Home ›› 14 Aug 2022 ›› Show Biz
Juboraj Shamim-directed film ‘Adim’ has been selected for the main competition of the Moscow International Film Festival.
On August 12, the official website of the film festival declared the 12 films selected for the main category.
The journey of the film ‘Adim’ started in 2017, by selling shares of the film for 5,000 Taka. The film casts no stars or artistes, but all the cast of the film are real people as the cast members are inhabitants of the Tongi slum.
The film will be taking the audience on a hyper-realistic journey in the slum blurring the line between fiction and reality.
Under the banner of Juboraj’s production house, Roshayon, Amir Hamza was the cinematographer and Sujon Mahmud headed the sound and colour units.
“I like to make films. This gives me mental satisfaction. I don’t think money should be a barrier in the way of making a film. Moreover, I didn’t want to go to any producer to produce my film as they might suggest with casting which I didn’t want at that time,” said Juboraj.
“I first wrote a script for ‘Chhuti’ and submitted it to the different international organization for funding but got rejected. I was reading Manik Bandopadhyay’s book ‘Pragoitihashik’ which inspired me. After that, I wrote the script of ‘Adim’ (The Instinct). The story of the film revolves around the Tongi railway station and the life of the people cantering the station. As I didn’t want any star cast for this film thus I never actually went to any producer but rather started to sell the share of my film. I got so much support from many known and unknown. Even Mostofa Sarwar Farooki bought five shares of this film. Recently in news, I saw they claimed I didn’t cast any artiste because of the lack of money. It is a false claim and offensive one too as I didn’t want to cast any artiste in this film.”
The film portrays natural human instincts. The director wanted to give the message that nobody is above their human instincts.
“To submit the film money is necessary but as it was a public-funded film I even asked for a waiver. I submitted the film in the Venice Days and the film was short-listed there too but couldn’t make it to the final round. Later it got selected in Moscow and Italy. I’ll be attending both the festival,” he said.
The director although expressed his so regret like many renowned people yet didn’t consider this achievement. “I think if the film couldn’t have made it to Moscow, no one will even talk about it. I think this will create hype among the audience and for this kind of film I feel international reorganization plays an important role. Being selected in Moscow felt like, I got recognition for my work.”
About making a film on public funding he said, “Public funding can be a good option and it’s possible to make a film in this way. I got support from many known and even unknown. The people of Bangladesh are very helpful I wanted to pay back all of the people who supported me at that time. If I can make it possible this can be an example too.”
Reciting some lines from ‘Shikriti chai’ a poem by Abul Hassan he said, “I want reorganization for my work. One can’t release a film easily in Bangladesh. It’s another kind of hustle. I think festivals are a way to get that reorganization.”
The director wants to release the film in cinema halls and later he might go to OTT platforms too for streaming.
