Mujib: The Making of a Nation (), is a 2023 epic biographical film based on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first president of Bangladesh who is popularly known as Bangabandhu (). A co-production between Bangladesh and India, the film was directed by Shyam Benegal and stars Arifin Shuvoo in the titular role.
The film was produced on the occasion of Mujib Year. Arifin Shuvoo, Nusrat Imrose Tisha and Zayed Khan took only as a symbolic payment for acting in this film. The film was scheduled to start production on 18 March 2020, a day after Bangabandhu's birth centenary, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Its art director is Nitish Roy. Pia Benegal is responsible for costume of the film as costume director. Dayal Nihalani is the associate Director. Its screenplay was done by Atul Tiwari and Shama Zaidi. Its executive producer is Nujhat Yasmin. Its line producer is Mohammad Hossain Jaimy. Its dialogue writer, script supervisor, and dialogue coach is Sadhana Ahmed. Its casting director is Shyam Rawat and Baharuddin Khelon. This is the first government produced biopic about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The film is also marked as the last film directed by Benegal.
Plot The film opens with the words :
The story begins on 10 January 1972, as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returns to Bangladesh after being imprisoned in Pakistan throughout the nine-month Liberation War. He is welcomed by a massive crowd. At the Racecourse Ground in Dhaka, Mujib addresses the newly independent nation, pays tribute to those who fought for independence, and calls for food, clothing, employment, democracy, socialism and secularism. He thanks India for its support. After the public reception, Mujib meets with his family.
The narrative then moves back to Mujib's youth. As a schoolboy, he meets Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and impresses him by raising the issue of funding for his school. Later, while studying in Kolkata, he joins Suhrawardy's political activities and begins developing as a political organizer. He marries Fazilatunnesa, known as Renu, who supports his political career despite his frequent absence from home. Mujib becomes increasingly involved in politics.
After the partition of British India and the creation of Pakistan, Mujib campaigns for Bengali cultural and political rights. He promotes Bengali identity and secularism, arguing that Muslims and Hindus should live together in harmony. After Muhammad Ali Jinnah's declaration that Urdu would be Pakistan's sole state language, he becomes involved in the movement to establish Bangla as a state language and is repeatedly arrested for his political activities. Imprisoned Mujib later begins a hunger strike, joined by Mohiuddin Ahmed. News of students being killed on 21 February 1952 reaches him in prison, prompting him to call the date Martyrs' Day. His deteriorating health eventually leads to his transfer to his family home in Tungipara.
In the 1954 provincial election, Mujib campaigns among ordinary people and wins a seat. His growing popularity leads him toward a stronger demand for autonomy for East Pakistan. Following Suhrawardy's death, Mujib takes a more prominent position within the Awami League and begins advocating the Six-Point Programme. In a political meeting, he refers to East Pakistan as “Bangladesh” and presents the six demands for Bengali autonomy. He is subsequently arrested again.
His repeated arrests become a regular part of his political struggle, while his family continues to support his activities. His wife warns him about the dangers surrounding the Agartala case, while their children also become involved in the political movement. Charged with sedition in the Agartala Conspiracy Case, Mujib is interrogated by Pakistani authorities and rejects accusations that he conspired with India against Pakistan. After his release following an uprising in February 1969, he receives a huge public reception and is given the title “Bangabandhu” meaning "Friend of Bengal".
The 1970 general election brings Mujib's Awami League a majority in Pakistan's National Assembly. In a meeting with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mujib insists that the election result must be respected and that the Six-Point Programme must be implemented. Bhutto objects to Mujib becoming Pakistan's prime minister and warns that West Pakistanis will not accept a Bengali leadership. Mujib refuses to abandon his demands and calls for the Non-cooperation movement.
As negotiations with General Yahya Khan collapse, political tensions rise in East Pakistan. Before the 7 March 1971 speech, student leaders urge Mujib to declare independence immediately, while Tajuddin Ahmad warns of the consequences of doing so prematurely. Mujib chooses his own course and addresses the massive gathering at the Racecourse Ground, calling on Bengalis to prepare for the struggle while leaving the path toward independence open.
When Yahya Khan leaves Dhaka without reaching an agreement, Khondaker Mushtaq Ahmed proposes that the Awami League leadership flee to India. Mujib rejects the idea and decides to remain at his Dhanmondi residence, arguing that the army would burn Dhaka while searching for him if he left. On 25 March, as Operation Searchlight begins, Mujib writes the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence. Pakistani soldiers arrive at his residence, and after bidding farewell to his family, he is arrested.
Mujib is taken to West Pakistan and imprisoned while the Liberation War continues. His family remains under Pakistani custody, and his home in Tungipara is burned by Pakistani soldiers. His sons Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal escaped and join the liberation war. Meanwhile, the war intensifies, with the Mukti Bahini fighting Pakistani forces and India supporting the Bengali independence. Mujib is eventually sentenced to death for treason. While awaiting execution, he hears soldiers digging his grave and calmly recites from the Quran.
After Pakistan's surrender, Mujib's family is released. The Pakistani flag is replaced with the flag of Bangladesh on the buildings. Mujib is freed and returns to Bangladesh on 10 January 1972. As leader of the new country, he faces the task of rebuilding after the war. He lists the return of millions of refugees, restoration of law and order, reconstruction of communications and infrastructure, and the creation of a constitution among the country's immediate achievements. The first national election of independent Bangladesh follows.
Postwar famine and political instability create further difficulties. Mujib announces the formation of BAKSAL as a temporary one-party political system, promising a return to parliamentary democracy after three years. He seeks the support and advice of senior political figures, including Mawlana Bhasani. Pro-Mujib supporters gather in Dhaka and chant slogans identifying him with the state, while the narration attributes the country's instability to political extremists and elements within the military.
At a wedding reception for Mujib's sons, an Indian representative privately warns him of a possible military coup. Mujib dismisses the warning, saying that no Bengali would shoot him because they are his people. Meanwhile, Khondaker Mushtaq and Taheruddin Thakur meets Major General Ziaur Rahman and discusses removing Mujib. The two later appear at the wedding reception, where Ziaur Rahman watches as the warning about a possible coup is delivered.
On 15 August 1975, Mujib's residence comes under attack. Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Naser, Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other members of the family are killed. Mujib confronts the attackers before being shot. His wife is killed shortly afterward, and his youngest son Sheikh Russel is also killed. The attack ends Mujib's life and that of most of his immediate family. The story concludes at Mujib's mausoleum in Tungipara.
Cast
Production Background
Until 2016, many people wanted to make a film based on the life story of Bangabandhu, but their initiative was not successful. Even before the production of this film, there was a demand to make a biographical film of Bangabandhu as a state initiative. Actor Raj from East Pakistan announced to make a film about him titled Bangabandhu in 1970. In an interview given to the weekly Chitrali in 1988, Farooque revealed his plan to make a film about Mujib. It was reported by India Today in 2008 that Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury planned to make a film about Bangabandhu titled The Poet of Politics. It was rumored that it would be directed by Shyam Benegal and Amitabh Bachchan would be cast as the main character in the film. However, the film was not made. In 2010, Vibgyor Films had planned to make a film about Bangabandhu in Hollywood. It was learned that the shooting of the film was scheduled to start in 2011. Giasuddin Selim wanted to make a film based on The Unfinished Memoirs, an autobiography book of Mujib, but he backed out due to lack of budget. On 3 December 2015, the then Minister of Cultural Affairs named Asaduzzaman Noor officially announced the Hasina government desire to make a biopic of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also said that his ministry has discussed the matter with the Prime Minister and she has given the green signal. Later, Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, informed to the Bangladeshi prime minister named Sheikh Hasina the desire to produce a film on the life of her father by his government. His proposal was liked by her. However, in that time, Hasina suggested to Modi that Bangladesh should jointly produce the proposed film with India. On 17 August 2016, Venkaiah Naidu, the then information minister of India, declared the acceptance of the proposal to assist the production of the biographical film of Bangabandhu by the then information minister of Bangladesh Hasanul Haq Inu. On 8 April 2017, in the presence of Sheikh Hasina at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Narendra Modi officially announced the joint-production of the film.
Development