A mind-stirring debut in camera

A photograph by Roudro

One finds skill, imagination and maturity of an adult in the coloured photos which are remarkable for the wealth of story telling behind each shot. All the photos in the display have been taken in Dhaka, at spots like the Dhanmondi amphitheatre, the Baishakhi Mela and the scene around Dhanmondi Lake. Roudro has also captured scenes and people whom he came across while travelling in a car with his father--placards in a street scene along with the quizzical look of a vendor or even the telling surrounding images seen from his balcony.

There is also the drama of the debate of the crows with the large crow appearing to give a volatile speech to the other smaller crows with their shining black feathers, like some amazing, black, metal armours, seen in the lens focus. The 'lazing' ladder in the backdrop of a park seen in the picture is simple but thought provoking, when accompanying footnote is read. Each photo may not speak for itself, but the captions, which Roudro composed himself, seen in the display lend interest and enchantment. There is a definite concern for the preservation of our environment. A magic spell is woven within the two rooms of the display at Shilpangan.

It is not altogether surprising that the young camera enthusiast is so mature at such a young age and that he has taken to the camera clicking at so tender his age. His father is the well-known iconoclast, architect and artist Enamul Karim Nirjhar, who is in the process of making a feature film overseas and who has numerous photography and fine art exhibitions, which stir up the mind with a bang. Nirjhar, who once owned the popular gallery, Jojon, does not believe in 'Art for art's sake'; and feels that every public endeavour of an individual should be mind-boggling. Roudro's mother Zakia Rahman is a teacher at Sunbeams School and writer for Star Weekend Magazine; and together their product, the young shutter enthusiast, has been groomed early in life.

His passion for the camera is indeed one to be seen and marvelled at.

The exhibition, My Camera Friend, inaugurated by Mostafa Monwar, will give the proceeds of the sale to flood affected students by TRY Foundation. Thus we get Roudro's intrinsic caring and sharing nature, inculcated in him by his farseeing parents.

This experience, believes his father, will be something for the young cameraman to hark back to. Our thought processes seem to be limited and frenzied, believes Nirjhar, and so a child must be groomed to pause and think, and not be swallowed up in the stream of facile interests, such as watching TV cartoons.