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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?
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?
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.
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. They are split between
present, past, East and West. I feel they have to
confront many more storms before they appreciate and
become proud of their glorious cultural heritage. Then
inventively they will run everywhere with the camera
in search of their lost treasure.
Romuz
- What
exactly involves becoming a filmmaker?
Ruhul - Let
me simply explain my understanding of this magical and
most powerful medium. Filmmaking is a complex art form. To become a
filmmaker it requires a burning desire and a passion
to go through an intensive learning process. Initially
it doesn’t provide you any security of livelihood.
It doesn’t bring instant name and fame. One has to
begin his or her journey with an understanding of all
that and be prepared to face any daunting challenge.
Cinema is Painting, cinema is music, cinema is poetry,
cinema is people, and cinema is our culture. Cinema
touches everything is to do with our existence and us.
Cinema is just not to do with camera, sound and light.
Cinema is an art form. It tells story, story of
people.
It requires a discipline, commitment and love. You
have to have tremendous love for that art and craft.
And for that love you have to be prepared to climb
Himalaya. Well, this may sound intimidating, but not
to worry. Every one of us is born with creative
instinct. If we are given an opportunity or grow up in
around right kind of cultural environment, we are
bound to be influenced by it. So far filmmaking has
been confined with the privileged class. Very recently
with the emergence of video technology, has allowed
accessibility to the wider world.
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