বনবিবি ডেমো।Demo of Bonbibi। ‍‍A Monjurul Haque Ethnographic Documentary Film based on Sundarbans.

Note: "ChintaChitro" is producing this film. We are seeking co-producers to make this film. Any person or organisation who are interested about this topic, please contact with us. Monjurul Haque: +8801786493718 / [email protected]/ [email protected]

The Sundarbans…
Host to some of the most diversified life-forms on earth.

The Sundarbans…
Home for some of the most resilient people on earth.

The Sundarbans…
Epicenter of some of the gravest perils of climate change on earth.

The Sundarbans…
Site for one of the most fascinating practices of spiritualism on earth.

Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest of the world is now in imminent danger due to climate change and other anthropogenic problems, but the people whose lives and livelihood crucially depend on this forest count on the belief that BONBIBI will save the Forest, and thus themselves from all kinds of adversities. That’s why both Muslim and Hindu communities of this locality worship BONBIBI, the Great Mother Archetype of Sundarbans.

BONBIBI is a feature length documentary film, in which the story will revolve around two fundamental issues – 1) Natural beauty and bio-diversity of Sundarban and the 2) evolution of livelihoods and culture that has developed through decades of interaction with Sundarabans. Three representative characters from different occupations dependent on Sundarbans, such as: Honey collection, fishing, woodcutting and the emerging livelihoods around growing tourism. The Motif character is Bonbibi, around which the characters seek refuge, and draw inspiration from. To engage with the characters, Participatory Observational Method will be applied.

The three characters will be followed throughout the year in alternating seasons. The process of following will expose symbiosis between the Human and the other elemental parts of the Nature so that the viewers will be able to visualize the interconnectivity and interdependency. The serene beauty, comprised of bio-diversity, rivers and other natural elements of Sundarban will be revealed by various livelihood activities of the three protagonists in the forest. The film will depict how the Sundarbans have historically been the central source of livelihood for the community and how that dependence has been reducing over generations.

Mosaic of Signs and Symbols regarding Familial and Socio-Cultural perspectives of the characters will manifest the encompassing ethos and values, religious belief, communal harmony of the communities. Both crisis and resilience of the communities will be depicted. Severity of struggle against insidious tigers of the woods, lurking crocodiles of the water and preying pirates, tidal waves, cyclones, and salinity and the various ways through which the communities struggle for survival will get vivid visual treatment. In this fierce struggle, the myth of Bonobibi -the motif character is the symbol of Savior. The metaphor, Bonbibi characterizes ‘the Soul’ of Sundarban in popular imagination of the communities and a source of their spiritual foundation. It has long been a unifying factor for the community in dealing with adverse effects of mother nature regardless of race and religion.

However, the question that arises from the director’s point of view will be whether Bonbibi would be able to protect Sundarban from catastrophic consequences ignited by a broad spectrum of disastrous causes like Global Climate Change, Coal based Rampal Thermal Power Station and so forth.

And if, Bonbibi fails to protect herself, then how can She protect the communities who depend upon Her for sustenance of lives?