British-Bangladeshi filmmaker Munsur Ali’s debut film Shongram is set to release tomorrow in 50 cinemas of the country. The film will be premiered today at the Blockbuster Cinemas, Jamuna Future Park.
The production have a plan to hold a world premiere in London in June 2014 followed by Europe and international release.
Fashion model and aspiring actor Dilruba Yasmeen Ruhee pairs with talented young actor Amaan Reza for the first time on the silver screen. The film also features international cast including Bollywood’s Anupam Kher, and Hollywood and European star Asia Argento. Other Bangladeshi artists include Armaan Parvez Murad, Shubrotho and Ananta Hira.
Shongram is a romantic drama which is set against the backdrop of the Liberation War in 1971, a flashback story told forty-three years later in London by a British Bangladeshi freedom fighter Karim. He shares his experience with a reporter. He tells the tale of falling in love during a difficult time. Karim, played by Amaan Reza, falls in love with a jovial rural girl Asha played by Ruhee. What further complicates the situation is the fact that they were of different religion. Karim is Muslim while Asha is from a Hindu family - this single aspect is the cause for a roller-coaster journey.
The serenity of village life is suddenly interrupted by war and Karim must grow up fast to survive in an era where mass killings and abduction was common. He must also carry out his duty and can finally search for his love, Asha.
Filmmaker Ali who wrote and directed the film while The Piano and Hideous Kinky famed scriptwriter, Billy Mackinnon, helped Ali in writing for the screen development.
Ali is a film graduate from London. He has been working on this project for the last three years, aiming to reach an international audience with an international cast and crew from UK to Berlin. The film includes Lorenzo Levrini, an international cinematographer who aesthetically captured beautiful Bengal in the film.
The story opens with the original archive footage of NBC television, setting the backdrop to the film which is produced in its authentic languages of Bangla and Urdu. Shongram is a historic film. It is gritty, raw, romantic and nostalgic, while having an international appeal through the production techniques and a subject matter which is still very relevant today.
Munsur Ali, who has already received the British Bangladeshi Power and Inspirational Award as filmmaker, said to Dhaka Tribune: “The story of the Liberation War of Bangladesh is untold through screen to the west and rest of the world unlike other noteworthy incident of the world. So, I instigated to make the film with international cast and crew to give the film an international standard”
Ruhee said, “When I decided to start career in film I didn’t get any suitable character And then Mansur Ali came to me with the script and I felt this is the best option to start my film career. I am grateful that I got to act in this film.”
