The Rights that Are Wrong

ISN'T it amazing how people go out of their way to annoy you to the point of insanity and then pretend their actions are their birthright? Well, it is not their birthright and it is high time we, the intelligent few, point out the errors in the ways of the remaining Homo Sapiens. All that is contained herein is true and based on facts, so there remains no room for any arguments, whatsoever. The time of further enlightenment is upon us. These are the rights people should not have unless they have attained a certain level of dignity like the chosen few of us.

Right to Opinions - A doctor should not have an opinion on the economy. An engineer should not have an opinion on the anatomy. Similarly, people should not have opinions about most things in general. How many times have we heard people discussing various aspects of the budget or debating the actions of a coach or a player? These people have no right to express their opinions in public. Their opinions are a bunch of stupidity piled together and then strewn all around their surroundings. It's harmful and blood-boiling. Stupid people should not have opinions. It is just so annoying when the female kind dares to defend a team they support because of how the team looks. Females have no sense of sports or most things for that matter and reading newspaper articles or journals doesn't make you an expert on absolutely anything. Therefore, they should keep their opinions to themselves.

Right to Wardrobe - It is time to finally form the Fashion Police. Let's face it, most of the people around us have no fashion sense whatsoever. Being 'casual' doesn't give any living person the right to dress ridiculously. Who tucks in a t-shirt while wearing jeans? What is with all those tiny mirrors on your dress? Why on Earth would you put on black nail polish? The Goth look is stupid. It is just an excuse for ugly people to look uglier. If impeccability of taste is required, yours truly is willing to give suggestions.

Right to Eat Out - People go to restaurants to EAT. Period. It is not a place you can consider your lounge room where you chatter endlessly, filling the air with your insensitive and senseless hoo-ha. No one cares about the little jokes you make which make your family members laugh because, apparently, your family members are as dim-witted as you. The world doesn't care for dimwits. Also, sitting on a date for hours with just a glass of coke is stupid. If you can't afford it, go elsewhere. Some people need the table to EAT actual FOOD, which costs MONEY.

Right to Use Cell-phones - The general public should never be allowed to use cell-phones. See, when you speak using a cell-phone, your voice is transferred to the ear of the person on the other line, not the bottom. Therefore, you have absolutely no excuse to scream into the speaker throughout the conversation, as if the person you are talking to is standing outside a helicopter show. Plus, saying romantic things or things you consider romantic in public is not your right. What your 'moina' thinks is not something we are interested in. The terms of endearments should also be banned. Life isn't a movie and you certainly don't look like an actor, so shut up.

Right to Speak - Yes, this one is required. Some people should not be allowed to speak. The made-up stories and boring tales galore are not what make our day. Lies devised to compensate for inadequacies are not at all appreciated and believe it or not, we know when you are lying like about that time you beat up whoever or the time you had a thing with your teacher. All lies and we know it damn well. Sometimes these same people open their mouths and a wide range of stupidity spews out. Dumbness is catching, so do not speak even if you are spoken too, if you fall in the category, that is.

If you fit the bill for any of these, then consider yourself devoid of all these rights. It is time the authorities take proper measures to keep all these annoyances in check. Chances are these people will never attain the level of Excellency that the very few of us have. Never hesitate to reprimand those who forget their rights, for belittling the ignoramuses IS our birthright.

By Osama Rahman

Short Film Fest '10

and the Premiere of “Dreams”

IT began with an unexpected enthusiasm. As the crew from Pothochari, a college-student run production hub were wrapping up their most recent venture “Dreams”, someone suggested the premiering should be with a short film festival that invites other young filmmakers to showcase their work. In a span of a couple of weeks, rising indie Bangladeshi filmmakers residing home and abroad scurried for submissions, and soon Facebook was painted red with the official Fest poster and profile badges.

Everyone was excited.

On 7 August this year, a completely indie short film festival featuring young, underground filmmakers took shape. Showcasing an array of 6 productions in a span of two hours at The Bench in Gulshan, it was an admirable effort and an informal much needed and deserved exposure to our local talents from 'round the world.

At the offset of a full house (all seats were reserved prior to the event!), the Fest kick started with “Before Sunrise”, the debut production of BRAC University Film Club. Directed by Ahmed Syed Shawki, it embodied the story of a silver lining around each cloud, and how people move on with new hopes and dreams in spite of all obstacles. In short, it was an appreciable effort in terms of a debut attempt.

“Before Sunrise” was followed by “Blood Case”, an action-suspense short film starring Nayeem Abdullah, Aniqa Moinuddin and Turzo Sarfaraz. A production of Deafrip Entertainment, “Blood Case” was first launched a year back and its fast paced acceptability amongst young people has enforced reruns of the venture. Through superfluous cinematography, director Reehan R put together a film entailing a plot of love, greed, betrayal and manipulation and received much acclamation from the fans!

The highly anticipated “Dreams” was up next. Directed by Adnan M. S. Fakir (yes, the same guy behind the Finding Bangladesh series) “Dreams” is an art-indie venture from Pothochari Films that revolves around the protagonist's uprising from a misfortune. The underlying contradiction of society's tendency to captivate and emancipate, define and redefine individualism was beautifully depicted in the film. Starring Mushira Habib, it comprised brilliant and unique cinematography, where experimentation led to a visual extraordinaire and received a well deserved, full house applause.

My personal favorite would be “Polkarella”, a two minute animation by Zybuyer Kaolin perhaps one of the most creative, young animation filmmaker in the country. Its brevity with a punch of humour and absolute ambiguity is remarkable, and visual effects are stunning. “Polkarella” basically has no story, but somehow draws pinpoint attention with a smile on everyone's faces!

Edgar Allen Poe inspired the next venture, “Annabelle Lee” named after the poet's memoir on the loss of innocent love. Being one of my most favorite literary pieces of all time, the Imap production of “Annabelle Lee” was of personal curiosity. The storyline remained in tune with what Poe expressed through his writings, but added visuals such as mime performances which provided the film with a fresh perspective.

The final showcase was that of “The Washroom”, an upbeat, inquisitive and unique tribute to the place we all lovingly confide our darkest secrets in, aka the bathroom, slash toilet. A 48-hour production that had previously won awards abroad, director Adnan M. S. Fakir throws an incandescent insight into the hub of all gossip and goo, and succeeds flamboyantly with a fun, peppy piece of work.

On that note, the well organised Short Film Fest '10 dropped the closing curtains (followed by a rerun of “Dreams” for the pouring numbers who couldn't manage a place in the first show). Pothochari Films would like to acknowledge the continuous support of The Bench in their venture, and all the friends and families for showing up and leaving with a smile.
Can't wait for the Fest next year, huh?

By Sabhanaz Rashid Diya

Roadside Hair Stylists

THEIR paycheck ranges from taka 1000 to a meagre amount of taka 15, though they all do the same thing: take a scissor and plough through the fields of hair that exist on top of one's head. Of course, there are fields with varieties (barren, half-barren, stadium-marka, rain forests, etc). We are talking about the barbers, or 'Napit's, or 'Noro-shundor's, as they say in the oldest Bangla. The other day this reporter had a little chat with one Mr. Abdul Halim near the Rajarbag intersection, who happens to be a roadside barber/hair stylist.

Mr. Halim has not always been a barber. When yours truly asked him how long he has been working as a barber, he replied, “Just a year.”

“What did you do before that?”

“I pulled rickshaws. I was evicted during the (tenure of the) caretaker (government).”

He, however, is not a self-made hair stylist. “Ostad to dhorai lage (you have to find a master)”, he says with a grin.

Mr. Halim takes only taka 15 and taka 10 per haircut and shave respectively. All his scissors and razors lack sharpness, which he balances by brute force *shivers*. When asked if he knew that there are stores where one pays taka 1000 for a hair cut he knowledgably replied, “In 'Amrica', no?”

“You have pretty good skills. Why don't you try out for a saloon?”

“I am trying. The rest is up to Allah.”

“Can you make your ends meet?”

“It's hard, but I deal with it.”

The small time 'shop' comes with a broken chair, a mirror, a few blades, a pair of scissors, shaving cream and another pair of combs. At least until this too is evicted on charge of occupying the footpath, while more serious offenders remain unpunished. We wish him all the best.

By Jawad