Humayun Ahmed's portrayal in Farooki's 'Doob' is objectionable, says Shaon

Meher Afroz Shaon says Mostafa Sarwar Farooki's film 'Doob: No Bed of Roses' has depicted her late husband writer Humayun Ahmed in an 'objectionable' way.

She says she came to know about the matter through media reports about the film and interviews with the cast members.

Shaon, herself is a filmmaker and actor, called a news conference at her home in Dhanmondi on Sunday, three days after the Film Censor Board stalled the no-objection certificate for the film.

The film has been produced by Abdul Aziz and Irrfan Khan under the banner of Jaaz Multimedia and Irrfan Khan Films.

It stars Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, he of Life of Pi fame, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Rokeya Prachy and Parno Mittra.

 

Late Humayun Ahmed is considered the most-read author in Bangladesh with a huge fan-following. Shaon is his second wife.

The story builds up around the members of two families discovering the finer fabric of love when the headman of a family dies. The theme of the film is that death does not always take things away, sometimes it gives back.

Shaon on Sunday said she came to know about the story for the first time by the end of last year when 'influential' West Bengal daily Anandabazar informed her that it centres upon Humayun's life.

 

"And some members of the Humayun family, including me, have been characterised in the movie. I was surprised," she said.

"Later, major media outlets in Bangladesh and India reported that the story is based on some sensitive turns in Humayun's life.

"The reports said Irrfan Khan, who has played the main character, had seen a huge number of videos of Humayun Ahmed as part of homework before the shooting started.

"Another artist of the film, Parno Mittra, mentioned in a Facebook status that the character she was playing was named 'Meher Afroz Shaon'. She edited the post and dropped the name later," she said.

Shaon also said she felt 'worried' at the time because of the director of the film had 'never clearly declined' that the story involves round Humayun's life.

When bdnews24.com asked her whether she was planning to file a defamation suit against the maker of the film, she shot back, "How shall I do this on the basis of some media reports and without being sure?"

"That's why I have left the matter to the hands of the qualified members of the Censor Board, who know the related policies well. I don't see any reason for taking legal steps at the beginning if they take a decision after checking the matter," she added.

 

Shaon also said she does not know Farooki personally or professionally.

"Had he (Farooki) properly researched Humayun without depicting him in an objectionable way, as I am worrying, then I think these problems would not have arisen," she said.

"...There must be something fishy about the film. That's why he (Farooki) did not discuss it with me or ask for permission," she added.

Speaking to bdnews24.com earlier, Farooki remained firm on his stance against Shaon’s objections.

The story is not a biopic or a depiction of a period in the writer’s life, he told bdnews24.com. He insists 'Doob' is an original creation.