'Shonibar Bikel' stuck in censor board, artists rally behind Farooki

The theatrical release of Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's Shonibar Bikel has been denied on the grounds that it might deepen the religious divide in the country - a move now coming under fire.

Farooki, a notable deshi face in international festivals, has time after time expressed his frustration with the state's censor board. He is now finding support from peers as filmmakers Amitabh Reza, Ashfaque Nipun, Adnan Al Rajeev among others are publicly standing in solidarity with the Bachelor director. 

Shonibar Bikel, which portrays the July 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery, has been hailed as a one-take technical feat, and bagged several international prizes.

"The board did not sanction permission for the film's exhibition, both at home or abroad, as it would disrupt internal security and also tarnish the country's global image," the censor board's vice chairman Nizamul Kabir told AFP.

Capital's biggest cinema cafe Jheel Kutum has joined the growing protest again censor board's controversial decision. The cafe would give its guests free T-shirts of Shonibal Bikel. In the meantime, Amitabh Reza, Ashfaque Nipun and others were seen donning the T-shirts in support of the campaign. 

Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Redoan Rony and Nusrat Imrose Tisha will participate in the campaign on January 5, informed Jheel Kutum's Head of Sales and Marketing and independent filmmaker Cju Khan. 

Farooki told AFP, "Filmmakers should feel free to take inspiration from any incident that happens around them. They don't tarnish an image. They only interpret events. It's real world action that can damage an image."