Nasiruddin Yousuff’s film “Guerrilla” celebrates its 100th day today. Since its release on April 14, the film has been uninterruptedly screened at two theatres in Dhaka — Star Cineplex and Balaka Cine World.
The director of the film is delighted to achieve this landmark, as he thinks it is a positive sign for mainstream Bangladeshi cinema. “My film has gained a momentum at a time when mainstream cinema in the country is going through a rough patch. It gives me hope for Bangladeshi cinema,” said Yousuff.
However, to reinstate Bangladeshi cinema to its old glory, Yousuff believes that we need combined efforts instead of individual endeavours like “Guerrilla”.
Based on Syed Shamsul Haq’s novel “Nishiddho Loban”, the film on Liberation War also articulates Yousuff’s first hand experience as a freedom fighter.
Syed Shamsul Haq has also expressed his contentment: “I was deeply moved by the film. It is not only a great film, but also a living testament of our history, a vivid reminder.”
“Guerrilla,” a joint production by Impress Telefilm Ltd and Arial Creative Space, follows a young woman Bilkis (played by Joya Ahsan) who helps the freedom fighters in Dhaka with medicine, information and organising operations; she even plays a significant role in smuggling spools recorded by Altaf Mahmud to the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra radio station. As the story progresses, Bilkis is forced to flee to Rangpur but gets caught by the Pakistani occupation forces.
The cast also includes ATM Shamsuzzaman, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Raisul Islam Asad, Shompa Reza, Ahmed Rubel, Gazi Rakayet and Shotabdi Wadud.
-With The Daily Star input
