Muktir gaan

In 1971 the people of Eastern Pakistan waged a bitter war of liberation against Western Pakistan, which ended in 1972 with the foundation of the state of Bangladesh. The MUKTIR GAAN is an account of this war, making ample use of the footage that American filmmaker Lear Levin shot of a group of young musicians and actors who at the time travelled through the country with battle songs and political puppet shows. The film follows the group not only during their performances for refugees and guerillas but also during their travels, which has produced many melancholy pictures. Levin's material is available for the first time thanks to two filmmakers from Bangladesh who, being discontent with the present regime, wanted to remind the Bengal people of the initial motives of the war of liberation: freedom and democracy. Despite opposition by the government, the film was screened in Bangladesh where it was a resounding success.