad speaking about his documentary on Begum Sufia Kamal

Recalling some of the horrific incidents of that time, Murad says, 'At Chuknagar, within two hours the Pakistani Army had killed nearly 12,000 refugees who were migrating to India for shelter. As electronic media was not so well entrenched at that time, I haven't got any video footages of the massacres. I will use comments of people who somehow survived. Moreover, I will use some news documents published in newspapers. My main source will be the publication of the National University under "Liberation War History Project" lead by Professor Muntassir Mamun.'

Murad has been making alternative films since 1991. So far he has directed seven documentary films. Dwelling on the reason for directing documentary films in video format, Murad says, 'Making films in VHS is cheaper than other formats. Secondly, we do not need to face the censor board in the case of video format. I made Aparajita in 16mm format, but I had suffered a lot because of the expenditure and censorship hurdles.'

As many as 25 alternative filmmakers are now making documentary films in Bangladesh. Many young people are also interested in joining the field. However, they have to reckon with major problems. As Murad says, 'Over the last five years, four documentary filmmakers have won major awards in international film festivals. Yet, very few producers are interested in producing documentary films.

'In developed countries, TV channels produce documentary films. Often, NGOs also sponsor documentary films. In Bangladesh, however, we get very little sponsorship from foreign NGOs. Local NGOs that sometimes come up with support insist that we make only social issue-based documentary films.

'Moreover, documentary filmmakers are not encouraged by national awards: only one national award is provided in this category which is obviously not sufficient. Private organisations that have awards on cultural activities also do not have any award in this field. Furthermore, not much training is available for young people who want to direct documentary films.'

Adds Murad, 'The National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO) can easily arrange training for documentary filmmakers. Documentary filmmaking should be introduced at the university level. TV channels should produce documentary films so that filmmakers get scope to work. In this way, the problems in the field can be reduced a little.'

What's next with Murad? He has an ambitious plan to make a feature film. As he says, 'I am writing the screenplay based on the idea of Aktaruzzaman Ilias' novel Apoghat. Within a few days I hope to start working on the film.' And his viewers are likely to wish more power to Murad's forthcoming directorial ventures.