SYNOPSIS
There was once a green, verdant village in valley of a boundless river. With the storm of the industrial revolution, the boundless waves of the river were seized, and the valley was left to die thirsty and deserted.
This left the farmers with no other option than to irrigate the barren lands with artificial means beyond their ability. The irrigation project around the valley is controlled by a group of powerful wealthy people who took advantage of these farmers by lending them small loans and making profit out of their miseries. The adverse land and the pressure of the money lenders made many farmers abandon their beloved village and take shelter in the cities. Many took risky, life threatening jobs in factories to earn their livelihood. Often these farmers returned to the village as mere bodies for burial.
In this backdrop an orphan farmer Fazlu marries a girl from the tidal region. A third member gets into the family, a cow. The story of 'Saatao' moves with this family of three. The story of the movie ‘Saatao’ rolls on with these characters and their subsequent set of events.
The feature film, ‘Saatao’ is a story that portrays crises in a farmer’s life and an instinctive motherliness of a woman with the melodies of joy and despair as a part of their lives.
DIRECTOR’S VISION
I am Khandaker Sumon, after the short films “Pounopunik” and “Ongoj” trying to bring a full-length film ‘Saatao’ to you. The film ‘Saatao’ is an attempt to portray the lives of marginalized people.
I have spent hours of my childhood on the bank of a river where I was born. From early years to my youth, my life circled around that river. During my adolescence, the river was the companion of my thoughts, worries and concerns. Naturally, I have been able to witness the river and lives surrounding it very closely.
I have also noticed an influence of music in all their activities. They express and process concepts such as life, death, feelings, emotions and experiences through music and spend their leisure walking on their garden of melodies. Often their songs are about advice, commands, love, heartbreak or reminiscing past events. Presently, most of the rivers of Bangladesh have dried up and the mankind is to be blamed than the nature.
The river close to my childhood is not spared either. The farmers do not get water when they need it the most during summer. While there is an abundance of water in the rain, the barricades are released. The irregularity of the water in the rivers affects their navigability. During rain, when the water is released, the rapid currents hit the banks of the river. The mighty waves devour the lands and riverines and leave them stranded. The water then turns into flood. When the water moves away, the broken land is all that is left.
This is how, gradually, the rivers are losing their navigability and gaining breadth. It affects all the lives on the shores of both people and cattle. The villages of our childhoods are turning into barren deserts. The farmers are quitting on farming and running towards the cities. They are getting engaged in many risky jobs in factories to earn their livelihood and often losing their lives in unfortunate accidents. A bulk of the happy, prosperous village has gone underwater and the rest of it taken by graves.
‘Saatao’ is not just a movie to me. It is my heartfelt endless precipitation that I wish everyone to feel the way I do.
WHY DO WE NEED CROWDFUNDING FOR THE FILM?
It is very challenging to arrange sponsors for such projects. ‘Saatao’ is a feature film and it is near impossible for our team to fund such a vast venture our own. ‘Saatao’ is not just a financial endeavour to our team rather it is very close to our roots and hearts. To able to be heard and not get influenced by a single authority or figure, ‘Saatao’ seeks crowdfunding to be able to move forward smoothly.
THE TEAM
KHANDAKER SUMON: Writer & Director
Khandaker Sumon is an independent filmmaker of Bangladesh. He made his first short film ‘Pounopunik’ in 2016. The short film was praised, acclaimed and rewarded worldwide. In 2017, Sumon brought forward his second short film ‘Ongoj’. ‘Saatao’ is Sumon’s first feature film.
SHARIF UL ANWAR SAZZAN:Producer
Sharif Ul Anwar Sazzan is a writer, organiser and producer. He was the assistant producer of the short film ‘Pounopunik’ released in 2016. In 2017, he produced the short film ‘Ongoj’. Sazzan is also producing the feature film ‘Saatao’.
MANIK BAHAR: Executive Producer
Manik Bahar is an organiser and producer. He has produced many TV shows since 2012. In 2016, his first produced short film ‘Pounopunik‘ was released. He was the assistant producer of the short film ‘Ongoj’ released in 2017. Manik Bahar has taken the role of the assistant producer of the motion film ‘Saatao’.
KHAN ZEHAD: Creative Producer
Khan Zehad has directed many TV shows in his career. Presently, he is making a feature film named ‘Kolpo na’. The artistic and innovative film maker is taking the role of the creative producer in the movie ‘Saatao’.
IHTISHAM AHMAD TINGKU: Cinematographer
Ihtisham Ahmad Tingku is a writer, cinematographer, actor, film critics and filmmaker. He directed a film institute called "Trikon Calocitraloy" for a longtime. He was editing supervisor of the short film “Pounopunik” and “Ongoj”. He is working with feature film 'Saatao' as a cinematographer.
SAIF RASSEL: Editor
Saif Rasel started off his career as a director and a cinematographer. Later, he concentrated on editing and eventually became an editor. He has edited many short films including ‘Pounopunik’. He was also the cinematographer and the editor of the short film ‘Ongoj’ released in 2017. The young and energetic editor, Saif Rasel is the editor of the feature film ‘Saatao’.
MAHAMUD HAYET ARPON: Music Composer
The young filmmaker Mahamud Hayet Arpon is a director, editor and music composer. He has composed music for many short film and feature films. He has given the title and the background music of the short films ‘Pounopunik’ and ‘Ongoj’. Mahamud Heyat is the music composer of the feature film ‘Saatao’.
SHAMOL SHISHIR: Chief Assistant Director
Shamol Shishir is a writer, film maker and an organiser. He was the assistant director of two big budget feature film. He is the chief assistant director of the feature film ‘Saatao’.
FAZLUL HAQUE: Leading Actor (Male)
Fazlul Haque’s acting in the feature film ‘Runway’ made by the Late film maker Tarek Masud was praised and critically acclaimed. He also worked in a German film named ‘Nirwana’ directed by Simon Dolensky. He has built ‘Pidim Theatre’ for the underprivileged children. Fazlul has a guest appearance in the short film ‘Pounopunik’. He is playing the character of a normal farmer in the feature film ‘Saatao’.
AYNUN PUTUL: Leading Actress (Female)
Aynun Putul has a Masters Degree in Drama and Dramatics. She has been acting in theatres for years and appeared in many TV commercials and movies. She was featured in both the short films ‘Pounopunik’ and ‘Ongoj’. In the feature film ‘Saatao’, Putul is going to play the wife of a farmer and a materialistic woman.
Making a cinema is not an individual work of art, it is a combined effort of many on screen and in the background. It is not possible to build a professional hardworking team overnight. It is clearly visible that this team has been working efficiently since 2016. It is indeed very important to work together as a synchronised team to be successful in any venture.
THE CAMPAIGN
Your contribution will help us spread awareness against barricading our rivers and destroying our riverines through the picturisation of the feature film ‘Saatao’.
1. Pre Production (5%)
Script development
Story board
Location recce
2. Production (70%)
Artist
Location
Equipment rent
Costume
Prop
Crew member
Fooding
Transportation
3. Post Production (25%)
Editing
Sound
Colour
The Perks
Check out the long list of perks below.
To find out more about 'Saatao' and our work, follow on social media (Saatao) or head over to our film website at saatao.khandakersumon.com