Mujib – The Making of a Nation Review: Shyam Benegal’s film is an inspiring masterpiece!

Mujib – The Making of a Nation

Producers – NFDC & BFDC

Director – Shyam Benegal

Cast- Arifin Shuvoo, Rajit Kapoor, Nusrat Imroz Tisha, Deepak Antani, Gaurav Sharma, Mehmood Siddique

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating:

By Jyothi Venkatesh

Based on the life and times of the first President of Bangladesh, ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mujib: The Making of a Nation, features Arifin Shuvoo as the titular character, while Nusrat Imrose Tisha plays his wife Fazilatunnesa (Renu). The film closely follows Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s life, how his interest in politics developed from an early age, in the presence of the stalwarts of the time: Mahatma Gandhi, Fazlul Haque and Suhrawardy. We also get to understand what inspired him to rise against the then-government, fight against Urdu imposition, create a six-point programme, and post the war for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, give shape to the nation.

Shyam Banegal’s, Mujib the Making of a Nation, is based on the life story of the founder of Bangladesh – Mujibur Rahman. However, just after three years of Bangladesh being freed from the clutches of West Pakistan, the assassination of Mujib and his entire family members present in the house by his own party members portrayed in the climax sets out to create a spine-chilling emotional feel which runs down the audiences while watching the film in theatres.

Also read: Kritika Kamra on playing a cop in Gyarah Gyarah: ‘When you put on a police uniform, you feel a sense of responsibility’

Mujib’s life is depicted on the screen through the eyes of his wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, lovingly referred to as Renu by Bangabandhu. The highlight of the film besides the immaculate direction by Shyam who is a master of the films that he sets out to create on celluloid, is the screenplay by Shama Zaidi and Atun Tiwari and the splendid cinematography by Akashdeep Pandey.

As far as the performances in the film are concerned, ID say that Arifin Shuvoo plays the part of Mujib, and the role of the tall handsome hunk suits the character of Mujib to the fullest and he has played his part effortlessly well- facing the challenges of portraying both personal and political life magnificently as the character demands. Nusrat Imros Tisha as his wife adds spice to her political knowledge and as a housewife she supports her husband [Mujib] with her brilliant political advice.

Tauquir Ahmed does a good job of portraying Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the major influence on Mujib’s life, who shapes his career in politics. Chanchal Chowdhury, Riaz, Raisul Islam Asad, Shahidul Alam Sachchu etc have all done justice to their roles. In a small but crucial role, Rajit Kapur (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) makes a strong impact. The prosthetics and period details and styling make these characters look believable. To put it in a nutshell, Mujib is an inspiring masterpiece.