The 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival's special master class phase has done on Saturday. The class was first taken by Dr. Shi Chuan who is the deputy chair of Shanghai Film Association; he is also the professor of Shanghai Theater Academy and Macau University of Science and Technology.
Finally, Indian actor and singer Anjan Dutt took the stage in the afternoon in the master class. Anjan said, "With increasing age, there have been many changes in my thinking. Every job I do is an experience. My theatre, cinema, music - all are experiences. After watching my movies, I find another experience.”
Anjan talks about the early days of his work with Mrinal Sen, the renowned director of Bengali cinema. He said, “Mrinal Sen forced me to work. In the seventies, I was looking at various issues including the student movement, Vietnam War. But none of them were touching me. I was self-centered at the age of 24. In between, I was doing theater. He said frankly, he didn't like movies, he liked theater. But, while working with Mrinal Sen, the movie became interesting.''
Anjan asserts, “I understood at a young age that democracy abuses power. There will be corruption in this system.'' Finally, the master class episode ended with Anjan Dutt's musical show.
Earlier, Dr Shi Chuan discussed about Chinese films in various aspects. Dr. also pointed out how Chinese films are taking place in global cinema.
Dr. Shi Chuan said, “The face of Chinese society is really broad. These are being highlighted. The Chinese government has nothing to do with it.”
A questioner claims that only 17 foreign movies entered China last year. As an example, he said that only one movie of Bangladesh has been released in China - while answering, Dr. Chuan corrects the questioner's mistake. He said, the information is not correct, last year more than hundred movies entered China. There is a market for movies in China. There is a place for films in different languages.
This class was conducted under the presentation of Bangladeshi film critic Bidhan Riberu. The discussion is interview-like. Questions are then taken.
Masterclass held in the auditorium of the National Museum. The second part of the master class was the famous Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi. In his introduction, he said that Satyajit Roy, the world famous director of Bengali films, was his inspiration.
The director was asked how he got the inspiration for his movie “Children of Heaven”, what story inspired him to make the movie? In response, Majid Majidi said, "I have collected this story from the life stories of very common people. Actually all my stories are like documentaries, they are my life experiences”. Majid Majidi talks about his experience of making movies, casting characters, preparing very young actors for the roles.
