Jibondhuli ( bn, জীবনঢুলী), also known as The Drummer, is a 2014 Bangladeshi Bengali-language drama film written and directed by

Tanvir Mokammel Tanvir Mokammel (born 8 March 1955) is a Bangladeshi filmmaker and writer. He is the recipient of Ekushey Padak in 2017. He won Bangladesh National Film Awards total ten times for the films ''Nodir Naam Modhumoti'' (1995), '' Chitra Nodir Pare'' ( ...

, produced under Kino-Eye Films. The film is based on the

Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...

in 1971, circulating around a lower caste Hindu dhak player. The film was set to be released in December 2013, but eventually premiered in

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...

on February 14, 2014. Jibondhuli was also premiered at the

National Art Gallery List of national galleries is a list of national art galleries. {{tocright Africa *Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa *National Art Gallery of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia The Americas *Galería Nacional, San Juan, Puerto ...

of the

Shilpakala Academy Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy ( bn, শিল্পকলা একাডেমি; National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts) is the principal state-sponsored national cultural center of Bangladesh. History It is the national academy of f ...

on October 20, 2017, along with Pich Dhala Path and

Monpura ''Monpura'' ( bn, মনপুরা), is a 2009 Bangladeshi Bengali film, directed by Giasuddin Selim. The film was remade into Indian Bengali in 2010 as ''Achin Pakhi'', which was directed by Anjan Das. ''Monpura'' is a romantic tragedy film set ...

. The film was shot in various locations, including Pubail in

Gazipur Gazipur ( bn, গাজীপুর) is a city in central Bangladesh. It is located in the Gazipur District. It is a major industrial city north of Dhaka. It is a hub for the textile industry in Bangladesh. Its other name is Joydebpur. Demogra ...

, and also in

Khulna Khulna ( bn, খুলনা, ) is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative centre of Khulna District and Khulna Division. Khulna's economy is the third-largest in Bangladesh, contributing $53 b ...

's Chuknagar, where the

Chuknagar massacre Chuknagar massacre ( bn, চুকনগর গণহত্যা) was a massacre of Bengali Hindus committed by the Pakistan Army and local Razakars during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The massacre took place on 20 May 1971 at Dumuria ...

was depicted.

Plot

Jibonkrishna Das is a lower caste

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

drummer who faces humiliation from the upper caste Hindus and the Muslims. When the

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

captured his village, he attempted to flee to

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

with his family. On their way though, hundreds of people, including Jibon's family, were killed by the army. Jibon, however, survived and was traumatized by the incident. Jibon returns to his village, now occupied by the

Razakars Razakar (رضا کار) is etymologically an Arabic word which literally means volunteer. The word is also common in Urdu language as a loanword. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, razakar is a pejorative word meaning a traitor or Judas. In Pakista ...

. He was spared by the commander of the Razakars and later goes to the military base where he was obliged to abandon his dhak and play the western drum for the Pakistan Army. He becomes devastated and even faces discrimination by the army for his religion. Later, the army kidnaps Bengali women and keeps them hostage. The

Mukti Bahini The Mukti Bahini ( bn, মুক্তিবাহিনী, translates as 'freedom fighters', or liberation army), also known as the Bangladesh Forces, was the guerrilla resistance movement consisting of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary ...

fighters arrive and raze the military base. Jibon later abandons the drum and takes his dhak to celebrate the liberation of his village from the razakars.

Cast

Shatabdi Wadud Shatabdi Wadud is a Bangladeshi film and television actor. He won Bangladesh National Film Award Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies ...

as Jibonkrishna Das - A lower caste dhak player who is humiliated by the upper caste Hindus and Muslims. *

Ramendu Majumdar Ramendu Majumdar (born 9 August 1941) is a Bangladeshi actor, stage director and theater producer. In 2011, he was elected president of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) for the second time. He was the second Asian to be elected to this ...

Wahida Mollick Jolly Wahida Mollick Jolly is a Bangladeshi actress. She works on stage plays, television dramas and films. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Costume Design for the film ''Mrittika Maya'' (2013). Background Jolly's parents settled in Raj ...

Chitralekha Guho Chitralekha Guho is a Bangladeshi television, stage and film actress. She was awarded Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film '71 Er Maa Jononi (2014). Career Guho debuted her acting career in 1986 by ...

Jyotika Jyoti Jyotika Jyoti is a Bangladeshi actress. Her first film, ''Ayna'', directed by Kabori Sarwar, was released in 2005. The next two important releases were ''Nondito Noroke'' by Belal Ahmed and '' Rabeya'' by Tanvir Mokammel. Later she acted in Tanv ...

as Shandharani * Rafika Eva * Tabibul Islam Babu *

Pran Roy Pran Roy ( bn, প্রাণ রায়) is a Bangladeshi actor, painter and art director. He primarily appears on television and theater, and also works in films. He is most commonly known for his role in ' Ronger Manush'. Biography Ear ...

* Paresh Acharya *

Uttam Guho Uttam Guho (born 30 September) is a Bangladeshi art director of films and stage plays. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Art Direction a record 10 times for the films ''Anya Jibon'' (1995), ''Chitra Nodir Pare'' (1999), ''Hason Raja'' ...

* Mrinal Dutta in the music video 'Ore O Dada, Ami Jabo

Sealdah Sealdah is a neighbourhood of Central Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Etymology Jackals (''sheal'' in Bengali) howled around Sealdah. Antiquarians identify it as Shrigaldwipa (Jackal Island). Nearby Beliaghata wa ...

', also sang by Dutta humself.

Music

The soundtrack album for ''Jibondhuli'' was released on July 7, 2013. The album includes two folk songs and four others written by Tanvir Mokammel. The composer of the songs is Syed Shabab Ali Arzoo, who is the film's music director. Rajkumari Dasi Sundori, a survivor of the Chuknagar massacre, unveiled the album cover.

References

{{reflist 2014 films Bengali-language Bangladeshi films Films directed by Tanvir Mokammel Films based on the Bangladesh Liberation War Government of Bangladesh grants films