Indian filmmaker Aniket Dutta is directing a film titled "The Clouds Wake No Clocks," centred on the journey of a refugee family. The screenplay, co-written by Aniket Dutta and Roshni Sen, features Bangladeshi actors Mostafa Monwar and Deepanwita Martin in leading roles. 

The production involves three producers from two nations; Christoph Thoke of Mogador Films in Germany, Sebastian Popp of Stoked Films, and Jeremy Chua from Potocol in Singapore. 

According to Variety, the film "The Clouds Wake No Clocks" is based on the story of two Rohingyas. The plot follows Khalid and Sharmin as they cross the border into India with their eight-year-old son, Shoaib, seeking refuge. Fleeing persecution in their homeland, they arrive in India in search of safety. The film will depict their struggle for survival in this new land.

Mostafa Monwar and Deepanwita Martin will be seen portraying the characters of Khalid and Sharmin, respectively.

Speaking about being a part of the film, Deepanwita Martin shared with the local media, stating, "I first met director Aniket Dutta at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. I developed a friendship with Aniket and producer Roshni Sen. Over the past two years, we've been discussing the film. I could understand how they wanted to tell the story. They were looking for the kind of performance that I love doing."

"When I grasped the approach of the story, Aniket Dutta informed me that they wanted to work with me on this project. That's how I became involved with the film. It is being made with the goal of premiering at international film festivals. Everyone was waiting for international producers to come on board, and finally, that has been confirmed," the actress added. 

Mostafa Monwar shared that he has been discussing the film with the director since 2022. The actor remarked, "This is primarily a story about refugees. It follows two Rohingyas who cross the border with their child in hopes of settling permanently in India. They conceal their identities and take on various jobs. They wait for a flood, believing that when it happens, they can claim to be Indian and explain that all their documents were lost in the floodwaters. The story intrigued me. Although simple, it is incredibly powerful."

Mostafa Monwar revealed that the film will be entirely shot in India, with the main characters communicating in the Rohingya dialect. Although he admits it is a challenging task, he believes that working alongside a fellow actor from his own country will ease the process. 

He stated, "The biggest challenge is mastering the Rohingya language for my character. However, filming in India provides an advantage, as my character experiences adapting to a foreign environment after leaving his homeland."

Read more

Rajib Rafi’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Wari Bateshwar’ makes it to Clermont-Ferrand Int’l Festival

"Similarly, we, as actors, must adjust to working in a new setting. Having collaborated with Deepanwita before, I feel reassured by the familiarity of a co-actor," the actor added.