NADIM IQBAL gets candid about making films

The screening of Bidyabhuban- a Journey of Enlightenment at the Dhaka Lit Fest 2018 created quite a buzz about the Toronto based filmamaker,  Nadim Iqbal.

Iqbal's early plan was to study in a film school in Pune, which never saw the light of the day.  However, while he was pursuing his degree in photography in Seneca College, he was introduced to a yearlong course in documentary and non-fiction filmmaking. Photography built the base of his visual expedition and his journey continued.  “I prioritise human emotion and try to portray that in my films,” he explained.

With exquisite photography of the natural beauty of the countryside of Bangladesh, his film tells a true story of a visionary named Sk Mamun, who transformed the lives of many underprivileged children by invoking their inner true potential. The protagonist, Mamun, devotes twelve years of his life meditating to find his inner self and later works towards his dream project on his return. “I was taken aback by the amount of people who came to watch the film. Many of them were sitting on the floor,” exclaimed Iqbal, who received an overwhelming response for the film. 

His first documentary Mother Tongue was made as the final project of his course. It achieved around 40 recognitions from all around the world till date. The film highlights the relationship of his children with their grandfather, eminent poet, Asad Chowdhury. Through the film he successfully conveyed the message about the importance of our mother language to the next generation.“The best reward for the film was my daughter reading Bangla books again,” smiled Iqbal.

The social consciousness of Nadim Iqbal makes him standout in the crowd. Far away from his motherland, he retains pure emotion for his country and channels it beautifully through his work. “I'm still a novice in filmmaking but I shall learn in the process,” he concluded.