Movie Review: Not all movies of a country represent the country. Some movies are made only with entertainment, audience demand, and commerce in mind. Some movies are made taking into account the soil, culture, and lifestyle of the people of that country. In that case, the creator’s philosophy and ideology become the most important. Khandkar Suman’s ‘Saatao’, released on January 27, is one such movie, when you see it, you will get the scent of the soil, and find the lost life of the people of this country!
The opening sequence of ‘Saatao’ is very impressive. There is a frenzy on both sides of the river in a village of Rangpur-Gaibandha region over the canoe sprint competition. To keep the source of the scene natural, the makers have really organized and shot the competition here. I have seen this artifice-free movie in the midst of going down together to catch fish or falling into the mud in the hands of friends. Although the central characters of the movie are Fazlul and Putul, Abla, a domesticated calf, also moves the emotions of the audience. The joys of the marriage of village couple Fazlul and Putul and the pain of Putul’s stillbirth; Both form the framework of the film’s story. Childless Putul clings to the calf Lalu who lost the mother cow. But at some point, Putul lost Lalu in the tension of life.
Farakka’s water effects have not been shown much in Bengali cinema as spectacularly as in ‘Saatao’. Another strong point of this movie is its play of light and dark, with perfect and moderate use of sound. However, due to the lack of budget, the sophisticated form of art is a little less, it has to be admitted. The screenplay running parallel to the story may also confuse many viewers. But there is nothing incomprehensible or over the top in the movie.
I will keep Aynun Nahar Putul ahead in the performance judgment. Her crying and emotional scenes are amazing. Well done Fazlul. He also worked with Tareque Masud despite getting a chance in very few films. Therefore fluency in acting, and regionalism is quite noticeable. The rest are good in their respective roles, but none of the supporting cast is given much importance. Barring some limitations – crowd-funded production, and not being able to do much promotion – nothing held the movie back in terms of quality.
‘Saatao’ is a movie to make this country proud.
