Bangladesh's first theatrically released animated film "Mujib Amar Pita", based on the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hit the theatres yesterday.

Based on the book, "Sheikh Mujib Amar Pita", authored by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the full-fledged 2D film is directed by Sohel Mohammad Rana.

The Daily Star caught up with the director to know more about his work.

"Since I was a student of Fine Arts, Charukala, University of Dhaka, I was associated with illustration," says Rana. He had also directed some tele-fictions while he was studying. 

"I was fascinated with filmmaking and drawing at the same time," he shares, "hence, animation was the right medium for me."

A snippet from 'Mujib Amar Pita'. Photo: Courtesy

The film has been released in all the outlets of Cineplex in Dhaka and Blockbuster in Chittagong, informs the director. 

Produced by Prolancer Studio, the largest 2D animation studio in Bangladesh, the film is also funded by the ICT Division of the Information Ministry.

"For research purposes, I started reading books authored by our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he asserts. "The narrative of 'Sheikh Mujib Amar Pita' really touched me. It is then that the thought of making an illustrative visualisation of this narrative came into my mind."

A snippet from 'Mujib Amar Pita'. Photo: Courtesy

According to Rana, since people of this generation rarely read books, such initiatives can help preserve the history of Bangladesh for the youth and adolescents.

It took almost two years to complete the film. "The biggest challenges we encountered while making the film was the technicalities," he shares.

"We don't really have expertise in animation, as we don't have a proper field or working opportunity in our country," says Rana. "Although we have people who can make excellent illustrations, and even create backgrounds, there is a shortage of animators."

Poster of 'Mujib Amar Pita' Photo: Courtesy

Later on, the crew did a workshop on animation, which selected 56 animators who were eventually involved in this project.

Around three hundred cast members are associated with the revolutionary "Mujib Amar Pita".