Bhuban Majhi (The Connector) directed by Fakhrul Arefeen Khan is about a regular citizen who turns into a rebel during the war of Bangladesh. The movie spans from 1970 East Pakistan and ends in 2013 Bangladesh. It switches back and forth to form the story and show the rise and what becomes of our once mild mannered lead Nahir (Parambrata Chatterjee).
It's starts of in the early 70's when Nahir arrives in Kushtia to finish his studies in theatre and also find love with Farida (Aparna Ghosh).
It's the beginning of the war and it is changing the country, which affects theatre and makes it more political! Nahir has no interest of the way things are going and totally disapproves leading to him distance himself from the group!
But he is quickly drawn into the cause when Farida wants to free Bangladesh and sides with the revolution. Her cousin's brother Mizan ( Majnun Milan)is a revolutionist and is fighting against the Razakars of East Pakistan. After a touching speech by Sheik Mujibs, he starts getting the itch to fight but doesn't want the bloodshed and killing involved!
In between battles it shows how torn Nahir is but how so much he wants Bangladesh free and to satisfy his love for Farida.
Flash forward to 2004 a man doing a documentary on Ananda Sai who recently died, reveals it is really Nahir. Nahir in his final years became what is called a Singing Fakir! His life Came full circle. It started in the arts and ending in the arts and in between was a freedom fighter.
His love for Farida and her strong beliefs drew him into a war he never wanted part of but followed her into it!
You sense how in love he was and he would do anything for her. Even go against what he originally believed in. He came looking to finish his education and work in the theatre and instead became a freedom fighter who fights in the liberation war.
Director Fakhrul Arefeen Khan is amazing. The movie brings to life a very important time in Bangladesh history and captures it perfectly. The three main characters Nahir, Farida and Mizan could not have been better cast. There strong performances really make this picture and really get your attention throughout the whole movie. You feel there desperation and dedication and find yourself rooting for them and there cause. How dedicated and true love for there country is displayed and played out. Award deserving performances.
Khan takes you rite in the center of the action and shows the good and bad of war. He also show the relationship of the characters. But really fleshes out not only characters in a movie but real people you care for. The cinematography also has to be highly praised. Night scenes are perfectly lit and give the true horror of war and what you can see by putting you in the center of battle. You see what these poor people have to endure and the suffering that is brought into these poor people!
The music and small touches like the colorful outfits the ladies wear and the feel of the 70's just add so much more than you would think possible in one feature. The music is magical and adds so much to set the tone and tempo of the movie. So much pain and suffering is endured in war and this is one of the best war movies I have seen in a long time.
I was unfamiliar of all the turmoil endured on these poor people. But thanks to the careful and sensitive direction of Fakhrul Arefeen Khan I am now familiar of this historical battle.
Overall, "Bhuban Majhi" shows you can have true love mix with a war story equally and pull of a very believable entertaining movie!
Starring:
Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Aporna Ghosh, Mamunur Rashid, Shushama Sarker, Quazi Naushaba Ahmed, Majnun Mijan, and singer Syed Waqeel Ahad!
Directed by Fakhrul Arefeen Khan
