Amar Bhashar Cholochitro 1432: A defiant celebration of Bangla cinema

Vivid posters plastered across street walls, the over-saturated melodrama, and iconic playback music, might be the things that come to your mind when you think about Bangla cinema. 

With the loud colours, dramatic visuals, the distinct touch of an artist's brush on posters, everything tells stories of laughter, tears, and high-octane action. This year, the campus of Dhaka University has been transformed into a living gallery of that very aesthetic, as the 'Amar Bhashar Cholochitro 1432' has been decorated with that same spirit — vintage posters, bold fonts, loud colours and a collection of legendary playback music.

Born out of a deep-seated love for the celluloid form and the enduring legacy of the Language Movement, the Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) has curated this festival for over two decades. What began in 2007 as an initiative to influence the audience to return to cinema hall culture has now matured into its 24th edition, marking twenty-three years of celebrating the month of February through the lens of a projector. In an era where we consume stories on the cold, six-inch screens of our smartphones, this festival is a deliberate attempt to breathe life back into the communal magic of the golden age.

The moment you step onto the TSC premises, you'll find groups of students with handmade paper megaphones, their voices competing with the hum of the crowd as they shout out the day's schedule with the equal melodramatic tone. Passers-by stop and stare, drawn in by the infectious energy and the old-school Bangali film songs blaring from the speakers. While most film festivals in the city carry a certain air of heavy, academic events, 'Amar Bhashar Cholochitro' is pure, unadulterated madness. Outside, there is a frantic energy to sell tickets through miking, dance and song, while inside the auditorium, screenings run all day long.

Held every February, the festival is a bridge between the two Bengals, showcasing both timeless classics and the best of contemporary cinema. With four screenings a day open to the public, it remains one of the most accessible cultural hubs for film lovers.

At a time when Bangla cinema often feels like it's being swallowed by the gloss of Western-influenced OTT dramas or the loud mimicry of South Indian blockbusters, DUFS strives to remind us of our own skin. From the flamboyant decorations at TSC to the vibrant, melodramatic tones of the promotional videos, everything screams authenticity of Bangladeshi cinema. This year's lineup was a thoughtful curation of 20 feature films and three shorts. It kicked off with Ahmed Hassan Sunny's recent work, 'Ekhane Rajnoitik Alap Joruri'.

The curation of the classics was particularly poignant. To mark the centenary of the legendary actor Uttam Kumar, the festival screened his iconic film 'Deya Neya', directed by Sunil Bandopadhyay. There was a nod to the late Jayasree Kabir with a screening of Surjo Konya, and a tribute to filmmaker Salahuddin's birth centenary with his landmark film Roopban. The schedule was a journey through the soul of the industry, featuring everything from the folk-fantasy of 'Beder Meye Josna' to the gritty reality of 'Muktir Gaan' and the poetic 'Megher Onek Rong'.

The late-afternoon and evening slots were reserved for the contemporary ones, showcasing films like Raihan Rafi's 'Taandob' and 'Chokkor 302', Monirul Haque's 'University of Chankharpool', and Kamar Ahmad Simon's 'Anyadin'. Other notable entries included Mithu Khan's Neelchakro and Tanim Noor's Utsab. With Kolkata based filmmaker Joybrata Das's The Academy of Fine Arts, the festival is set to mark its closing.

Beyond the screenings, the festival carved out space for intellectual friction as well. A panel discussion titled 'Political Cinema' brought together director Aung Rakhine and critic Imran Firdaus to dissect how politics has shaped, and continues to haunt, our screens. The festival will draw to a close with an awards ceremony, where the most outstanding Bangladeshi film of the past year is honoured with the 'Hiralal Sen Award' — named after the subcontinent's legendary cinematic pioneer. 

As the curtains fall, 'Amar Bhashar Cholochitro' leaves behind more than just a list of credits. It leaves a reminder that our cinema, with all its loud colours and dramatic flair, is a language we must never forget how to speak.