Name: Nudrat Zaheen

ID: 173011078

Course Code: MSJ11376

Course: Aesthetics of Film

Section: 01

Answer to the question no. 1

Ontorjatra, tells the story of a British-Bangladeshi teen discovering his homeland (Bangladesh) after relocating to London
with his mother as a child. The film's main character, Sohel, travels to Bangladesh for the first time to pay his respects to
his father Rafiq’s grave. He was never introduced to his father or other family members. Shireen, his mother, kept him
separated from them. After seeing his grandparents and other members of his father's family, he feels bereft of his
father's and grandpa's love and affection for the first time in his life. He notes that they have a solid connection to the
land. Despite his lack of recollection of Bangladesh, he knows that it is his homeland, and he will have to return again and
again to reassemble his missing half.

In "Under Construction," a lot is being created, from urban Bangladesh's rising infrastructure to modern women's
changing identities. In this poignant investigation of agency and emotional turmoil, director Rubaiyat Hossain seeks to
handle both.

For years, Roya (Shahana Goswami) has performed the lead female protagonist in Rabindranath Tagore's classic political
play "Red Oleanders," only to then be replaced by a younger actress. When she is offered an opportunity to reprise the
part for a European theatrical tour, she doubts her responsibility to challenge the character's spirit of freshness and
selfless purity, throwing doubt on the character's reality. She proposes a complete restructuring of the character instead,
updating the play's message to more closely address contemporary issues, putting her credibility and relationships on the
line in the process. She must also contend with stifling pressure from her husband, mother, and friends to give up
performing in favour of motherhood and homemaking, both of which she despises. Despite her relative comfort in a
seemingly stable middle-class marriage, Roya chose her actual self-actualization and personal fulfilment, resenting the
subservient and subjugated role she sees oppression on the women around her.
Both in the films, there is an excellent portrayal of two strong, independent, selfless, loving women who are doubted with
their ability by society.

In most scenes of Ontorjatra, we found Sohel feeling helpless and confused. I felt pity for him as I was watching it. In my
opinion, Shireen should have told Sohel about his father as soon as he was able to understand the real world. Shireen
should have given Sohel the chance to choose to know his motherland, his father and his father's family. However, as a
birth-giver, mother and lone woman, I understand her fear of losing her only child and where she was coming from. I
totally understand about not being with her ex-husband Rafiq, as their marriage was toxic and their love was faded. Rafiq
also got married after Shireen. But Shireen sacrificed her love life by focusing only on her son and his wellbeing.
The same goes for Roya. Her acting career and theatres were her only passion in her life. And when as a woman, you
choose to once care about our own life or wellbeing or passion, you suddenly became unacceptable by society and even
by your own family. In the movie we can see that Roya’s husband was really into his own life and work. Roya was always
there for him and supported him. He was often out of the city or country for work. And that was never really a problem.
And in case of cheating, Roya shouldn’t have done that. Neither do she should be with her husband anymore because,
there was no love between them and they were clearly not happy with one another. Only the responsibilities and society
are what keeping them together.

These two characters were really compassionate and never wanted anyone’s harm. Two most iconic parts of the films are
that Shireen comforted his ex-husband widow and love their daughter. On the other hand, Roya also found her bestfriend
and companion in a little girl who used to work as a maid in her house.

These scenes show us the warmth and love they have in their heart for others.

As humans, no one's perfect. We all have flaws, and that is what makes us humane and beautiful. So are Shireen and
Roya. And in life, they may be made some wrong moves but are absolutely acceptable.

Answer to the Question no. 2

Catherine Masud and Tareque Masud's cinematography is exceptional, and they take their time telling the narrative. We
get beautiful glimpses of Bangladesh thanks to cinematography, whether it's the hectic streets of the metropolis of the
country's verdant farmlands. The vibrant colors, the protagonist’s cardigans, a skyline, the distortion of life, everything
was excellent. Editing is crisp, as the story is quite simple and doesn't deviate from the main plot. Performances are pretty
adequate. Ontorjatra is a decent film set in a slightly different culture, about discovering one's roots, about growing up
and about mistakes.
As a film from 2005, I found every element of Mise En Scène of the film; composition, production, design, lighting,
costuming, hair and makeup, film texture perfect.

After seeing rookie director Rubaiyat Hossain's film "Under Construction," I felt really sincere and affected. The
imaginative utilization of Rabindranath Tagore's work was fantastic. The storyline pattern was beautiful. Both may
alternate between playing and watching a movie. In Bangladesh, the lives of men and women working in the construction
and textile industries have become so mechanical that no one seems to mind if someone dies while constructing a
building. The story revolves around Roya, a theatrical artist who wants to establish her own company in order to establish
her identity as a theatrical director. The film depicted the current state of society and high concentrations shades of
events, emotions, and amazing music.
I also enjoyed every aspect of the film's Mise En Scène. Everything about the composition, production, design, lighting,
costumes, hair and makeup, and film texture was flawless. It didn't feel like it should finish right at the end. I was really
wanting to see or know how Roya’s play, the reinterpret the whole Red Oleanders, went, everyone doubting her. Though
at I got the feeling of Roya’s success and she obviously gave her best, but still Rubaiyat Hossain could’ve showed a sneak
peek of Royar play on real life incident, the Rana Plaza collapse.