The government has finally chosen eminent Indian film director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal to make a Bangla film on the life and works of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Shyam Benegal made a biographical movie on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. We have selected him considering his works,” State Minister for Information Tarana Halim told newsmen at her Secretariat office in Dhaka, reports BSS.
She said though India proposed the names of Benegal, Goutam Ghose and Kaushik Ganguly, Bangladesh selected Benegal who was awarded the third and fourth highest civilian awards in India, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri respectively, and the highest award in Indian cinema for lifetime achievement - Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Tarana said as per the joint-venture initiative of Bangladesh and India, a three-member panel of experts will cooperate with Benegal. The three member panel will comprise a film expert, a person who knows Bangabandhu well and a historian whilst the final manuscript will be approved by Bangabandhu’s family.
Earlier in 2017, the two countries signed an agreement to produce a film on Bangabandhu and a documentary on the Liberation War. The film is slated to be released in 2020 to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu.
