Ottoporrokeya

A biopic of a path breaker

In a world where the equality of women is too often portrayed as a concept from the West, it is time to showcase the global nature of the movement for equality and equity – that women fighting for and dreaming of an equal standing in their world came from all parts of the world. Rokeya is a film that aims to do exactly that, bringing to the world the story of Bengal’s Begum Rokeya. A Muslim woman in a society with traditional norms, she went on to be a beacon of education for girls and women.

Now you can be part of bringing her story to a wider audience and showing the world that feminists come from everywhere. Our film proposal awaits your generosity and solidarity.

A biopic of a path breaker

Now you can be part of bringing her story to a wider audience and showing the world that feminists come from everywhere. Our film proposal awaits your generosity and solidarity.

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

Thinker, essayist, novelist, writer, pioneer of women’s awakening

Born: Pairaband, Rangpur. December 9, 1880
Died: Kolkata. December 9, 1932

Logline: From Rokeya Sakhawat’s Constrainment to Women’s Liberation - a tale.

Short Synopsis: Rokeya was born in Rangpur. She was the second daughter of Zamindar Jahiruddin Saber of Payrabanda. The epicurean Jahiruddin Saber was extremely protective when it came to his daughters. The studying of all languages was prohibited in the Saber household, except for Arabic and Persian. His daughters grew within the confines of home, under strict surveillance. The two sons of Saber had parted ways to pursue higher studies in Kolkata. However, with the encouragement of elder brother Ibrahim Saber, Rokeya learned English and Bengali avoiding her father’s strict, disapproving eyes. Rokeya was married off to the highly educated and esteemed Sakhawat Hossain. Rokeya’s inherent talent was revealed in the company of Sakhaowat Hossain, and she emerged as a scholar, writer, and educator. Especially after her husband’s death, she actively dedicated herself to the advancement of women’s education. The orthodox Muslim society was still strongly averse towards women’s education back then. Under the strong tradition of the veil and overall constraint, the only place for women was inside the inner chambers of the household. After facing many hardships and ripping through the webs of obstruction, she established schools for girls. She had faced formidable obstacles and various adversities, but her unwavering diligence bore fruit over time. She may have passed away nearly a century ago, but the resounding echoes of her rebellious words permeates every household in Bengal. This film, “Ottopor Rokeya,” tries to capture the essence of Rokeya’s unparalleled journey, incorporating her various contributions.

Director Introduction:

Shameem Akhtar, born on November 3, 1954, graduated from Senior Cambridge School Certificate Exams in 1972 and completed her education in the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University with an HSC degree from Holy Cross College. She has been serving as a prominent figure in the film industry for a long time. She has been involved in teaching at both the Bangladesh Film and Television Institute and the Bangladesh Institute of Professional Studies. Since 1991, she has been directly engaged in the field of film production. Tarek Masud, along with her companions, embarked on the journey of filmmaking through the creation of the short film “Shey.” Alongside numerous short films and documentaries, she has also directed three feature-length films. Currently, she is actively involved in the production of her fourth feature-length film, “Ottopor Rokeya.”

Why Rokeya - In the Words of the Director:

Since I was a kid, I’ve known Begum Rokeya as someone who was draped in white, smiling joyfully. During the Ayub administration, she was hailed as a harbinger of Muslim women’s education, while portraying an image of her in a conservative light. When I joined university and became connected with the Rokeya hall, this image of hers has repeatedly stirred curiosity within me. By then, a significant collection of her writings and research-oriented books, had been published by the Bangla Academy. As I read her books, I discovered a rebelliously rich and uniquely enigmatic female persona that transcended the confines of a heavy attire. It is our incompetence that we have confined an intellectually sharp woman of exceptional capabilities within the confines of our limited understanding, within the narrow boundaries of academia. ‘Ottopor Rokeya’ is my ambitious endeavor for creating a profound literary work.
After reading Rokeya’s ‘Oborodhbashini’, I started to get a glimpse of her vision of the status and precarious position of women in a resilient Muslim society. After reading ‘Sultana’s Dream’, the image of Rokeya emerges from the cover of books as an extraordinary, intelligent, and rebellious maiden. During her lifetime, Rokeya refrained from using the title ‘Begum’, it was during the Pakistani regime when the title ‘Begum’ was attached to her name. Ottopor Rokeya is not just a straightforward linear narrative; it is the story of a simple Muslim woman who transforms into a revolutionary, intellectual, and unique individual. The proposed film is an extensive exploration of life and her central ideology.
Amidst the various incidents in Rokeya’s life, it showcases her remarkable growth within the tranquil serenity of rural splendor while defying the extraordinary differences and conservations within her environment. Amidst the four wives of her father, the heavy veil of opposition to women – the formation of Rokeya’s resilient mind within the confines of strong patriarchal barriers, while fostering the development and expansion of thoughts, with the narrative of women’s emancipation in her heart is the untold tale of this picture. The noteworthy aspect of this biographical or fictional tale is its ability to capture Rokeya’s inspirational journey, which, when grasped correctly, will deeply resonate with women of today and society at large.

The Potential Aspects of this Film:

Rokeya is a timeless character, which makes the subject matter inherently enduring. The commercial elements alone cannot encapsulate the primary dimension of this film, its scale, or popularity. Ottopor Rokeya embodies a specific time and perspective in history, and the historical reality of women, their struggle to break free from patriarchal norms and regulation, and their success that still serves as an example for many. Rokeya’s social relevance and influence are abundant; transcending the threads of time, she remains a global symbol of inspiration.

The giving nature of Rokeya shown in this film exemplifies her inner strength, which can be an exemplary for anyone. The film ‘Ottopor Rokeya’ is not confined solely to a specific age group of viewers. A meaningful and captivating film about Rokeya will undoubtedly ensure the longevity of its cultural significance, something that is rare in the realm of other biographical films that usually have a very short lived significance. On top of that, the fundamental difference between a typical historical biopic and a biopic about Rokeya lies in the subject matter. Rokeya’s teachings have endured in the education system for a long time, and Rokeya’s influence in educational institutions is timeless. The elements presented in the story of Ottopor Rokeya are still relevant today. The subject matter of the dynamic film, parallel to the crisis of contemporary civilization, gives Ottopor Rokeya an unparalleled potential for greatness.

To read more about Rokeya’s Life, click here.