Exclusive Interview Ruhul Amin Part1

[Rom]

Exclusive Interview U.K Based Film Director
Ruhul Amin




Ruhul Amin makes films around the life of the Bangladeshi community in the East End of London. His films are very poetic like the melody of Bengali folk song. It creates a mesmerising intensity which evokes a poetic feel. He depicts the experience of migrant life with great care and in a dignified way. His films are critically well received around the world. His work has been likened to the early films of De Sica and Satyajit Ray.
Few years ago I came to know him through a film workshop which he was conducting. Since then I kept in touch and am spellbound by his passion of filmmaking.
He has been knocking on doors for last five years to raise funds for his latest project “Hason Raja”. Here I talk to him to find out about his current project and the main driving force behind his passion.
Romuz Uddin (r_omuz@yahoo.co.uk)

Romuz - Half a million Bangladeshis are settled in Britain.
They are in their fourth generations and many of them have established themselves in various professional fields. As far as we know you are the only home grown filmmaker involved in the mainstream British TV and film industry.
Ruhul – I think you’ve put me an awkward position. I have to ask half a million people to find out why they are not into filmmaking.

Romuz - Bengalis of Bangladesh and west Bengal have contributed significantly to the world cinema. Why do you think we in Britain have descended so awfully?
Ruhul - Now let us see, as a British Bengali community why are we left behind in this media race? Well, to understand our plight we have to travel back a bit.
Vast majority of our people left their rural homeland in search of a better life. They meant to discover the land of gold and honey.
Throughout their journey they faced violent storms, they fought and survived. Soon after the Second World War few people started settling in various parts of United Kingdom.
But the larger bulk of the community migrated during the war of liberation in 1971.
British government originally invited them to fill the shortage of labour forces.
They were welcomed, but a certain section of the British society reacted violently.
Racism spread everywhere. Vicious confrontation dominated the life of the newly arrived immigrants.
Racism prevented them from assimilating or participating fully in the greater society.
Fear driven them to stick together and they formed ghettos, they were segregated from the mainstream society.
Their life was centred around their small community.
They formed villages away from their village. They felt threatened, they held on to their tradition and old values which they had brought with them. Their profound religious values took a deeper root. Explicit exhibition of sexuality is considered as part of decadent culture. They developed revulsion towards western culture. Cinema fulfils those criteria of that decadent culture.
Islamophobia and current western politics towards Islamic countries have marginalised these simple people further. They feel a threat, and they are in desperate search for an identity.
Islam provides moral strength and physiological security.
This recent phenomenon is rapidly driving them towards orthodox practises, which is conforming to strict religious values. I feel the community is going through a metamorphosis. They are split between present, past, East and West. I feel they have to confront many more storms before they can appreciate and become proud of their glorious Bengali cultural heritage. Then inventively they will run everywhere with the camera in search of their lost treasure.

Romuz - What exactly involves to become a film maker?
Ruhul - Let me simply explain my understanding of this magical and most powerful medium.
Filmmaking is a complex art form. To become a filmmaker it cut ‘it’ requires a burning desire and a passion to go through an intensive learning process. Initially it doesn’t provide you any security of livelihood. It doesn’t bring instant name and fame. One has to begin his or her journey with an understanding of all that and be prepared to face any daunting challenge.
Cinema is Painting, cinema is music, cinema is poetry, cinema is people, and cinema is our culture. Cinema touches everything that is to do with us and our existence. Cinema is just not to do with camera, sound and light. Cinema is an art form. It tells story-story of people.
It requires a discipline, commitment and love. You have to have tremendous love for that art and craft. And for that love you have to be prepared to climb Himalaya. Well, this may sound intimidating, but not to worry. Every one of us is born with creative instinct. If we are given an opportunity or grow up around right kind of cultural environment, we are bound to be influenced by it. So far filmmaking has been confined to the privileged class. Very recently the emergence of video technology, has allowed accessibility to the wider world.