Film by Bangla director fighting ‘pol persecution’ goes to Rotterdam
Times of India | 23 December 2025
Kolkata: Bangladesh director Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's feature film, ‘Master' has been selected for the Big Screen Competition at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR).
Sumit's father was a Muktijoddha (freedom fighter) involved in Awami League politics, but he has no official ties with the party. Yet, he said, making ‘Master' turned his life into a "political thriller" with "political persecutions" in the forms of "lawsuits, attacks, threats and fabricated labels".
‘Master' tells the story of Jahir, an ideal teacher, husband and father who finds joy in his family and work. But when he becomes the upa-zilla chairman of Mohoganj, everything changes. Initially backed by the local youth, Jahir enters office with good intentions but he starts compromising on his values under pressure of expectations. His once-noble vision turns into a quest for power and control. "My film is about Jahir's journey from a community hero to a feared authoritarian," said Sumit, whose another film, ‘Nonajoler Kabyo', had won at the Kolkata International Film Festival in 2021.
The new film, starring Nasir Uddin Khan and Azmeri Haque Badhon, was shot in March-April 2024 during the Awami League's tenure in Bangladesh. "It was not my goal to attack any specific person or political party. My objective was to point a finger at the systemic injustices plaguing our country for decades , issues perpetuated by both the bureaucracy and politicians. The guilty should be punished, and the innocent should live in peace—it's a simple equation. But in this country, it never works that way," he said.
‘Master' explores a forest community facing eviction without a proper rehabilitation plan. "If we truly want to fix policies that marginalize those on the fringes, we need open conversations and cooperation, no matter what someone's political beliefs are. That spirit of collaboration is missing in Bangladesh right now and that worries me the most," Sumit said.
Discussing the challenges he faced due to his family's political stance, he added, "I've been leading a double life this past year. On one hand, I'm a filmmaker and on the other, I'm a shield for my family — dispelling false claims and exonerating loved ones facing fabricated charges. It hasn't been easy. The atmosphere in Bangladesh right now is stifling. Various govt bodies seem to have been weaponized against me simply because my family is on a particular side of the political aisle. I am not asking to bypass the judicial process. Healing for our society begins with delivering justice to everyone who was wronged last year. But justice also means fair trials, a total end to harassment based on political beliefs, and a society where no one is discriminated against for who they are," Sumit added.
Film-making has been Sumit's lifeline. "My film faced many debilitating obstacles. Many of those involved in the making of the film, especially those coming from Madhupur and Dhanbari areas, haven't seen their families for over a year. They aren't even safe in their own villages or markets. Those who know me personally understand this political persecution. The rest will learn about it when I make a film on this experience one day," Sumit said.