Mujib: The Making of Nation

Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023) embarks on the ambitious journey of chronicling the life and legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a pivotal figure in Bangladesh's history. This informative biopic endeavours to encapsulate pivotal moments and the ethos of Rahman's era. Despite the stature of the director helming this project, the film needed to work on meeting expectations in terms of overall execution.

The performances, for the most part, came across as unconvincing, failing to breathe life into the historical characters they portray. Moreover, the screenplay's approach, which unabashedly seeks to glorify Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, needed more nuance and subtlety,Mujib: The Making of a Nation" (2023) embarks on the ambitious journey of chronicling the life and legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a pivotal figure in Bangladesh's history. This informative biopic endeavours to encapsulate pivotal moments and the ethos of Rahman's era. Despite the stature of the director helming this project, the film needs to work on meeting expectations in terms of overall execution.

The performances, for the most part, come across as unconvincing, failing to breathe life into the historical characters they portray. Moreover, the screenplay's approach, which unabashedly seeks to glorify Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, needed more nuance and subtlety, especially ahead of the country's general elections which was held on 7 January 2024 after the release of the movie.

Nevertheless, the film deserves recognition for its attempt to illuminate the life of a revered political figure in Bangladesh. The Indo-Bangladesh collaboration that brought this film to fruition is commendable, symbolising a significant soft-power strategy on New Delhi's part.

This partnership highlights the cultural and historical bonds shared by the two nations and sets a precedent for future collaborative projects. While 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation' might falter in its cinematic delivery, its effort to document and share an important chapter of South Asian history is undeniably praiseworthy.

Last night, I had the opportunity to watch the film "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" at Modhumita Cinema hall, a place I hadn't visited in nearly 25 years. My expectations were high because the movie had been in the making for almost two years, with a budget of 83 crore, and it was directed by the legendary 88-year-old filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who had previously directed the biopic "Netaji Shuvas Chandra Basu: The Forgotten Hero," which I had also seen. However, it's important to note that biopics, by their nature, often struggle to achieve 100 percent accuracy, and this challenge is even more pronounced in the case of iconic or conventional figures. That's why having a disclaimer at the beginning of such movies can help viewers better understand what they are about to watch.

As a movie enthusiast, I must recommend the film "Gandhi" if you haven't already seen it. In my opinion, it's one of the best biopics about a political figure, highly praised for its historical accuracy. It allows the audience to connect with the protagonist in a truly believable way. Another noteworthy biopic, directed by the famous Steven Spielberg, is "Lincoln." Unfortunately, "Mujib" falls short of these standards due to average acting, inconsistencies, and a lack of connection with the audience. Portraying a character as monumental as Mujib, who had numerous highs and lows in his life, is an incredibly difficult task. I also felt that the film focused more on Mujib's family life as a regular person than his political career, and other prominent characters didn't get enough screen time to truly shine.

Nonetheless, I did appreciate the first and last songs in the movie, and the color grading was well done.

As a nation of movie lovers, I hope that "Mujib" marks a promising beginning for the biopic genre, with the prospect of even better movies to come in the future. 👍

"Mujib" has transitioned into a feature film instead of a documentary. Two aspects left a strong impression on me: 1. Arifin Shubo.

2. Cinematography.

Arifin's performance in this movie was commendable; he bet his good life on it. Witnessing this, Shuvo reminded me of an incident involving India's Aamir Khan. As Aamir Khan delves deep into a film, he begins to think about it even more than the director. Similarly, Shuvo perhaps had the grandest dream for this film, and why not? He constitutes 90% of the entire movie, and the film revolves around him.

Shuvo contributed to this movie for a mere token fee of 1 taka. It's evident that he held 'Mujib' close to his heart throughout the film. This performance stands as the pinnacle of Shuvo's career. In my opinion, this movie is worth watching solely for his remarkable performance.

The cinematography's specialty lies in the fact that most shots are single takes or long takes. I have some knowledge about film production, and I've noticed that Shyam Benegal often captures scenes in a single take, akin to a stage play. Even when a shot requires a change of angle or cuts within the same scene, he starts from the beginning, maintaining his unique style. However, a simple solution would have been to use multiple cameras.

Some of the shots truly surprised me; the camera movements and framing were exceptionally well done. Considering the director is 86 years old, expectations weren't high, but he honestly did not disappoint. He adapted the film to suit modern times.

I encourage every Bengali to watch this film!

© Simit Ray Antar.

I recently watched "Mujib: The Making of Nation," and I can't help but express my disappointment with what I witnessed. This film, which claims to tell the story of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's journey in shaping the nation of Bangladesh, falls short on several fronts and ultimately comes across as an over-glorified portrayal that fails to do justice to the historical narrative it aims to depict.

Over-Glorification: The film falls into the trap of over-glorifying its central character, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. While he was undoubtedly an influential figure in the history of Bangladesh, this movie practically deifies him, neglecting the complexities and controversies of his life and leadership. It paints an overly simplistic picture, making it difficult to engage with the character on a meaningful level.

Historical Inaccuracy: "Mujib: The Making of Nation" presents a highly sanitized and one-sided version of the events leading to the formation of Bangladesh. The historical inaccuracies and omissions in the narrative are glaring. It fails to acknowledge the contributions of other key figures and groups in the struggle for independence, thus distorting the complex reality of the era.

Lack of Depth: The film's shallow character development leaves much to be desired. It reduces the supporting characters to mere props, failing to explore their roles and motivations in any meaningful way. The lack of depth in their portrayals weakens the overall storytelling.

Absence of Nuance: What is most concerning is the absence of any nuanced discussion on the challenges and complexities that Bangladesh faced during its formation. The political, social, and economic issues that plagued the nation are brushed over, leaving the audience with an incomplete and unrealistic picture.

Missed Opportunities: Given the rich historical context and the potential for a profound exploration of the nation's birth, "Mujib: The Making of Nation" missed the opportunity to offer a more balanced and thought-provoking narrative. Instead, it opts for a simplistic and one-sided approach that does a disservice to the history it aims to portray.

Finally, "Mujib: The Making of Nation" is a disappointing attempt at capturing the complex and tumultuous history of Bangladesh's formation. While the film may appeal to those looking for a hagiographic account of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it ultimately fails as a comprehensive and unbiased historical narrative, doing a disservice to the rich and intricate history of the nation.

In Mujib: The Making of a Nation, viewers are taken on a journey through the life of a historical figure, but it's a journey filled with bumps and detours. The film's portrayal of history is riddled with inaccuracies, which may leave history enthusiasts disheartened. While the acting is serviceable, it doesn't quite leave a lasting impact, falling into the realm of 'average' at best.

One notable drawback is the choice of background music, which often fails to evoke the intended emotions, leaving a disconnect between the audience and the on-screen events. Costume design, too, falls short of expectations and could have been more meticulously executed.

Arefin Shuvo's dialogue delivery, on occasion, unintentionally injects humor into serious moments, breaking the immersion. Perhaps the most noteworthy concern is the apparent political bias in the narrative. It's clear that one side is disproportionately highlighted, potentially alienating a portion of the audience seeking a more balanced perspective.

In summary, 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation' is a film that stirs controversy with its historical inaccuracies, struggles to stand out in terms of acting, and falters in its production elements. While it has its moments, the overall experience warrants a modest rating of 5/10.