Amrita Choudhury is a Montreal dancer, actress and choreographer.
Bangladeshi filmmaker Saiful Wadud Helal’s Bishwsher Rong (Color of Faith) could not have been released at a more appropriate time, especially when the issue of Islamic fundamentalism and racial profiling is a hot topic in the press. It’s a must see. This film made it’s world debut at the World Film Festival in Montreal under the category of documentary film. Bishwsher Rong undermines the ethnocentric generalizations and imagery projected by the western media on Islamic people, using a unique cultural movement, in this case in Bangladesh, as a stage. In an era where the word terrorism is easily associated with all Muslim peoples (despite valiant disclaimers) by most American television stations, this film takes us on a spiritual and practical journey, and questions the concept of religious identity and association.
The documentary is set in a remote village in Bangladesh called Badarpur. Every year during spring, thousands of people come together to sing, dance and remember the Muslim Sufi saint Langta Baba. The philosophy behind this great gathering surpasses and over-rides all religious and cultural affiliations. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians all congregate to celebrate the oneness of all religions, of all peoples. There is only one religion that these different colors of faith believe in; and that is humanism, being kind and loving to all.
Langta baba was a Muslim Sufi saint from Bangladesh who encouraged all people from all faiths to believe in humanism. The different colors of faith blended into one, to experience the unity of all human beings. The villagers felt great pride that Langta Baba was a Muslim Bengali boy who has brought such harmony between all faiths through this special spiritual movement. There is definitely a strong political statement made in this film through the simple language of the heart.
Director Helal remarks “ I saw these simple people who had something profound to say to the world and I had to bring it to the world and show it. It is a film about simple people and their simple lives.”
The film has a collection of soulful songs by the villagers themselves, who have gifted voices. The lyrics of the songs are profound and yet straightforward. One cannot help but be touched by the insightful statements made by such enlightened beings. Education in the mainstream sense has no importance, nor any place in this progressive spiritual movement of Badarpur, as the spiritual and social education, of all beings is emphasized. The message is simple: love all human beings and find the oneness and harmony within all faiths. The “experts” who have been hammering their heads on television, trying to come up with theories on how to reach peace, would truly be astonished by this practical message coming all the way from a remote part of Bangladesh.
The audience seemed to be drawn into the whole ambience of the week long celebration of this half naked Sufi saint Langta Baba.
Director Helal is a journalist, television program director and a film maker. His previous two films Poet and Bonjour Montreal were released in 2000, Helal is presently looking for distributers for Bishwsher Rong (Color Of Faith) which is a Canada-Bangladesh production.
For information on Bishwsher Rong: (613) 733-7929, (514) 772-3883, saiful@mac.com, http://homepage.mac.com/saiful/COLOROFFAITH.htm
