Aynabaji: Chronicle of a sore chapter of Dhaka -The Asian Age
A.S.M. Yiahia finds some differences in storyline
Yes, it's absolutely true that this is very first time I feel entirely entertained as I was watching Aynabaji. Really I just forget when I did watch Bengali movie last time in theatre. But this 144 minutes long feature film makes me bound to think that, yes here something really is subsisting in this film. Let's start with the story line-up first: A struggling actor, Ayna (Chanchal Chowdhury), tried much to build his acting career. Gifted with the natural talent of acting, and gets to live his livelihood as a true actor in real life, as he was failing to prove himself in walk of life. Though he got the caliber to morph himself into anyone he wants. And the prison became his stage.
He plays the role of various powerful convicted just lieu of money, having confinement but surely getting contentment as he is acting in a role. This strange profession is borne out of a society that doesn't give him a chance to go along with his passion of acting, but forces him to act in the real life. Like it Ayna was proceeding and fall in love with Hridi (Masuma Rahman Nabila), a next door girl. Changes came to Ayna's life. His way of thought about life has changed. Avery usual dream has begun inside him.
And finally Ayna decides to draw the end of his kinky career with one very last performance. But this one has driven him to a dark evil orb. The saga utters the very inner and detail fable of a dark horse, who passes through an immensely crucial life-run. And how eventually Ayna get rid of such paw of felony, where he is also a part.
Undoubtedly a very remarkable and distinct story it is. Syed Gaosul Alam Shaon spinned a tremendous story and also gave it a pleasant shape on screenplay. Really it's the first psychological thriller of Bangladeshi movie as yet. Mr. Shaon (story & screenplay writer) found a great milestone for Bengali movie. His way of constructing story admittedly follows the absolute track of post modernism. He has shown the new style: How to tell the main tale together with some other several different, but both tales will eventually meet in a similar last ground. And much interesting is: a single character is common between these all.
This single character is Ayna, actor Chanchal Chowdhury. Who has appeared in 6 different looks in the movie. More than any other actor has ever done in any single Bengali movie. Yes I would like to say boldly that Chanchal Chowdhury gave his endless efforts to play his role successfully. Well here in this stage what would I say: Tough or difficult! I think 'hard' is not enough for what & how Chanchal Chowdhury accomplished his mission of Aynabaji! He maintained a strict diet routine for 3 months to fit with the character.
He did not eat rice or any type of food with high calories during this time and lost 15 kg of weight, which is very rare in Bangladeshi Film industry. These are from physical effort. To see his mental endeavor and exertion we have to go through his performance in this movie. Aynabaji is the debut film both for anchor Masuma Rahman Nabila, famous singer Partho Barua and Amitabh Reza Chowdhury , an acclaimed commercial and theatrical maker.
I got very few words for the director- magnificent, brilliant, unprecedented and revolutionary. I think these words are not adequate to express the skilled ratio of Mr. Amitabh Reza, what we saw in this movie. Entire country knows his name as among the finest TVC (television commercial) makers. And after this movie we are ready enough to call him the most successful filmmaker of Bangladesh so far. In every segment of the film he gave his total attention and contemplation. It is very interesting to see that Aynabaji filmed at Keranigang Central Jail when it was not inaugurated so far. Along with this it also filmed in Kashimpur Jail. Filming in a real jail is such a rare experience for Bangladeshi movie.
After all such endeavors from every corner of preproduction & postproduction the movie got ready. And May 17 of this year Aynabaji was screened at Grey Theatre Hall at the 69th edition of Cannes Film Festival. It's been so far invited in Canada, Iran, Cairo and Seattle South Asian Film Festival. I think it will get much more invitations from other corners of the world. After watching this movie, many viewers and critics are not totally happy though. Very gently they are claiming that Aynabaji is a very good movie, but not a great one.
And they defined that on their words in several daily newspapers. But to me - from my personal perception Aynabaji is a complete movie. It has a clear drama full of suspense having very true format of romance. Where love and amour have presented on their universal form with true ardor. It has action sequences and some gentle comedy. And the very important thing: A strong message, which is important for a movie.
Aynabaji wants to illustrate the rough practice of Dhaka city which is uneven and crucial. It's never been experienced and realized from the outside. But it always exists. Epoch came and dissolved with the new era, but it remains. Ominous power always takes the charge to drive it like before. Where the innocence been the scapegoat by such evil forces. We need to awake and be aware of them. As we love peace and lie into that.
Such message is pretty momentous for the mass viewers nowadays. And only thus a movie can keep its strong appeal for the society. Aynabaji got such voice; we just need to hear that attentively. Needless to say, to find that we need to test the taste of the movie.
The reviewer is a movie buff and working with The Asian Age
He plays the role of various powerful convicted just lieu of money, having confinement but surely getting contentment as he is acting in a role. This strange profession is borne out of a society that doesn't give him a chance to go along with his passion of acting, but forces him to act in the real life. Like it Ayna was proceeding and fall in love with Hridi (Masuma Rahman Nabila), a next door girl. Changes came to Ayna's life. His way of thought about life has changed. Avery usual dream has begun inside him.
And finally Ayna decides to draw the end of his kinky career with one very last performance. But this one has driven him to a dark evil orb. The saga utters the very inner and detail fable of a dark horse, who passes through an immensely crucial life-run. And how eventually Ayna get rid of such paw of felony, where he is also a part.
Undoubtedly a very remarkable and distinct story it is. Syed Gaosul Alam Shaon spinned a tremendous story and also gave it a pleasant shape on screenplay. Really it's the first psychological thriller of Bangladeshi movie as yet. Mr. Shaon (story & screenplay writer) found a great milestone for Bengali movie. His way of constructing story admittedly follows the absolute track of post modernism. He has shown the new style: How to tell the main tale together with some other several different, but both tales will eventually meet in a similar last ground. And much interesting is: a single character is common between these all.
This single character is Ayna, actor Chanchal Chowdhury. Who has appeared in 6 different looks in the movie. More than any other actor has ever done in any single Bengali movie. Yes I would like to say boldly that Chanchal Chowdhury gave his endless efforts to play his role successfully. Well here in this stage what would I say: Tough or difficult! I think 'hard' is not enough for what & how Chanchal Chowdhury accomplished his mission of Aynabaji! He maintained a strict diet routine for 3 months to fit with the character.
He did not eat rice or any type of food with high calories during this time and lost 15 kg of weight, which is very rare in Bangladeshi Film industry. These are from physical effort. To see his mental endeavor and exertion we have to go through his performance in this movie. Aynabaji is the debut film both for anchor Masuma Rahman Nabila, famous singer Partho Barua and Amitabh Reza Chowdhury , an acclaimed commercial and theatrical maker.
I got very few words for the director- magnificent, brilliant, unprecedented and revolutionary. I think these words are not adequate to express the skilled ratio of Mr. Amitabh Reza, what we saw in this movie. Entire country knows his name as among the finest TVC (television commercial) makers. And after this movie we are ready enough to call him the most successful filmmaker of Bangladesh so far. In every segment of the film he gave his total attention and contemplation. It is very interesting to see that Aynabaji filmed at Keranigang Central Jail when it was not inaugurated so far. Along with this it also filmed in Kashimpur Jail. Filming in a real jail is such a rare experience for Bangladeshi movie.
After all such endeavors from every corner of preproduction & postproduction the movie got ready. And May 17 of this year Aynabaji was screened at Grey Theatre Hall at the 69th edition of Cannes Film Festival. It's been so far invited in Canada, Iran, Cairo and Seattle South Asian Film Festival. I think it will get much more invitations from other corners of the world. After watching this movie, many viewers and critics are not totally happy though. Very gently they are claiming that Aynabaji is a very good movie, but not a great one.
And they defined that on their words in several daily newspapers. But to me - from my personal perception Aynabaji is a complete movie. It has a clear drama full of suspense having very true format of romance. Where love and amour have presented on their universal form with true ardor. It has action sequences and some gentle comedy. And the very important thing: A strong message, which is important for a movie.
Aynabaji wants to illustrate the rough practice of Dhaka city which is uneven and crucial. It's never been experienced and realized from the outside. But it always exists. Epoch came and dissolved with the new era, but it remains. Ominous power always takes the charge to drive it like before. Where the innocence been the scapegoat by such evil forces. We need to awake and be aware of them. As we love peace and lie into that.
Such message is pretty momentous for the mass viewers nowadays. And only thus a movie can keep its strong appeal for the society. Aynabaji got such voice; we just need to hear that attentively. Needless to say, to find that we need to test the taste of the movie.
The reviewer is a movie buff and working with The Asian Age