Lalon to be released shortly

Asad and Shomi Kaiser as Lalon and his daughter Piyarinnesa

The bauls of Bengal with their mystic songs and inimitable lifestyle are a very special sect. Throughout the centuries baul songs, depicting asceticism and transience of life, have expressed the pathos and pangs of the castle-ridden subaltern rural populace of Bengal. Lalon Fakir (?-1890) was a unique figure among the bauls (the minstrel) of Bengal.

Lalon's lyrics have enchanted the people of Bangladesh as well as West Bengal for generations. Lalon's position as a folk-philosopher and composer of songs has still remained unsurpassed even after a hundred years of his death. But surprisingly, very little is actually known about the life of this mystic poet and much of it is shrouded in mystery.

'By portraying the milieu of Lalon, a kind of Guru during his time, my film aims to catch the social ethos of his period,' says Tanvir Mokammel. 'Some historical personalities like Jyotrindranath Tagore, Kangal Harinath and Mir Mosharraf Hossain who came in touch with Lalon also figure in the film,' he informs. The film Lalon aims to find the minstrel's persona, his philosophy, and tries to explore the lyrical beauty of his songs.

Earlier in India Shakti Chattopadhyay made a film on the life of Lalon titled Lalon Fakir in 1986 which also won the national award that year. Mokammel's version is, however, the first feature film entirely on the legendary character in Bangladesh.

Tanvir Mokammel started shooting the film at different locations of Jessore, Kushtia and Hotapara in April 2003 and continued for three months. The 2-hour-and-20-minute movie is produced by Anjan Chowdhury Pintu and Kino-Eye Films.

Acclaimed actor Raisul Islam Asad plays Lalon in the most part of the film. On the other hand, Orko Saha and Azad Abul Kalam act the character in his childhood and youth. Besides, Shomi Kaiser performs the character of Lalon's daughter Piyarinnessa, Tammanna Yasmin plays Bishakha--Lalon's all-time companion, Bhaswar Banarjee plays Lalon's step-father Malam Shah, and Chitralekha Guha plays his step mother Motijan Bibi. Among the historical characters, Khurshiduzzaman Utpal plays Jyotirindranath Tagore, Shahab Ali acts in the role of Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Ramendhu Mazumdar plays one of those who denounced Lalon at that time. The cast also includes Wahida Mollick Joly and about 25 bauls. Eminent folk-singer Farida Parveen and many bauls give voice to about thirty songs.