Ora Egaro Jon, the first feature film about our Liberation War is still perhaps, the most iconic film made in Bangladesh which depicts the sacrifices, struggles and the pride of independence. While some might hold the film directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam as the best one, there have been many impressive films made on the glorious war that really garnered love from the audience as well as critics. Showtime lists some of the must-watch films that portray our Liberation War.
Aguner Poroshmoni (1994)Set in the middle of 1971, the film portrays the curfew that was going on all over Bangladesh during that time. The liberation army operates as an effective guerrilla force of which, Badiul Alam is a member. Alam plans to start guerrilla operations in the capital and takes shelter at Mr Matin’s house. Mr Matin lives with his loving wife Surma and two beautiful daughters, Ratri and Opala. In association with other freedom fighters, Alam operates a few successful guerrilla attacks against the barbarous Pakistani military. However, his fellow freedom-fighters are being caught by the military, tortured, and then murdered. Alam is shot and seriously injured as he’s being taken to Matin’s house.
Director: Humayun Ahmed
Stars: Asaduzzaman Noor, Bipasha Hayat, Abul Hayat, Dolly Johur.
Hangor Nodi Grenade (1997)
A tragic story of a mother who dedicates her only child for the sake of the country's freedom during the Liberation
War of 1971. Shuchorita, who played a mother, had a special child who was a teenager during the war. When Pakistan Army came to kill all the freedom fighters in their village, they got to know that there were some freedom fighters hiding in Shuchorita’s house. When they finally came to her house, there was one freedom fighter left who was injured. Shuchorita had to choose between giving up her son and the unknown freedom fighter.
Director: Morshedul Islam
Stars: Chowdhury Zawata Afnan, Rayan Ibtesham Chowdhury, Refayat Zinnat, Faiyaz Bin Zia.
The Clay Bird (2002) Winner of the International Critics Prize at Cannes in 2002, The Clay Bird is something of a first for Bangladeshi national cinema: an internationally acclaimed (and distributed) production that was well received overseas, and was even nominated for an Oscar.
Set in East Pakistan in the late 60s, during the unrest that would eventually bring about the creation of an independent Bangladesh after the Liberation War of 1971, The Clay Bird tells the story of Anu (Nurul Islam Bablu), a young country boy who is sent to a Madrasah (Islamic school) by his devout father, Kazi (Jayanto Chattopadhyay).
Warning against the dangers of blind subservience to religious leaders, The Clay Bird switches between Anu’s experiences at the harsh Madrasah and his father’s increasingly unhinged attempts to force the family to conform to religious dogma.
Director: Tareque Masud
Stars: Nurul Islam Bablu, Russell Farazi, Jayanto Chattopadhyay, Rokeya Prachy.
Shyamol Chhaya (2004)The story of the feature film revolves around the sufferings of the war-ravaged people of Bangladesh in 1971. Pitambar, with his blind father and grandmother, Karim with his daughter-in-law Ratri, Fuli with her mother, Mowlana Munshi Muslem and his Begum, Gourango with his mother and wife are the passengers on board. The boatmen are taking them to safety, far away from the fierce clutches of war. The people onboard are devastated by the horrors of war. As the story advances, different events unravel.
Director: Humayun Ahmed
Stars: Meher Afroz Shaon, Riaz, Swadhin Khosru, Ahmed Rubel.
Guerrilla (2011)Directed by Nasiruddin Yousuf, Guerrilla is the first war film of Bangladesh to tell the story of a female combatant, Syeda Bilkis Banu, who lost her husband Hasan on the bloody night of March 25, 1971. Cinematic representations of the war have always portrayed the combat experience as an exclusively masculine enterprise. Most of them saw women constructed as passive victims. Guerrilla subverts these widespread, stereotypical gender norms by centering on a female freedom fighter.
Director: Nasiruddin Yousuff
Stars: Joya Ahsan, Ferdous Ahmed, Shampa Reza, Ahmed Rubel
Joyjatra (2004)The movie compared the entire country to a boat, which faced a time of terrible turbulence. It portrays the story of a boat journey in Bangladesh during 1971, made by the helpless people going towards the borders to safety.
Director: Tauquir Ahmed
Stars: Bipasha Hayat, Azizul Hakim, Mahfuz Ahmed, Abul Hayat.
Amar Bondhu Rashed (2011) Amar Bondhu Rashed is a fictional story based on the Liberation War of Bangladesh and written by Dr Mohammad Jafar Iqbal. The storytelling, involving a father and his son, signifies the educative aspect of the film - parents or elders who had witnessed the war first-hand should share their experiences with post-war generations. Rashed was a brave young kid who helped the freedom fighters taking big risks. He also operates in a mission with his friends and fights against the Pakistani Army along with other freedom fighters. At the end, 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.
Director: Morshedul Islam
Stars: Chowdhury Zawata Afnan, Rayan Ibtesham Chowdhury, Refayat Zinnat, Faiyaz Bin Zia.
Aguner Poroshmoni (1994)Set in the middle of 1971, the film portrays the curfew that was going on all over Bangladesh during that time. The liberation army operates as an effective guerrilla force of which, Badiul Alam is a member. Alam plans to start guerrilla operations in the capital and takes shelter at Mr Matin’s house. Mr Matin lives with his loving wife Surma and two beautiful daughters, Ratri and Opala. In association with other freedom fighters, Alam operates a few successful guerrilla attacks against the barbarous Pakistani military. However, his fellow freedom-fighters are being caught by the military, tortured, and then murdered. Alam is shot and seriously injured as he’s being taken to Matin’s house.Director: Humayun AhmedStars: Asaduzzaman Noor, Bipasha Hayat, Abul Hayat, Dolly Johur.
Hangor Nodi Grenade (1997)
A tragic story of a mother who dedicates her only child for the sake of the country's freedom during the Liberation
War of 1971. Shuchorita, who played a mother, had a special child who was a teenager during the war. When Pakistan Army came to kill all the freedom fighters in their village, they got to know that there were some freedom fighters hiding in Shuchorita’s house. When they finally came to her house, there was one freedom fighter left who was injured. Shuchorita had to choose between giving up her son and the unknown freedom fighter.Director: Morshedul IslamStars: Chowdhury Zawata Afnan, Rayan Ibtesham Chowdhury, Refayat Zinnat, Faiyaz Bin Zia.
The Clay Bird (2002) Winner of the International Critics Prize at Cannes in 2002, The Clay Bird is something of a first for Bangladeshi national cinema: an internationally acclaimed (and distributed) production that was well received overseas, and was even nominated for an Oscar.
Set in East Pakistan in the late 60s, during the unrest that would eventually bring about the creation of an independent Bangladesh after the Liberation War of 1971, The Clay Bird tells the story of Anu (Nurul Islam Bablu), a young country boy who is sent to a Madrasah (Islamic school) by his devout father, Kazi (Jayanto Chattopadhyay).
Warning against the dangers of blind subservience to religious leaders, The Clay Bird switches between Anu’s experiences at the harsh Madrasah and his father’s increasingly unhinged attempts to force the family to conform to religious dogma.Director: Tareque MasudStars: Nurul Islam Bablu, Russell Farazi, Jayanto Chattopadhyay, Rokeya Prachy.
Shyamol Chhaya (2004)The story of the feature film revolves around the sufferings of the war-ravaged people of Bangladesh in 1971. Pitambar, with his blind father and grandmother, Karim with his daughter-in-law Ratri, Fuli with her mother, Mowlana Munshi Muslem and his Begum, Gourango with his mother and wife are the passengers on board. The boatmen are taking them to safety, far away from the fierce clutches of war. The people onboard are devastated by the horrors of war. As the story advances, different events unravel.Director: Humayun AhmedStars: Meher Afroz Shaon, Riaz, Swadhin Khosru, Ahmed Rubel.Guerrilla (2011)Directed by Nasiruddin Yousuf, Guerrilla is the first war film of Bangladesh to tell the story of a female combatant, Syeda Bilkis Banu, who lost her husband Hasan on the bloody night of March 25, 1971. Cinematic representations of the war have always portrayed the combat experience as an exclusively masculine enterprise. Most of them saw women constructed as passive victims. Guerrilla subverts these widespread, stereotypical gender norms by centering on a female freedom fighter.Director: Nasiruddin Yousuff
Stars: Joya Ahsan, Ferdous Ahmed, Shampa Reza, Ahmed RubelJoyjatra (2004)The movie compared the entire country to a boat, which faced a time of terrible turbulence. It portrays the story of a boat journey in Bangladesh during 1971, made by the helpless people going towards the borders to safety.
Director: Tauquir AhmedStars: Bipasha Hayat, Azizul Hakim, Mahfuz Ahmed, Abul Hayat.Amar Bondhu Rashed (2011) Amar Bondhu Rashed is a fictional story based on the Liberation War of Bangladesh and written by Dr Mohammad Jafar Iqbal. The storytelling, involving a father and his son, signifies the educative aspect of the film - parents or elders who had witnessed the war first-hand should share their experiences with post-war generations. Rashed was a brave young kid who helped the freedom fighters taking big risks. He also operates in a mission with his friends and fights against the Pakistani Army along with other freedom fighters. At the end, 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.Director: Morshedul IslamStars: Chowdhury Zawata Afnan, Rayan Ibtesham Chowdhury, Refayat Zinnat, Faiyaz Bin Zia.