Colour of Freedom

In a 78-minute documentary, Indian director Ajoy Roy successfully explores the eventful career of world-renowned Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin Ahmed. Before the screening of the film in Dhaka recently, the Paris-based artist was invited on stage to say a few words.   

“Actually, I have nothing to say about the film, which is a presentation of my life. The credit must go to the director.  I am here as a subject only,” said Shahabuddin, 67.

The artist, however, shared a nice story  about meeting the director for the first time: “In 1992, a solidarity art camp with artists from both West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh was held at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. At that time, I noticed a youth among the other photojournalists and cameramen. Ajoy had his old camera set on my paintings all the while. Then he came to me and said he was originally from Faridpur district of Bangladesh and we became friends. Later on, he took some footage to make this film.”

Ajoy Roy, 63, visited Paris 28 times to make the documentary more informative and lively, Shahabuddin added. Roy has also included rare footage on different subjects from Europe, India and Bangladesh.

Appearing on the stage, Roy said: “The comments from the audience are important to me. I did my best. So, let us enjoy the film.”  

The film, Shahabuddin: Colour of Freedom, begins with the life of the artist in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and ends in Paris, France where he now lives. The documentary captures different moments in the life of Shahabuddin and his family. The film also remarks how the works of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin influenced the artist.

“If we see one painting of Zainul, we can see an old, sick man who is sitting down. It appears he is thinking about a better future and wants to stand up. But he doesn’t have the strength to do so. And in Shahabuddin’s work, he seems to have added speed to the man so he can dream of a glorious future. Thus, we see motion in his paintings,” Nasiruddin Yousuff, an award-winning director and freedom fighter, says on the screen.

The painter becomes depressed and feels lonely in Paris. “In 1975, my mind became sad in Paris as we lost our Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. There was a grand gathering of artists, writers, poets and dancers. Sometimes, I felt alone amidst so many people. Of course, thousands of artists dream of coming here. But I was crying thinking about the bad condition of Bangladesh,” Shahabuddin says in the film.  

“I passed my childhood on the bank of the Meghna. I didn’t know how to swim when I was four or five years old. But after swallowing river water for some days while trying to learn, I realised yes! I now know how to swim. It was a thrilling experience of my life,” the painter says, reminiscing about his childhood days in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district.

The film also shows a refugee camp at Agartala in India’s Tripura state.  More than 25,000 refugees took shelter there during our Liberation War in 1971, said Shahabuddin, who is also a freedom fighter. He applauds the government of Tripura for preserving the place. After 45 years, he went back and was proud to see the place again, the film shows.

“Major Khaled Mosharraf, Bir Uttom, along with other officers came to know that I was the only artist there. So, they arranged a painting exhibition for entertainment. I drew the portrait of Bangabandhu among 13 paintings at that beautiful exhibition,” Shahabuddin says recalling his wartime experience.

After the screening, Ajoy Roy answered questions from the audience. “The flow of colours symbolises the spirit of the Liberation War, which becomes visible in his paintings, including different ones of Bangabandhu, his portraits and others. Besides, the vivid colours in Shahabuddin’s paintings are diversified. The diversity of different colours is the symbol of freedom. He himself is a freedom fighter and uses different colours freely. So, I named the film thus,” Roy explained.

Roy has directed 17 documentaries so far. Shahabuddin: Colour of Freedom is his latest work. The film, with subtitles in English, took 25 years to become a final product. It was released in India in 2016, and the director plans to do an updated version as the artist lives on.   

The documentary was screened on March 27 at National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, where the artist’s solo painting exhibition was going on. n

Photos: Courtesy.

Colour of Freedom

In a 78-minute documentary, Indian director Ajoy Roy successfully explores the eventful career of world-renowned Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin Ahmed. Before the screening of the film in Dhaka recently, the Paris-based artist was invited on stage to say a few words. Actually, I have nothing to say about the film, which is a presentation of my life. The credit must go to the director. I am here as a subject only, said Shahabuddin, 67. The artist, however, shared a nice story about meeting the director for the first time: In 1992, a solidarity art camp with artists from both West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh was held at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. At that time, I noticed a youth among the other photojournalists and cameramen. Ajoy had his old camera set on my paintings all the while. Then he came to me and said he was originally from Faridpur district of Bangladesh and we became friends. Later on, he took some footage to make this film. Ajoy Roy, 63, visited Paris 28 times to make the documentary more informative and lively, Shahabuddin added. Roy has also included rare footage on different subjects from Europe, India and Bangladesh. Appearing on the stage, Roy said: The comments from the audience are important to me. I did my best. So, let us enjoy the film. The film, Shahabuddin: Colour of Freedom, begins with the life of the artist in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and ends in Paris, France where he now lives. The documentary captures different moments in the life of Shahabuddin and his family. The film also remarks how the works of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin influenced the artist. If we see one painting of Zainul, we can see an old, sick man who is sitting down. It appears he is thinking about a better future and wants to stand up. But he doesnt have the strength to do so. And in Shahabuddins work, he seems to have added speed to the man so he can dream of a glorious future. Thus, we see motion in his paintings, Nasiruddin Yousuff, an award-winning director and freedom fighter, says on the screen. The painter becomes depressed and feels lonely in Paris. In 1975, my mind became sad in Paris as we lost our Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. There was a grand gathering of artists, writers, poets and dancers. Sometimes, I felt alone amidst so many people. Of course, thousands of artists dream of coming here. But I was crying thinking about the bad condition of Bangladesh, Shahabuddin says in the film. I passed my childhood on the bank of the Meghna. I didnt know how to swim when I was four or five years old. But after swallowing river water for some days while trying to learn, I realised yes! I now know how to swim. It was a thrilling experience of my life, the painter says, reminiscing about his childhood days in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district. The film also shows a refugee camp at Agartala in Indias Tripura state. More than 25,000 refugees took shelter there during our Liberation War in 1971, said Shahabuddin, who is also a freedom fighter. He applauds the government of Tripura for preserving the place. After 45 years, he went back and was proud to see the place again, the film shows. Major Khaled Mosharraf, Bir Uttom, along with other officers came to know that I was the only artist there. So, they arranged a painting exhibition for entertainment. I drew the portrait of Bangabandhu among 13 paintings at that beautiful exhibition, Shahabuddin says recalling his wartime experience. After the screening, Ajoy Roy answered questions from the audience. The flow of colours symbolises the spirit of the Liberation War, which becomes visible in his paintings, including different ones of Bangabandhu, his portraits and others. Besides, the vivid colours in Shahabuddins paintings are diversified. The diversity of different colours is the symbol of freedom. He himself is a freedom fighter and uses different colours freely. So, I named the film thus, Roy explained. Roy has directed 17 documentaries so far. Shahabuddin: Colour of Freedom is his latest work. The film, with subtitles in English, took 25 years to become a final product. It was released in India in 2016, and the director plans to do an updated version as the artist lives on. The documentary was screened on March 27 at National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, where the artists solo painting exhibition was going on. n Photos: Courtesy.