Make good films on Liberation War to face distorted history

Dhaka, Jan 17 – Noting that the government will develop cinema infrastructures up to Upazila-level, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged filmmakers to produce quality films upholding the glorious history and spirit of the Liberation War before the future generations in order to counter distorted history.“The history of our Liberation War was distorted after the killing of the Father of the Nation on August 15, 1975. So, I’d like to request you to uphold the history before all that we are the victorious nation. We snatched victory through the Liberation War. We need to make more such films so that the future generation can know about the history of our victory,” she said.
Prime Minister Hasina was addressing the distribution ceremony of the National Film Awards-2019 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). She joined the function virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The awards were handed over to 33 recipients under 26 categories. On the Prime Minister’s behalf, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud handed over the awards and certificates.
Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for reflection of the great achievements, history, ideology and spirit of the Liberation War in films, which she noted can be etched in the people’s hearts through a movie or drama.
“They have great appeal,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the government will do everything necessary to modernise the film industry. “We’re forming a fund to develop infrastructures up to Upazila level so that films can be screened properly there and people can get the scope of recreation,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the good days of the cinema have come again in the world as the people are now watching films staying in their houses. But films have to attract the audience to the cinema halls as well, she said.
She called upon the filmmakers to produce films that can be enjoyed together with family.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to renowned actors Masud Parvez (Sohel Rana) and Kohinoor Akhter Suchanda for their remarkable contributions to the film industry.
The Ministry of Information earlier announced names of the recipients of the National Film Awards 2019 to recognise the contributions of artistes to Bangladesh’s film industry.
“No Dorai” and “Fagun Haway” movies jointly won the award in the Best Film category.
Mahbubur Rahman (Producer of ‘No Dorai’) and Shykh Seraj, on behalf of Faridur Reza Sagar (Producer of ‘Fagun Haway’) received the awards at the function.
Tariq Anam Khan was given the award for Best Actor in the lead role (male) for the film “Abar Boshonto” while Sunerah Binte Kamal received the Best Actress in the lead role award (female) for “No Dorai”.
Tanim Rahman Angshu received the National Film Award in the Best Director category for “No Dorai”. This film has bagged a total of six awards.
The highest number of awards for 2019 has been secured by the Masud Pothik directorial “Maya: The Lost Mother”. The film has won eight awards in different categories.
The Impress Telefilm production “Fagun Haway” and Desh Bangla Multimedia production “Moner Moto Manush Pailamna” won three awards each.
Documentary ‘Ja Chilo Andokarea’ of Bangladesh Television was awarded in the best documentary category, while short film ‘Nari o Jibon’ was awarded in the best short film category.
Zahid Hasan was awarded in the best villain category for the film “Shap ludu”.
The best actor in supporting role award went to Fazlur Rahman Babu for film ‘Fagun Haway’ while Nargis Akhter won the best supporting actress award for film ‘Maya: The Lost Mother’.
The Best Child Artiste Awards were given jointly to Afreen Akhter (Jodi Ak Din) and Naimur Rahman (film Kalo Megher Bhela).
Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury Emon bagged the best music director’s award for the film ‘Maya: The Lost Mother’, while Habibur Rahman won the award in the best dance director category for film ‘Moner Moto Manush Pailam Na’.
Mrinal Kanti Das got the Best Male Singer Award (film Shuttle Train) while Momtaz Begum and Fatima Tuz Zagra Oyshee jointly received the Best Female Singers for their songs in film ‘Maya: The Lost Mother’.
The Awards in the category for Best Music Composer were handed over to Plaban Quraishi and Syed Md Tanvir Tareq, while the Best Lyricist Award was jointly given to Dr Kamal Abdul Nasir Chowdhury and Nirmalenu Goon.
The other awardees are: Masud Patik (story writer), Mahbub Ur Rahman (screenwriter), Zakir Hossain Raju (dialogue writer), Junaed Ahmed Halim (editing), Mohammad Rahmat Ullah Basu and Md Farid Ahmed (the best art instructor), Ripan Nath (acoustic), Suman Kumar Sarker (cameraman) , Khandaker Razia Afrin (costume) and Md Raju (make-up).
Information Minister Mahmud presided over the function, while State Minister for Information Dr Md Murad Hassan was the special guest and Information Secretary Khaja Miah delivered the welcome speech. – UNB