"Niruddesh", a moving social film
Fayza Haq
Niruddesh" or "Lost Keys" that had its premiere recently at the Alliance Francaise is based on an actual incident. The film has been made by Cine Octagon, a group of eight directors. According to the story line, Rekha Ahmed, a widow and a mother of a teenager, works with an NGO and lives in Dhaka. On a rainy evening, as she was returning from office, having picked up her daughter from the coaching class, her rickshaw is waylaid by muggers, who snatch her bag. Rekha is totally confused and upset as the bag contained the office keys and it was to be pay day the next morning. She is concerned that she might lose her job. However, an individual named Shoaib Sarker calls to tell her that he has found her bag and would be returning it to her soon. While Rekha is relieved, she is also afraid that Shoaib might have connections with the miscreants. Shoaib too is perturbed. He has to leave for overseas the next morning and wonders if he should go though the hassle of returning the bag. Thus the film highlights the mutual distrust and disregard in today's decaying society, where everyone is self-centred. Speaking on the film, Professor Kabir Chowdhury said that he had enjoyed it. "The film displayed an element in our society that disturbs others, i.e. rampant crime that is especially aimed at women. There is also the theme of distrust that often exists between people: this is displayed in short but complex scenes. The manner in which the reality has been captured in the scenes is admirable." Catherine Masud said, "This is a commendable effort. It reflects the insecurity that we face in the streets. Everyday we hear about someone who has been robbed, stabbed or assaulted in the streets. I've been here in Dhaka for 20 years and I feel increasingly insecure. At the same time, it is a good sign that more and more people are coming into the media as a means of expression. However all that we see on TV do not reflect the reality of problems that people are facing in their day to day lives. The crisis of alienation, insecurity, violence which surrounds us everyday is not properly highlighted in TV dramas. With new people coming with new ideas will have a powerful impact in our society. I regret that there are not enough women coming to make films, although at the same time I admire the effort and sensitivity of the eight people who have come forth to make this film." The cast includes Raisal Islam Asad, Wahida Mollick Joli, Ashfaque Ahmed, Progga Paramita Orni, Proma Shanchita Otri, Arbinda Sarker, Imtiaz Pavel and others. The story was written by Jahangir Mohammed. The groups of eight directors include Arbinda Sarker, Jahangir Mohammed, Ashfaque Ahmed, Shahriar Islam, Bulbul Biswas, Rakibul Hasan and Imtiaz Pavel.
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Wahida Mollick Joli (R) with co-artiste in a scene from the film |
