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Ruhul Amin
The interview was taken and contributed by Romuz Uddin
Ruhul Amin makes films around the life of the Bangladeshi community in the East End of London. His films are very poetic like the melody of a Bengali folk song. It creates a mesmerising intensity which evokes a poetic feel. He depicts the experience of migrant life with great care and in a dignified way. His films are critically well received around the world. His work has been likened to the early films of De Sica and Satyajit Ray.
He has been knocking on doors for last five years to raise funds for his latest project “Hason Raja”. Romuz Uddin talked to him to find out about his current project and the main driving force behind his passion.
He has been knocking on doors for last five years to raise funds for his latest project “Hason Raja”. Romuz Uddin talked to him to find out about his current project and the main driving force behind his passion.
Romuz - Half a million Bangladeshis are settled in Britain. They are in their fourth generations and many of them have established themselves in various professional fields. As far as we know you are the only home grown filmmaker involved in the mainstream British TV and film industry.
Ruhul : I think you’ve put me an awkward position. I have to ask half a million people to find out why they are not into filmmaking?
Ruhul : Now let us see, as a British Bengali community why are we left behind in this media race? Well, to understand our plight we have to travel back a bit. Vast majority of our people left their rural homeland in search of a better life. They discovered the land of gold and honey.
Through out their journey they faced violent storms, they fought and survived. Soon after the Second World War few people started settling in various parts of United Kingdom. But the larger bulk of the community migrated during the war of liberation in 1971. British government originally invited them to fill the shortage of labour forces.
Through out their journey they faced violent storms, they fought and survived. Soon after the Second World War few people started settling in various parts of United Kingdom. But the larger bulk of the community migrated during the war of liberation in 1971. British government originally invited them to fill the shortage of labour forces.
Romuz - Bengalis of Bangladesh and west Bengal have contributed significantly to the world cinema. Why do you think we in Britain have descended so awfully?
They were welcomed, but a certain section of the British society reacted violently. Racism spread
everywhere. Vicious confrontation dominated the life of the newly arrived immigrants. Racism prevented them from assimilating or participating fully with the greater society. Fear driven them to stick together and they formed ghettos, they were segregated from the mainstream society.
Their life was centred around their small community.They formed villages away from their village. They felt threatened, they hold on to their tradition and old values, which they brought with them. Their profound religious values took a deeper root. Sexuality is considered as part of decadent culture. They developed revulsion towards western culture. Cinema fulfils those criteria of that decadent culture.
Islam phobia and current western politics towards Islamic countries have marginalised these simple people further. They are in desperate search for an identity. Recent phenomenon of revival of Islam provides them with a historical perspective. This recent phenomenon is rapidly driving them towards orthodox practises, which is confined with strict religious values. I feel the community is going through a metamorphosis.
everywhere. Vicious confrontation dominated the life of the newly arrived immigrants. Racism prevented them from assimilating or participating fully with the greater society. Fear driven them to stick together and they formed ghettos, they were segregated from the mainstream society.
Their life was centred around their small community.They formed villages away from their village. They felt threatened, they hold on to their tradition and old values, which they brought with them. Their profound religious values took a deeper root. Sexuality is considered as part of decadent culture. They developed revulsion towards western culture. Cinema fulfils those criteria of that decadent culture.
Islam phobia and current western politics towards Islamic countries have marginalised these simple people further. They are in desperate search for an identity. Recent phenomenon of revival of Islam provides them with a historical perspective. This recent phenomenon is rapidly driving them towards orthodox practises, which is confined with strict religious values. I feel the community is going through a metamorphosis.
