Film is perhaps the most powerful medium of storytelling. Many impressive films were made on our glorious War of Liberation. On the eve of the victory day, let's have a look on five films which evoke the memories of the war and move the audiences into tears.
Ora Egaro Jon (1972)Ora Egaro Jon, written by Al Masood and directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam, was the first of its kind when it comes to feature films of Liberation War. The film has become the symbol of the martyrdom struggle of Bengali regarding the sacrifice, struggle, and the pride of independence.
Keeping in mind the "11 point movements" against the Pakistani regime and the 11 sectors of the liberation war, the film was named Ora Egaro Jon. At the beginning of the film, six cannon balls are heard in the title. According to the director, these are the symbolic words of six-point demand. The arms and ammunition used in shooting for this movie were all real. The film was released on August 13, 1972.
Aguner Poroshmoni (1994)Humayun Ahmed, a well-known fictionist, made his own directorial debut in 1994 with Aguner Poroshmoni. The horror, fear, and sorrows of a family living in Dhaka during the War of Liberation became alive in this movie.
The story revolves around a simple family living in Dhaka during the war of liberation. Though the family is worried about the Pakistani army, they gave shelter to a freedom fighter at their house. At one point, the daughter of the family became weak for the freedom fighter. The story ends with the death of the young man and the rising of the sun of freedom.
The movie won the national award as the best film of 1994 for its unconventional plot, lively characters, humorous dialogues, and unique style of the storyline. The film starred Asaduzzaman Noor, Bipasha Hayat, Doli Johur, and Dilara Zaman.
Muktir Gaan (1995)
During the Liberation War, American journalist Lear Levin captured the activities of a group of musician struggling in the refugee camp of India for a television company. After 22 years of independence, the young filmmaker Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud recovered the footage from the UK and made a heart touching film titled Muktir Gaan sorting the original footage.
The movie explores the impact of cultural identity on the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 when music and songs provided a source of inspiration to the freedom fighters and a spiritual bond for uniting the nation. The film won the national award for best film in 1995.
Hangor Nodi Grenade (1997)Hangor Nodi Grenade is a film by Morshedul Islam based on the Selina Hossain's famous fiction on the same name. The movie deals with a tragic story of a mother who dedicates her only son for the sake of the freedom of the country during liberation war in 1971.
Shuchorita, who played the role of a loving mother, had a teenage son of special need. During the war of liberation, she handed over her disabled son to the Pakistani army while protecting the freedom fighters. The Pakistani brutes killed her son cruelly in front of the mother.
The film depicted such a heart-rending story of ultimate sacrifice of a mother which was not only appreciated by the critics but also received the National Film Award. The film starred Sohel Rana, Shuchorita, Chowdhury Zawata Afnan, Rayan Ibtesham Chowdhury, RefayatZinnat, and Faiyaz Bin Zia.
Amar Bondhu Rashed (2011)Amar Bondhu Rashed, a film by Morshedul Islam, is based on a fictional story of the Liberation War written by Mohammad Jafar Iqbal. The movie portrayed how a teenager's mind was stirred in the call to liberation.
Rashed, a brave young kid, was politically conscious. In an open confrontation, a freedom fighter got captured. Rashed along with his friends, by means of his extraordinary plan, helped him escape from the death. At the end of the film, Rashed had two choices, one was to give out the positions of freedom fighters to the enemy and the other was to accept a bullet. Rashed took the courageous decision. After the country's independence, when all of the friends were reunited in the small town, they discovered that Rashed was no more. Though Rashed was killed brutally by the Pakistani army, his memories survived lifetime in the core of his friends' hearts.
The writer writes under pseudonym
