Identity, Nationhood and Bangladesh Independent Cinema

Description

This book analyses how independent filmmakers from Bangladesh have represented national identity in their films. The focus of this book is on independent and art house filmmakers and how cinema plays a vital role in constructing national and cultural identity. The authors examine post-2000 films which predominantly deal with issues of national identity and demonstrate how they tackle questions of national identity. Bangladesh is seemingly a homogenous country consisting 98% of Bengali and 90% of Muslim. This majority group has two dominant identities – Bengaliness (the ethno-linguistic identity) and Muslimness (the religious identity). Bengaliness is perceived as secular-modern whereas Muslimness is perceived as traditional and conservative. However, Bangladeshi independent and art house filmmakers portray the nationhood of the country with an enthusiasm and liveliness that exceeds these two categories. In addition to these categories, the authors add two more dimensions to the approach to discuss identity: Popular Religion and Transformation. The study argues that these identity categories are represented in the films, and that they both reproduce and challenge dominant discourses of nationalism. Providing a new addition to the discourse of contemporary national identity, the book will be of interest to researchers studying international film and media studies, independent cinema studies, Asian cinema, and South Asian culture, politics, and identity politics. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Figures Tables Acknowledgements Introduction Notes References 1. Nationhood, Identity and Independent Cinema Nationhood and Identity Representation and Identity Discourses on Independent Film: Global and Bangladeshi Film Narratology References 2. Identity Approaches of Bengali Muslims Bengal before the Muslim Conquest Bengal under Muslim Rule Interregnum: The British Imperialism and Movement of Pakistan State Language Movement and Emergence of Bangladesh Bengaliness as a Way of Being The Rise of Muslimness Islamic Revivalist Movement British Policy Hindu Chauvinism Popular Religion: The Syncretic Identity Approach Tantric Buddhism, Sufism and Vaishnavism Post-Independence Bangladesh: Two Major Identities in Conflict Transformation and Deterritorialisation Jihadist Islam Notes References 3. The Making of Independent Cinema in Bangladesh Early Influences First Phase (1984-1992): Early Short Films Early Characteristics Some Limitations of Early Independent Films Second Phase (1993-1999): Thrust to Transformation Industrial Cutting Edge We were Forced to be Independent Third Phase (2000-2010): New Challenges and Opportunities Corporate Electronic Media as Parallel Industry Local Entrepreneur as Producer Digital Filmmaking in the 2000s Diverse Survival Strategies Fourth Phase (2011-2018): Going Global Documentary in a Different Note Government, Censorship and Independent Cinema Notes References 4. Textual Analysis: Foundational Films Kittonkhola: Struggle with Identity in the Rural Bengal Histoire Recit A Tale of the Transformation of Identity Portrayal of the Power Structure of Peripheral Bengal Behula or Manasa: Feminine Dichotomy Narration A Tree Without Roots: Portrayal of Muslimness of a Peasant Society Lalsalu and Syed Waliullah Histoire Recit A Fatalistic Society Manufacturing Fear Women: Victim, Labourer and Rebellious Anti-Islamic Text? Narration Dollhouse: Love in the Time of War Histoire Recit War Victimises Woman War Can Confuse People Nationalist Narrative of Resistance A Dollhouse can be Built under Aggression Nature of Bengal: Additional Narrative Narration References 5. Textual Analysis: Transitional Films The Clay Bird: Plurality of Identity of Bangladesh Histoire Recit Constructing Identity: Bengaliness, Muslimness and Popular Religion The Clay Bird Symbolises Freedom Representing Cultural Diversity Narration Meherjaan: Challenge to the Grand Narrative of Liberation War Histoire Recit An Absurd Affair? Can a Birangana Speak? Nationalist Jingoism and Moral Policing An Untimely Deconstruction? Is 'Loving the Other' Possible? Narration Television: Religion's Negotiation with Modernity Histoire Recit Television as a Vehicle of Imag(e)ination A Conflict between Zealotry and Modernity? Religious Sense and Sensibility Love in the Time of Religious Bigotry Narration References 6. Textual Analysis: Contemporary Films A Runway: Profiling Terror Network in Bangladesh Histoire Recit Dealing with Jihadist Islam Geneology of a 'Jongi' Class Exploitations Everywhere Narration B Ant Story: Globalised Man's Descent into Madness Histoire Recit Psychoanalysis Contemporary Bangladesh Narration C Under Construction: A Document of Time and Space under Construction Histoire Recit Narration D My Bicycle: Changing Indigenous Life on the Advent of Modernity Histoire Recit A Historiography of Indigenous People Depiction of an Ethnic Identity and Culture Advent of Modernity and a Changing Society Military and the Censorship Fiasco Narration References 7. Representing Identity through Cinema Bengaliness and Muslimness as Conflicting Identities Bengaliness as the Preferred Identity Approach Popular Religion in the Selected Films and the Greater Identity Questions Bangladesh Society in Transition and Deterritorialisation Women in the Identity Politics: Victim, Labourer and Rebel Class as a Component in Identity Politics 'Oriental's Orientalism': Re-reading the Case for Independent Films in Bangladesh Independent Cinema as a Cultural Institution: It's Influence in Constructing Identity Notes References Conclusion References Index