http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pritilata_Waddedar
Reposting my film review of Chittagong in memory
‘Chittagong’
After many years, perhaps
after my JNU student days, saw another new film on release time itself.
‘Chittagong’-film based on legendary 1932 Chittagong revolutionary movement led
by Master Surya Sen, directed by Bedabrata Pain, was released yesterday itself
and I went to see it today itself, as it was being shown in DLF Mall SL star
cinema there. Though expensive at Rs.375/, but my interest in the movement and
its already positive reporting motivated me to go for it quickly.
And I must say that 105 minute film is so
well made that it enlivened the 1932 Chittagong movement on screen in very real
form and without melodramizing it. Seen from the eyes of a 14 year old child
revolutionary-Jhunku, who later rose to become one of the major Communist
leaders of the country-Subodh Roy and whose last interview in 2006, just two
weeks before his passing away is part of the film, director Bedabrata Pain has
done full justice to this great revolutionary movement of India. Written by his
wife and co-director Shonali Bose, the film brings into focus the one of the
most progressive revolutionary movement of freedom struggle, led by legendary
hero Master Surya Sen. Movement was bound to fail, as many other revolutionary
movements of those times, very close to it was north Indian HSRA movement led
by Bhagat Singh. Film has shown the actual happenings of movement like
beginning from demonstrations against Jatin Das’s martyrdom in September 1929,
led by Master Surya Sen in Chittagong, slowly developing into revolutionary
network due to the oppressive British colonial structure, finally leading to
raid on Chittagong armory looting arms and capturing Chittagong at least for a
day or so and then retreating to hilly terrains of the thick forest land and
fighting against colonial might heroically. Many children in age group of 14-18
were part of this ‘Indian Republican Army’, some were sent back homes, of which
many got captured, including Jhunku, who was sent to Andamans and returns after
seven years and again becomes active and becomes part of Tebhaga peasant
movement, which began in 1945, at the fag end of British rule! Master Surya Sen
is able to move underground for more than three years and is finally captured
and executed on 12th January 1934. Preetilata Wadedar, ends her life
after successful raid on European club in 1932 and killing of brutal police
officers-Johnson and Ehsanulla.
Manoj Bajpayee had played role of Master
Surya Sen in restrained manner, unlike films made on the life of Bhagat Singh,
showing him in very loud manner. Other actors, particularly debut Delzad Hiwale
playing as Jhunku has performed fantastically fine. Vega Tamotia as Preetilata
has been focused more in love and her sacrificing commitment, rather in a
strong revolutionary leading role.
The best part of the film is its linkage
to Tebhaga peasant movement of 1945. Three major revolutionary movements of
India-Gadar party movement of 1913-15, Bhagat Singh led HSRA movement of
1923-1932 and Chitttagong revolutionary movement-1930-33, produced the maximum
Communist cadres and leaders from its womb. Almost all the survivors of
Chittagong revolutionary movement, as of Bhagat singh led movement turned into
Communists-Anant Singh, Lokentah Bal, Ganesh Ghosh, Subodh Roy(Jhunku) etc.
later rose to become leading Communist leaders of Bengal.Anant Singh never
compromised with his rebel spirits and continued to be jailed after 1947 as
radical communist.
Surely as Bhagat Singh had the potential
to become Lenin of India, so had Master Surya Sen to become Mao Ze Dong of
India and both together had the potential of becoming Fidel and Che of India
and could had led successful revolution even with the children army they had
with them! I had thoroughly enjoyed Chittagong as a treat to my aesthetic as
well as radical senses! My only wonder was that few years ago, Chittagong
movement was made known to me in most impressive manner by Manini Chatterjee’s
book-‘Do and Die’-perhaps still the best book on Chittagong, in film titles or
credits no mention has been made of this vital book! But for me both book ‘Do
and Die’ and film ‘Chittagong’ provided excellent mental pleasure, knowledge
and sense of belonging to this great heritage of revolutionary freedom
struggle. Irony however is that as Lahore’s great heritage as centre and symbol
of revolutionary freedom struggle of India was somehow lost due to partition,
so has been with Chittagong in East. Loss of Chittagong as symbol and centre is
sadder, as East Bengal and now Bangladesh took pride in its secular heritage,
unlike Pakistan, who discarded it. Now when even Pakistan has acknowledged
Lahore as symbol with naming of ‘Bhagat singh Chow’-the execution place of
martyr, should not Bangladesh follow the example by building grand memorial to
the best symbol and centre of revolutionary freedom struggle in the east, with
great martyrs like Master Surya Sen and Preetilata Wadedar, who, have been
given less than their due even in West Bengal, where the whole symbolism has
been appropriated by Subhash Bose, Tagore and Vivekanand!
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