Tasmia Afrin Mou, a Bangladeshi director, has created a mid-length Bengali documentary titled "Amar Nanur Bari" (Where My Grandma Lives), addressing the destruction of water bodies in the name of development. This film has been selected as one of the ten featured works at the Film Bazaar during the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, scheduled for November 20.
The revelation of the films participating in the Film Bazaar, the business segment of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), took place on November 11.
The 40-year-old filmmaker Mou has created a 51-minutes film that chronicles her personal journey as she visits her grandmother's home to document her on camera. Inhabiting a century-old house, Mou's grandmother has been living independently since her husband's demise 27 years ago. For the filmmaker, her grandmother's home serves as a repository of memories, embodying a serene village adorned with marshes, verdant landscapes and a majestic family pond.
Over the generations, local children in the neighborhood have grown up learning to swim in that pond. Nanu's other maternal grandson Rawnak, resides with his family adjacent to her house. While there is a small pond still existing in Rawnak's house, many of the heirs from his father's side express a desire to sell this pond as well, however, Rawnak is adamant about not selling the family pond, as it holds the memories of his father.
Rawnak's business involves purchasing marshes or ponds and transforming them into residential plots by filling them with sand for sale. This process of "development" is widespread across the country, resulting in the destruction of water bodies and the elimination of the diverse creatures inhabiting them.
Expressing her response on the film being selected for the Film Bazaar, Mou conveyed her joy, stating: "I am thrilled to learn that my mid-length documentary, “‘Where My Grandma Lives,' has been recommended for the Film Bazaar. I believe this recognition will significantly influence the trajectory of my future projects. For a Bangladeshi independent filmmaker like myself, securing a proper distributor or broadcaster after creating a documentary film is often challenging. Having my film recommended on a competitive and esteemed platform like Film Bazaar is an added bonus for me."
The films chosen for this year's Film Bazaar exhibit a rich variety, encompassing fiction, docu-shorts, documentaries, horror films, and an animated feature. These films delve into themes related to the diasporas, both within India and abroad, as well as explore topics such as patriarchy, urban discontent, extreme poverty, climate crisis, nationalism and sports and fitness. The diverse lineup includes films presented in English, Hindi, Bangla, Marwari, Kannada, and Maori (the language of New Zealand).
Mou, who was awarded the national film grant from the Bangladesh government for "Amar Nanur Bari" in 2021, initiated her film career as a documentary filmmaker at the age of 23. Her earlier work, "Tokai-2012," was honored with the Best Short award at the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival in China in 2014.
Her inaugural short film, ‘Statement After My Poet Husband's Death,’ achieved selection at esteemed film festivals including the 34th Festival Tous Courts in France, ZUBROFFKA International Short FF in Poland, Ekadeshma International Short Film Festival in Nepal, and Berlin Feminist Film Week. This film garnered recognition with six international awards from various film festivals
