DhakaLive’s Farhanul Hoque reveals more about Gias Uddin Selim’s ‘Swapnajaal’ through a recent interview. Excerpts follow:
Why is there a nine-year hiatus between your two films?
Actually, in between the films ‘Monpura’ and ‘Swapnajaal’, I wanted to make another film titled ‘Kajal Rekha’. However, the budget for the film was huge and I could not find any producer for the film. Thus, I did not produce it, but when I wanted to make the film, ‘Swapnajaal’, Bengal Creations funded me to produce this film independently.
Why should the audience watch the film?
This is up to the audiences, whether they would like to watch the film or not. From my perspective, for thousands of years, our source of entertainment has been in the stories that have passed down to us from one generation to another. We are basically a nation that likes to narrate and listen to stories. I, as a writer, wanted to narrate a story in ‘Swapnajaal’ and, to my thinking, this is a beautiful story, and so I am hopeful that the audience would like to watch the film.
Why the songs (except only one) of ‘Swapnajaal’ are not uploaded to any online platform like the previous film ‘Monpura’?
Actually, this is a strategy set by me for a reason. First of all, we have to decide whether the songs are made for the films or the films are made for the songs. ‘Monpura’ was released nine years back, but ‘Swapnajaal’ is releasing now, in a different time. The aspects are completely different also. So, now our aim is to let the audience find the songs and connect them to the film while watching the film.
Why do you make films? For money or for the development of society?
If you ask a national cricket player whether they play cricket for money or for the sake of the country? I think they fill both criteria. Making films is my profession. If I make films only for money, then I would have preferred setting up a grocery store rather than making films. I have obligations to my society and so for the country—I never forget this even though I earn my living by making films. But I still am conscious about society and try to infuse them both.
Photo Courtesy l Golam Sabbir