Cinema
Asiya
Fateh Lohani · 1960
Synopsis
In a village in eastern Bengal, Asiya, daughter of Maniruddi, and young Mosu Mia have been playmates since childhood, and love comes with age. But Asiya is married to her uncle, and the two young people keep seeing each other in secret, in a village ruled by Shikder Saheb.
Context
The Film Development Corporation was created by a law of 3 April 1957, and Asiya was the first film shot in its studios, from 20 May. The project, at first a documentary on life in East Pakistan, was transformed by Nazir Ahmed, who wrote the story and dialogue; Fateh Lohani did the shooting script and the direction. The shooting lasted two and a half years, Abbasuddin Ahmed, who was to compose the music, died along the way, and the censors asked for the secret meetings to be cut, which Lohani refused. The film was released on 4 November 1960.
Who it is for
A village film in black and white, rich in songs; Sumita Devi plays her first major role in it.
Prizes and reception
It received in 1960 the President of Pakistan's prize for best Bengali film, awarded on that one occasion only, and was shown at the New Delhi festival in 1961.