Alatchakra: Circle of Desire
Alatchakra is a 2021 Bengali war–drama film, scripted and directed by Habibur Rahman. It was Rahman's debut feature film and is based on Ahmed Sofa's eponymous autobiographical novel. The film stars Jaya Ahsan, Ahmed Rubel, Mamunur Rashid, Azad Abul Kalam, Shilpi Sarker Apu, Nusrat Jahan Jerry, and Syed Mosharrof in the leading roles. Alatchakra was the first Bengali-language or Bangladeshi film to be released in 3D.
Set during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the film portrays the experiences of Ahmed, a young writer who takes refuge in Kolkata, and his love interest Tayeba, a cancer patient who suffers from leukemia. Alatchakra was produced by Rahima Begum under the banner of MISE En SCÈNE Productions, beginning with initial funding from the Bangladeshi government. The film was released in Bangladesh on 19 March 2021.
Plot summary
[Bangladesh Liberation War|The War film|war of liberation] is going on in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi writer Ahmed has taken refuge in a boarding house on Boubazar Street in Calcutta as a refugee along with other intellectuals, teachers and cultural activists. Although he wanted to go to the liberation war three times, he was rejected every time. He spends his days writing his diary and looking for a job in Kolkata's various printing media. Apart from watching the activities of Bangladeshi political figures who have taken refuge in Theater Road and other places in Calcutta, he is looking for Tayeba who has taken refuge elsewhere in the city. Tayeba was once found at the PG Hospital in Calcutta. Ahmed arrived at the hospital to see admitted Tayeba, who is now sick and fighting leukemia. Tayeba and Ahmed spent their first time outside Bangladesh reminiscing about their time in Dhaka. Ahmed got acquainted with the doctor Maiti while staying in the hospital for more than the allotted time for the visitors. Tayeba wants to bring her a little rice and a small tengra fish curry cooked with cumin and turmeric with no pepper from Ahmed. Doctor Maiti is advised Tayeba to eat rice and fish secretly, otherwise senior doctor Bhattacharya may get angry if he hears. After getting out of the hospital, Dr. Maiti forbade Ahmed to add salt in curry, that Tayeba wanted to eat. It turns out that Ahmed didn't know anything about Tayeba's illness.At hostel, Nareshda, Ahmed's close friend. Returning to boarding, Ahmed told Naresh that he had met Tayeba. Meanwhile, Tayyaba's younger sister Dora sees Tayyaba with her husband. Naresh met two students who are going to Dehradun for training to join the war of liberation. Everyone has left their families in Bangladesh in the middle of the war, everyone is passionate about their families. War creates a whirlwind of emotions for their families. Cultural activists living in the boarding go to the Barasat refugee camp to perform. They also do the rehearsal of Munier Chowdhury's play 'Kabar' on the veranda of the hostel. For the next visit to Tayeba Ahmed wants to bring the food she ask for, so he requests Chitta, the hostel's cook to cook Tengra fish curry and rice with turmeric without salt, also paid for grocery and kitchen items. For some reason, Chitta never returned to boarding. Ahmed cooks himself. He goes to see Tayeba again with the cooked food. He went to the hospital and saw that Tayeba's bed had been given to another patient. Later he finds out that Tayeba is no more.