Famous filmmaker Shyam Benegal has expertise in filming historical and biographical subjects. His films like ‘The Making of Mahatma’ and ‘Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’ and the serial ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’ on Doordarshan were highly appreciated. In this series is the film ‘Mujib-The Making of a Nation’. As the title suggests, the film centers on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975), father of Sheikh Hasina, the first Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh, known as ‘Bangabandhu’. Regarding this film, Benegal told me in an interview that ‘it is necessary to have a certain amount of objectivity in films based on historical subjects’. Emphasizing the responsibility of filmmakers towards history, he warned that without objectivity the film becomes ‘propaganda’. In this respect the film does justice to its subject.
It takes the audience through Mujib’s school-college days, the movement for Bengali language in New Pakistan, the formation of Awami League and the creation of Bangladesh. Through this, Mujib’s family, his relationship with his wife and children also come to the fore, which brings his personality closer to the common people. Apart from religious identity, linguistic identity was the most important element in the creation of a new nation Bangladesh. In protest against Urdu nationalism, the identity of Bengali language became associated with Bangladesh.
This film has been made with the cooperation of the governments of India and Bangladesh. Ritwik Ghatak’s film of 50 years ago ‘Titaash Ekti Nadeer Naam’ (1973) would be an exception, which like this film, was part of a joint project of the governments of India and Bangladesh. However, the film portrays Mujib on screen as a hero whose life had no cracks or contradictions. The absence of any conflict in his character makes the film monotonous, due to which it becomes cumbersome at some places. However, Benegal had said that ‘Sheikh Mujib’s background was not like Gandhi or Nehru. He was not rich or a landlord. He was a working man and belonged to the middle class. Bangladeshi artist Arifin Shubho has played the character of Mujeeb, who is the life of this film. The film picks up pace after the intermission, when we come face to face with the struggle of the ‘Mukti Vahini’ warriors. Historical video footage and photographs have also been used in the film. Sheikh Mujib had cordial relations with Indian leaders, especially Indira Gandhi. Mujib was a very special personality of this subcontinent. He gave birth to a new nation, but in the year 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with most of his family members. Although this film covers his biography in its entirety, there is a lack of criticism of his personality. What was the opinion of the civil society towards his rule in independent Bangladesh? This film does not answer this question.