Meherjaan Explained

Meherjaan
Director:Rubaiyat Hossain
Music:Neil Mukherjee
Cinematography:Samiran Datta
Distributor:Habibur Rahman Khan
Runtime:119 minutes
Country:Bangladesh

Meherjaan (Bengali: মেহেরজান) is the feature-length début film of Bangladeshi director Rubaiyat Hossain. The film was pulled from theatres due to the hostile response of some segments of the audience after its release in January 2011. Meherjaan claims to be a women's "feminine" re-visiting of the Bangladesh Independence War with Pakistan in 1971, while many feel discomfort with the deconstructive representation of the '71 conflict.

Cast

Festivals and awards

Meherjaan has been participated in many film festivals including Kolkata Film Festival,[1] Festival International de Films de Fribourg,[2] Festival de Cine de Bogotá,[3] Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay,[4] London Asian Film Festival,[5] Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian & Arab Cinema.[6]

Meherjaan wins a handful of awards at International film festivals and competitions including Best Critic Award (Jaipur International Film Festival),[7] Jury Award and Audience Award (Northampton International Film Festival), Orson Welles Award (Tiburon International Film Festival)[8]

Suspension

The film was withdrawn from movie theatres in Bangladesh due to the objections of different groups of people. "The film Meherjaan, which was released in Dhaka in January 2011, was quickly pulled out of theatres after it created a furore among audiences. The hostile responses to the film from across generations highlight the discomfort about the portrayal of a raped woman, and its depiction of female and multiple sexualities during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The film's stance against nationalism also created a stir among audiences."[9]

On 3 November 2011, there was a special film event and a panel discussion at Harvard University sponsored by the University of Massachusetts Boston, South Asia Initiative at Harvard University, Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights at UMass, and the CARR Center for Human Rights, Harvard Kennedy School. The film was screened in advance of a panel discussion by Cambridge/Boston academics.[10] [11]

Reviews

Meherjaan has received mixed reviews.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Schedule | Kolkata Film Festival . Kolkata Film Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20120818054450/http://kff.in/schedule . 2012-08-18 . 2013-08-16.
  2. Web site: Meherjaan . Fribourg International Film Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502180125/http://www.fiff.ch/en/programme-2012/movies/terra-incognita-bangladesh/meherjaan.html . 2012-05-02.
  3. Web site: 30 Festival de Cine de Bogotá 2012 – Pagina Oficial . Xxix.bogocine.com . 2013-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012053827/http://xxix.bogocine.com/?s=meherjaan . 2013-10-12 . dead .
  4. Web site: Cinemateca Uruguaya . Cinemateca.org.uy . 2013-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130816050736/http://cinemateca.org.uy/festivales.html . 2013-08-16 . dead .
  5. Web site: Meherjaan . London Asian Film Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20120311183119/http://www.tonguesonfire.com/events/meherjaan/ . 2012-03-11.
  6. Web site: Meherjaan . Osian's Cinefan . https://web.archive.org/web/20120801020253/http://cinefan.osians.com/film-sub/?film_id=3363 . 2012-08-01.
  7. Web site: JIFF 2012 Award Winners . Jaipur International Film Festival . DOC . https://web.archive.org/web/20121215194911/http://www.jiffindia.org/documents/JIFF%202012%20Award%20Winners.doc . 2012-12-15.
  8. Web site: Tiburon International Film Festival . Tiburon International Film Festival . 2012-04-22 . 2013-08-16.
  9. Mookherjee . Nayanika . 2011-03-19 . Love in the Time of 1971: The Furore over 'Meherjaan' . subscription . . 46 . 12 . 25–27 . 41151989.
  10. Web site: Special Film Event: Meherjaan, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain . Carr Center for Human Rights Policy . Harvard Kennedy School . https://web.archive.org/web/20140203093948/http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/events/2011/month11/SAI_FILM_info_03.pdf . 2014-02-03 . 2013-12-03.
  11. News: Jonathan Richmond . 2011-11-16 . Meherjaan on tour . The Daily Star . 2013-08-16.
  12. News: 1971 love story wins city's heart . https://web.archive.org/web/20120405080324/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMS8xMS8xMyNBcjAwMTA0 . dead . April 5, 2012 . The Times of India . 2011-11-13 . 2013-08-16.
  13. News: The Pakistani Patient . Sunday Guardian . 2013-08-16.
  14. News: Karim . Elita . 2009-11-06 . Meeting Jaya Bhaduri-Bachchan . Star Weekend . The Daily Star.
  15. News: Bangladesh liberation film opens old wounds . The Express Tribune . 2013-08-16.
  16. News: Ethirajan . Anbarasan . Bangladeshi war film Meherjaan rekindles old enmities . BBC News . 2011-04-19 . 2013-08-16.
  17. News: Naeem Mohaiemen . 2011-01-23 . Meherjaan's women on the verge . The Daily Star . 2013-08-16.
  18. News: Subir Bhaumik . Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis - Features . Al Jazeera . 2013-08-16.
  19. News: A world without borders . dead . Banglanews24.com . 2011-02-06 . 2013-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110208074127/http://www.banglanews24.com//English//detailsnews.php?nssl=85ebad98d8a178be8baf16929526446e&nttl=20110 . 2011-02-08.

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