Mejbaur Rahman Sumon: A film is not just about storytelling. It is supposed to be an experience

Mejbaur Rahman Sumon took one and a half years to make his first feature film, Hawa. with Chanchal Chowdhury in the lead, the film delves into the lives of fishermen in a trawler. In its course, Hawa brings the essence of mythological references. The film is Bangladesh’s official entry into the Best International Feature Film category of the 95th Academy Awards.

While Hawa is yet to release in India, the film was screened at Nandan, Kolkata, as part of the Bangladesh Film Festival. The screenings saw an overwhelming response from regular cinema lovers in the city. Mejbaur Rahman Sumon talked to us about the inception of Hawa. 

“When we started to make the film, we did not think about the reception. In Bangladesh, people have lost the practice of going to theatres to watch films. We are overwhelmed to see the excitement,” he said. Recalling the inception of the film, Mejbaur said, “I am very scared of snakes. Many years ago, in Gulshan, I met a bedini (gypsy woman). Traditionally, they scare people with snakes and ask for money. She scared me too. That’s when I realised that traditional professions are slowly going into oblivion. Modernism usurps such livelihood of bedini community, Kobi Gaan artists, etc. While writing the script I realised Hawa also has influences of Manasamangal. Manasa sinks Chand Sadagar’s ship. In Hawa, Gulti has Manasa’s impression. With Iba’s death, she loses everything. Taking a cue from Behula Lokhinder, it also becomes a story of Gulti’s loss.” 

Hawa delves into magic realism that focuses on man and sea relationships with a blend of folklore. Talking about the narration of the film, Mejbaur said, “First things first, I don’t believe in storytelling. To get a good story, one can read literature. What’s the point of going to theatres to watch films? Any film is supposed to be an experience. If Hawa could tell a story was never an important point for me. It could be a tale, an experience, or even a slice of life.”