'The lost love story': Film wins prize in Finland
Talking about the films Arjo said, that this was his first venture. He said, 'When I was younger I had gone for film shooting with my father, K M Mithu, and when he rested I played with his Beta camera.' Giving the story-line of his film, The lost love story Arjo said that the heroine, Shiropa and her father were going home from school, when they came across a poor street vendor, Chandu, selling spicy chips. Asked why the father (played by Shahidul Alam Sachhu) appeared flustered at this, Arjo explained that the father was saving up for his daughter's future. Dwelling on the scene of the birthday, he explained, that the heroine wanted some of the savings to be eventually taken and given to Chandu and given in the form of lots of chocolates.
This was not easy, he added as Chandu (played by Utsho) is naturally poor and lives far away, in the heart of an imaginary village, Kusumpur, in Bangladesh. Shiropa rebels, threatens and intimidates by not cutting her birthday cake. The finale of the film contains dancing in the form of a ballet and scattering of gentle images.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Asked about the selection of the actors and actresses, Arjo said that he had seen Shahidul Alam Sacchu (the father) and Shireen Bokul (who played the mother) and the Utsho, when he had been exposed to the TV, films and other films, during the process of growing up. Arjo's father had made a film T-Xer Shondhaney on three children and that is where he had come across Utsho. As for Shiropa (the heroine), who is six and studies at Sunnydale School, that's his sister; and who paints, studies and sings -- gently and collectively -- like the rest of his family. The parents of Utsho were his own, Arjo added.
The music in the background had been played by Arjo himself on a toy piano (electrical and battery operated) and a harmonium. This includes Ek din chhuti hobey, a song which accompanies the credits. The countries participating in the film festival were USA, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. The children's section included 534 film makers.
Arjo Shrestho has won an award for painting from the Shishu Academy when he was six years old and his paintings, which are impressionistic, have been seen in the recent past at Gallery Tone. His other hobbies include cricket, boxing and most other games that boys of his age go in for.