Mujib - Naissance d'une nation

"Mujib - The Making of a Nation" attempts to depict the life and achievements of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. However, despite the significance of the subject matter, the film fails to deliver a compelling narrative and falls short in its execution. From the disjointed storytelling to the lackluster performances, the film disappoints on multiple fronts, failing to do justice to the incredible journey of the man who shaped a nation.

Weak Script and Disjointed Storytelling: The screenplay of "Mujib - The Making of a Nation" lacks coherence and fails to provide a cohesive narrative. The film jumps haphazardly between different periods of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's life, making it challenging for the audience to connect with the protagonist and fully comprehend the events unfolding on screen. The lack of a clear timeline and narrative structure undermines the film's ability to engage and immerse the viewers in the story.

Inconsistent Performances: Despite having a talented cast, the performances in "Mujib - The Making of a Nation" are inconsistent and fail to leave a lasting impact. The actors struggle to bring depth and authenticity to their characters, resulting in shallow portrayals that lack emotional resonance. Even the lead actor, tasked with depicting the iconic figure of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, fails to capture the charisma and gravitas associated with the historical figure, leaving the audience disconnected from the protagonist's journey.

Superficial Character Development: One of the film's major shortcomings is its inability to provide meaningful character development. The supporting characters, including political figures and Mujib's family members, are underdeveloped and reduced to mere caricatures. Their motivations and relationships remain poorly explored, preventing the audience from forming a strong emotional connection with the characters and limiting their impact on the overall narrative.

Lack of Historical Context and Depth: While attempting to portray an important chapter in Bangladesh's history, "Mujib - The Making of a Nation" fails to provide adequate historical context and depth. The film glosses over crucial events and political complexities, leaving the audience with a shallow understanding of the socio-political climate during that era. The missed opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of nation-building and the challenges faced by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undermines the film's potential as a historical drama.

Uninspiring Cinematography and Production Design: The visual aspects of "Mujib - The Making of a Nation" also fall short. The cinematography lacks innovation and fails to capture the grandeur and significance of the portrayed events. Additionally, the production design appears lackluster, with sets and costumes that do not effectively transport the audience to the time period in which the story unfolds. The overall visual execution feels uninspired and fails to enhance the storytelling experience.

Last night, I had the opportunity to watch the film "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" at Modhumita Cinema hall, a place I hadn't visited in nearly 25 years. My expectations were high because the movie had been in the making for almost two years, with a budget of 83 crore, and it was directed by the legendary 88-year-old filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who had previously directed the biopic "Netaji Shuvas Chandra Basu: The Forgotten Hero," which I had also seen. However, it's important to note that biopics, by their nature, often struggle to achieve 100 percent accuracy, and this challenge is even more pronounced in the case of iconic or conventional figures. That's why having a disclaimer at the beginning of such movies can help viewers better understand what they are about to watch.

As a movie enthusiast, I must recommend the film "Gandhi" if you haven't already seen it. In my opinion, it's one of the best biopics about a political figure, highly praised for its historical accuracy. It allows the audience to connect with the protagonist in a truly believable way. Another noteworthy biopic, directed by the famous Steven Spielberg, is "Lincoln." Unfortunately, "Mujib" falls short of these standards due to average acting, inconsistencies, and a lack of connection with the audience. Portraying a character as monumental as Mujib, who had numerous highs and lows in his life, is an incredibly difficult task. I also felt that the film focused more on Mujib's family life as a regular person than his political career, and other prominent characters didn't get enough screen time to truly shine.

Nonetheless, I did appreciate the first and last songs in the movie, and the color grading was well done.

As a nation of movie lovers, I hope that "Mujib" marks a promising beginning for the biopic genre, with the prospect of even better movies to come in the future. 👍

Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023) embarks on the ambitious journey of chronicling the life and legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a pivotal figure in Bangladesh's history. This informative biopic endeavours to encapsulate pivotal moments and the ethos of Rahman's era. Despite the stature of the director helming this project, the film needed to work on meeting expectations in terms of overall execution.

The performances, for the most part, came across as unconvincing, failing to breathe life into the historical characters they portray. Moreover, the screenplay's approach, which unabashedly seeks to glorify Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, needed more nuance and subtlety,Mujib: The Making of a Nation" (2023) embarks on the ambitious journey of chronicling the life and legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a pivotal figure in Bangladesh's history. This informative biopic endeavours to encapsulate pivotal moments and the ethos of Rahman's era. Despite the stature of the director helming this project, the film needs to work on meeting expectations in terms of overall execution.

The performances, for the most part, come across as unconvincing, failing to breathe life into the historical characters they portray. Moreover, the screenplay's approach, which unabashedly seeks to glorify Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, needed more nuance and subtlety, especially ahead of the country's general elections which was held on 7 January 2024 after the release of the movie.

Nevertheless, the film deserves recognition for its attempt to illuminate the life of a revered political figure in Bangladesh. The Indo-Bangladesh collaboration that brought this film to fruition is commendable, symbolising a significant soft-power strategy on New Delhi's part.

This partnership highlights the cultural and historical bonds shared by the two nations and sets a precedent for future collaborative projects. While 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation' might falter in its cinematic delivery, its effort to document and share an important chapter of South Asian history is undeniably praiseworthy.

"Mujib" has transitioned into a feature film instead of a documentary. Two aspects left a strong impression on me: 1. Arifin Shubo.

2. Cinematography.

Arifin's performance in this movie was commendable; he bet his good life on it. Witnessing this, Shuvo reminded me of an incident involving India's Aamir Khan. As Aamir Khan delves deep into a film, he begins to think about it even more than the director. Similarly, Shuvo perhaps had the grandest dream for this film, and why not? He constitutes 90% of the entire movie, and the film revolves around him.

Shuvo contributed to this movie for a mere token fee of 1 taka. It's evident that he held 'Mujib' close to his heart throughout the film. This performance stands as the pinnacle of Shuvo's career. In my opinion, this movie is worth watching solely for his remarkable performance.

The cinematography's specialty lies in the fact that most shots are single takes or long takes. I have some knowledge about film production, and I've noticed that Shyam Benegal often captures scenes in a single take, akin to a stage play. Even when a shot requires a change of angle or cuts within the same scene, he starts from the beginning, maintaining his unique style. However, a simple solution would have been to use multiple cameras.

Some of the shots truly surprised me; the camera movements and framing were exceptionally well done. Considering the director is 86 years old, expectations weren't high, but he honestly did not disappoint. He adapted the film to suit modern times.

I encourage every Bengali to watch this film!

© Simit Ray Antar.

A particularly concerning aspect of "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" is the perception that it serves as a vehicle for political propaganda. The film's release coincides with a period of intense political scrutiny, with allegations of authoritarianism against the ruling government. Consequently, it's difficult not to view the film as a calculated attempt to reshape public opinion and to bolster the regime's legitimacy by presenting a more favorable depiction of a historically complex figure.

The film appears to selectively omit, embellish, and manipulate well-documented historical events to fit a particular narrative. This skewed depiction diminishes the historical accuracy that any film purporting to be a historical account should uphold.

Furthermore, the film's portrayal of events is biased. It focuses heavily on elements that align with a specific political narrative, while sidelining any aspects that might cast a less flattering light on the central character. This selective storytelling not only distorts historical reality but also deprives the audience of a more comprehensive understanding of the historical context.

In conclusion, "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" serves as a stark reminder of the need for a critical and independent media to evaluate the actions of those in power. It emphasizes the importance of approaching such films with a discerning eye, skepticism, and an understanding of their potential for political manipulation. It underscores the responsibility of filmmakers to uphold historical integrity when dealing with subjects of historical significance. While art has the power to shape collective memory, it should do so with the utmost respect for the truth and a commitment to responsible storytelling.