To most people, a face is a face. To Atia Rahman, it’s a map of memory, trauma, identity, and fiction. When she works, she is not just applying makeup but rather layering psychology, reconstructing time, and adding evidence to a character’s backstory.

A biopic chronicling the life of the revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam has received official approval in Kolkata’s film industry. The avant-garde project will be helmed by director Abdul Alim, with actor Kinjal Nanda slated to take on the mantle of the titular character of Nazrul on screen.