Hansal Mehta recounted how his 2022 film ‘Faraaz’ was banned in Bangladesh amid the current crisis and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hansal Mehta recounted the threats he faced shooting his 2022 film Faraaz, which is still prohibited in Bangladesh because of its purportedly ‘poor light’ portrayal of authorities. The film was based on a terror assault in Dhaka. Mehta, who frequently used social media to voice his thoughts on a variety of topics, wrote a long post on X (formerly known as Twitter) as he saw the happenings in Bangladesh.
Following widespread demonstrations that included unprecedented sights of masses flooding the capital’s streets and vandalizing the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime leader and fled the nation. The 76-year-old daughter of Bangladesh’s founder was described as a ‘highly authoritarian leader’ by Hansal Mehta who was terrified of any criticism directed at her.
Mehta said, “Seeing the events unfold in Bangladesh reminds me of the Faraaz release saga. It is streaming globally on Netflix except in Bangladesh where it has been banned.” The then-extremely cordial Bangladesh High Commissioner visited him, but he was also often contacted and/or intimidated by people claiming to be from the Indian ‘cabinet secretariat’ to inform him that the movie would strain India’s relations with Bangladesh.
He continued, “I received multiple calls from high ranking police officials, alleged secret service agents, I have been accorded police protection for perceived threats from terror organisations, was put through lengthy litigation in Indian courts, was levelled rude allegations by many who said ‘this is not your story to tell’, am still battling bogus litigation in the Bangladesh courts….”
Seeing the events unfold in Bangladesh reminds me of the Faraaz release saga. It is streaming globally on Netflix except in Bangladesh where it has been banned.
The release of ‘Faraaz’ based on the Holey Artisan Bakery, Dhaka attack of 2016 was sought to be stalled for nearly… pic.twitter.com/dQIP9pF9P1
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) August 5, 2024
“All this to halt the release of a film that apparently showed Sheikh Hasina’s government and machinery in poor light. This was a government that wanted nobody outside Bangladesh to know that they were simply inept and run by a highly authoritarian leader who was afraid of any criticism towards herself. They wanted to cover up their bloodied hands by shutting our voice and our right to tell a story that is a mirror to our times, a cautionary tale about our youth, a critique of authoritarian governments and majoritarian states, ” he added.
The director expressed his hope that the people of Bangladesh will receive justice in his concluding remarks.
About Hansal Mehta’s Film ‘Faraaz’
Amidst the current turmoil in Bangladesh and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the director reminisced about his 2022 film’s national ban. Actor Zahan Kapoor made his acting debut in Hansal Mehta’s film Faraaz, which is based on the 2016 terror incident in Bangladesh and features actor Paresh Rawal’s son Aditya Rawal in a key part.
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