Aung Rakhine – A tribute to the movie director of “Mor Teng Gari” (My bicycle)

He was born in the village of Chakriar Harbangoyer Rakhinepara. It is a quite different “rakhinepara” (“rakhine village”) from the others of the area. Despite an unfortunate economical situation, that village was always involved in cultural activities and programs. He listened traditional music since early childhood and attended local theatrical representation. Later on, he started being involved in different social and cultural associations.

He stayed in his village till school class 7. Then he moved to the city of Chittagong. On class 9 he was admitted to a school in Rangamati, and he frequented that school till medium school’s final exam. In his childhood, he admits, he was not such interested in his instruction and often tried to miss classes. But he never missed to dream. He dreamed to be a musician, or a social worker or some kind of artist. While living in Rangamati he was deeply touched by the lifestyle of the people living there. A lot of indigenous tribes live there: Chakma, Marma, Tanchangya, Tripura, etc. He could assimilate their way of life. This experience helped him a lot in his future work on indigenous cinema’s direction and production.

In that hilly area bicycles were rarely seen. A lot of people living there have never seen a bicycle with own eyes. One day, he tells, one bicycle had his first appearance, among the general enthusiasm of the people of the village. After that issue, he started think he should definitely make a movie on this topic! From that moment the plot of “Mor Teng Gari” (“My Bicycle”) started born in his head. But still he could not imagine that one day he would really direct and produce such movie.

On 2001 he started his studies at the “Matamuhuri Degree College” in Lama, Bandarban. Because of not enough concentration on the classes he failed the High School final exam, as he expected. At that time he just spent his days rambling around without a purpose and totally overlooked classes and study. Because of the failing at school, his big brother organized to bring him at Dhaka, so finally he moved there on 2003. His big brother thought to try let him in the hotel management sector. Unfortunately all the courses were already started that year so he could not be admitted in any of those. But his brother was resolute not to let him lazing any time more. So without hesitate, admitted him at the Fine Arts College in Narayangonj. At last, mr. Aung could find a subject which attracted his attention and passion.

At the second year of the Arts College, he joined an association named “Samageet Sanskriti Prangon”. Keeping both the activities at the association and his education at the College, he completed his course. After that he started the Honors course at the “Institute of Development Alternative”, another arts curriculum. He chose a specialization in painting.

After a while he started think he should be involved into theater and cinema producing. At the second year of the “Institute of Development Alternative” he started also a curriculum in photography.  At the third year he started a 4-months-long course on film direction at the “National institute of mass media”. In that occasion he was introduced in the world of cinematography. Many friends there encouraged him to start film production. So he started with some small trial project. His first creation was a documentary on the Rakhine New Year. Then he continued producing more short documentaries on different topics.

At a moment he was introduced through Facebook to film producer mr. Nurul Alam Atiq. One day he informed mr. Aung by phone that he would like to work together. Indeed, he taught him each step of a film making.

While still studying at the Narayangonj Arts College, he started developing the story of “Bicycle” and drafting a film script. Finally he and mr. Atiq decided to give it a cinema form. It was 2012 then. They started manage the money needed for a cinema shooting. Many people promised to contribute but did not keep the word. Luckily some close persons gave a decisive support: big and small brothers, his wife and many other people contributed with money. A total of 20 person, who encouraged him a lot to proceed. Even, he tells, his wife sold some jewelry and managed to contribute him for 500,000 BDT (more or less 5,000 euro). Also his wife’s family contributed.

Despite all, only 10 days after the shooting start moment he finished all the money. Again he could collect some contribution from relatives and friends. Then he could complete the shooting in 7 days more. All the cameramen did not ask any money for their work. Actors and actresses took only a symbolic allowance.

The movie had its premier last December 2014 at the International short and independent film festival. He achieved an unexpected favorable response from the audience. Actually the true and final judge of a movie is always audience’s response. After the premier, mr. Aung gave few no-commercial presentations to small audience. He gave also few more presentation to 6-7 local film festival, cultural fair and Universities in Bangladesh. He also could present the movie at the United Kingdom Rainbow Film Festival and in Italy at the Religion Film Festival.

After all these presentations, he received a letter from the “Censor Board” telling that no movie presentation is allowed without the permission of the board. An objection was raised also by Bangladeshi army, despite no notification was adviced to mr. Aung. He replied to Censor Board that all his presentations were not on commercial base, so he did not asked for board permission. After that he started the procedure to apply for “Censor board” permission but he discovered a very complex world of bureaucracy, all made of photo, papers, documents, registrations, seals, signatures, most of which difficult to get.

Anyway, finally he completed his application and was advised that the movie release date will be 22^nd May ’15. On 21^st May he got a communication, without any clear explanation, that the screening will be delayed up to a date to be set.

Mr. Aung is still hopeful that finally the movie will get the “green signal” and will be allowed by “Censor board”. Worldwide a lot of concerned people are just waiting to watch the movie and spread it by all the means.

Many people would like to ask, since mr. Aung is a Rakhine, why he produced a movie in Chakma language? In Bangladesh are spoken 40 indigenous languages, and the Chakma group is the bigger. Since the indigenous of Bangladesh – and especially Chakmas so – are facing a lot of problem in the country, he decided to use Chakma language for his first long movie. If he has chance to shoot more movie, he will use different languages too, probably first of all Tripura language, then also Marma and Rakhine.

From an interview given to Bangladeshi newspaper “Prothom-Alo”: অপেক্ষায় আছি, অপেক্ষায় থাকব

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