Digital movie ‘Pita’, directed by Masud Akhondo, features genocides done by the Pakistani army and its local collaborators during the war of independence in 1971. A press show of Pita was
screened on Saturday at Balaka Cineworld. The movie, however, will be premiered on December 14.
Masud Akhondo’s movie focuses on a Hindu community in a small village in 1971. The protagonist, Jalil, and his children are the only Muslims in the area who live with a grandfatherly character who, despite being Hindu, considers Jalil to be his son.
The people in the community are in a stir because of the imminent war of independence that is slowly approaching them. They are particularly frightened as the Pakistanis want to kill Hindus and Muslim extremists support this cause. Talks on migrating to India are only developing when the attacks on the village and Muslim extremists begin from the day after.
All the characters in the movie are relatable to the viewers of these days. The cinematography is skillfully and beautifully woven into the film. The day is bright and vibrant, the sunset red and yellow and highlighted as light dies to form night. Nightscapes are wonderfully captured in the film with flickering light creating a warm ambience and moonlight silhouettes nicely contrasted in the dark. The soundtrack is also nicely interwoven and fits the scenes.
When the military attacks, the bloodshed is equally concentrated with intensity. People getting butchered, beheaded and shot at point blank range are depicted as cruel and violent as they are. The actors all skillfully portrayed their roles; from aging grandfathers to young widows everything fit into the kaleidoscope of village life and their rupture from that life is illustrated with great expertise and realistic pain
Masud Akhondo said, ‘As the Liberation war is a great part of our lives I wanted to focus on this for my first film. I want to thank the late Humayun Ahmed for helping me by reading through my script and pointing out necessary edits where needed.’
Pita is produced by Impress Telefilm.
-With New Age input
