Guerrilla

Directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff, “Guerrilla”, the much awaited feature film based on the Liberation War, was released at 13 movie theatres across the country on Pahela Baishakh (April 14).

Actor Ferdous, who plays the role of a journalist, Hasan Ahmed, says, “We'd not be living in an independent country if there had not been the Liberation War. So when Bachchu Bhai (Nasiruddin Yousuff) offered me a role in his film, I gladly accepted. I hope that young people would go to the theatres to watch the film.”

On a similar note, seasoned actor ATM Shamsuzzaman said: “In my decades-spanning acting career, I've never asked anyone for a role in his/her film, except this one. I asked Nasiruddin Yousuff to cast me in the film.” When asked why he made that exception, the veteran artiste said, “The fact that the film is about the Liberation War was reason enough to ignite my interest.” He added that he thoroughly enjoyed “playing the role of Matlub Sardar who helps the protagonist Bilkis (played by Joya Ahsan).”

Ahmed Rubel plays the role of Shaheed Altaf Mahmud, the composer of the song “Amar Bhai-er Roktey Rangano Ekushey February”. Rubel said that playing the role of Altaf Mahmud was a real challenge. “It's extremely difficult to play a character based on a real person, more so when the person is a legend.”

 Pijush Bandyopadhaya, a freedom fighter who had closely observed the war, shares Ferdous' optimism. “This film depicts what really happened during the war. This provides the youngsters of our country an opportunity to familiarise themselves with our history,” he says. Bandyopadhaya plays a Professor of Dhaka University in the film.

Shatabdi Wadud, who plays the role of a Pakistani Major, says that he had to lose weight to get into the character. He adds, “Colonel Sajjad trained me for the role for a whole month.”

Joya Ahsan's role in the film has been much discussed. According to her, the role of Bilkis has been very demanding and physical, and that she loved the challenge. “Some days I couldn't change my clothes to maintain continuity in the film. But a real actor loves a challenging job,” she says.

The director, Nasiruddin Yousuff, said, “We had to shoot at Panam Nagar, which was made to resemble old Dhaka in the film. It wasn't an easy task but needed to be done.”

Yousuff based the film on Syed Shamsul Haq's novel “Nishiddho Loban” and his personal war-time experiences as a freedom fighter.

News Source:  The Daily Star

Tale of a freedom fighter - Guerrilla

Bangladesh, as a nation, did not come into being in just a day. It had to be earned at a cost of thirty million lives and waging the war of Liberation, which lasted for a whole nine month.

The war was an acid test of the will power of our people, and they triumphed indeed. Their valiant stand in 1971 earned us a piece of land in the world map and a country which we can call our own.

Since the Independence, the Liberation War remains one of the preferred choices of the movie makers in Bangladesh. Ora Egaroojon, Aguner Poroshmoni, Joy Jatra, Shonkhonod, and so on, are the movies that have been made on Liberation War. The movies depicted the struggles of the people, the sacrifices which had to be made and more. The number of movies on our Liberation War continues to rise.

Featuring the endless struggles and the sacrifices of the women folk during the ‘71 Liberation War, noted theatre personality Nasir Uddin Yousuff is bringing Guerrilla, a feature film on Liberation War.

An adaptation of noted writer Syed Shamsul Haque’s popular novel Nishidhyo Loban, Guerrilla will be hitting the theatres on 14 April.

The cast includes Joya Ahsan, Ferdous, ATM Shamsuzzaman, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Shatabdi Wadud, Shampa Reza, Ahmed rubel, Minara Zaman, Azad Abul Kalam and others.

The protagonist of the film is Bilkis (played by Joya Ahsan) who loses her husband on the night of 25 March, 1971. Determined to seek revenge, Bilkis starts taking part in the operations against the Pakistani occupation forces along with the freedom fighters. She also becomes involved with Guerrilla, an underground English newspaper which was published from Dhaka. As the story moves forward, the life of Bilkis, a representative of the women folk who were tortured by the Pakistani forces and their aides (Razakars) in 1971, begins to unfold.

“I have tried to incorporate my own experiences of the Liberation War in the movie,” said Nasir Uddin Yousuff, the director of the movie, who himself is a freedom fighter.

“The story line of Nishidhyo Loban was already there, I have just tried to bring it to the screens and depict the struggles which many had to undergo during the Liberation War,” added Yousuff, while speaking at the audio album launch of Nishidhyo Loban, at Channel i office yesterday. Apart from the album launch, the programme also marked the formal launch of the promotional activities of the movie. Among others, Faridur Reza Sagar, managing director, Impress Telefilm Ltd and Channel i, Joya Ahsan, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Shimul Yousuf, Esha Yousuf and actors of Guerrilla were present at the event.

The film is presented by Impress Telefilm Ltd. Ashirbad Chalachitra is the distributor of the movie, which has received financial support from the government for its making.

Animesh Aich is the art director, Shimul Yousuf has done the costume designs and the music direction and Esha Yousuf is the executive producer of the movie.

The audio album of Guerrilla contains seven tracks: Joy shotyer joy, Bolo beer, Tepantor-er mathey, Ami manusher bhai Spartacus, Nirosh dogdho shomoy, Joy shotyer joy and Ali ali, maola ali.

News Source:  The Daily Sun