Khandaker Sumon’s film “Saatao” (Memories of Gloomy Monsoons) will be screened at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital at 11:00am today.
The film will be shown under Shilpakala Academy’s year-long film screening initiative, “Bochorbepi Chalachitra Utsab”, organised by the academy’s Drama and Film Department.
“Saatao” follows the story of a farmer’s lifestyle and his struggles based in a rural society of the Northern region of Bangladesh. Khandaker Sumon has also written the story, screenplay and dialogue of the film. The movie stars Aynun Putul, Fazlul Haque, Sabera Yasmin, Tashmita Shimu, Mitu Sarkar, among others.
The plot revolves around a farmer called Fazlu and his wife Putul. After marrying Putul and bringing her home, Fazlu finds his wife amidst loneliness therefore he brings in a third member- a cow. With this newfound companion, Putul starts to settle in her new place.
However, Teesta River’s dams caused the lower region to be affected by drought, this brings struggle in the lives of farmers like Fazlu. The dam’s gatekeep all the water until the overflow in monsoon. As a result, they open the gates causing floods, bringing misery to the livelihood of everyone inhabiting the lower region. Due to such hostile behaviour of the river, Fazlu’s family is no longer content.
The crowd-funded film was released in the country’s theatre on 27 January, 2023. “Saatao” was nominated at the 2nd ‘World Film Festival Kolkata’ in India, the 19th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival in Russia, and won the Best Film in the Bangladesh Panorama category at the 21st ‘Dhaka International Film Festival in 2023.’
