On Bachelor

By M S Zaman, Lecturer in English, Notre Dame College, Dhaka
11 March 2004, 18:00 PM
A couple of weeks back, I called one of my female students 'heroine of a Bengali movie' quite jokingly. She took it seriously, flared up as if I had heaped on her the worst reproach. She stopped contacting me any further as well. The only cause I perceive is that I have associated her with Bengali movie which has become synonymous to detestation. I don't blame her neither do I blame anyone who avoids Bengali movie as a means of entertainment. It does not mean that people have stopped watching movie. In fact, they watch much more than they did in the past given that the influx of satellite channels has enabled people to have the access to numerous cultures they can stick around for their satisfaction. Regarding Bengali movie, the common people feel a bit disillusioned as it does not represent their values, sense and sentiment. There are two kinds of movies being made in our country. The first stream is 'art film' as they call it which is made for a class of people living in an elevated plane having a sense of introspection and aestheticism. A person with a moderate head and heart is sure to be foxed with it. The second category is cocooned as 'commercial film' made for the people living in the abyss of cultural degeneration. Neither of the categories aims at relating the common people. That's why the prospect and the popularity of Bengali movie is on the decline.

A couple of days back some of my colleagues (everyone is married except me) insisted me to go to the theatre to enjoy 'Bachelor'. Initially I refused to accompany them though eventually I submitted to their insistence quite reluctantly. My experience has been overwhelming. It does not seem to be a typical Bengali movie ignoring facts and heightening fantasy. At the same time it does not resort to all the traditional elements of a movie such as violence, romance, song, and buffoonery to impress the people by titillating them. It's a different approach and commitment to movie, providing people with entertainment without brushing aside the pinching reality besetting them.

Today's people particularly the young generation seem to have been wallowing in an ocean of crisis springing from a sense of insecurity that has made them restless and callous . They even don't hesitate to experience with their life. To them, nothing is everlasting . Then what is the point of thinking of permanent relationship as it does not practically exist? They relate and isolate and start to explore a new source of relationship. Because of rejecting and being rejected everyone feels that at the end of the day he is lonely, alone and isolated. Relationship devoid of intensity and isolation of individuals is the theme that the whole movie seems to have been revolving around. As a result, it has become the manifestation of today's reality and hence the interest of the people about it . The whole group has accomplished a tremendous work. Congrats, keep it up.