Hidden pain of Daulatdia shocks me: Runa Khan

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

People’s life stories sometimes become more cinematic than movies. When those stories are painted in the story of reality, then its rays remain far away.
Runa Khan is a talented actress of domestic showbiz. She made a simple but serious confession in a private conversation with The New Nation.
The movie ‘Neel Padma’ premiered at the 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival was like a silent shout.
This movie is made around the harsh reality of the sex workers. Each scene is as if one of reality does not go hard.
How was the response to this movie? In response to this, Runa Khan’s voice burst out like a mixture of pride and satisfaction.
She said, “To be honest, I didn’t expect to get such a warm response. The first screening was at the National Museum, and the second was at the auditorium of North South University. The enthusiasm of the students there touched me. When the new generation accepts such a touching story, it seems that the society is changing.”
The movie is not released in theatres now. Its director Towfique Elahi wants to screen the movie in some international film festivals. Then he said that there is a plan to release the movie in the theatres of the country.
“While shooting this movie, I faced such an experience, which changed my inner person. The women of Daulatdia, whose love has captivated me – the pain hidden behind their smiles has moved me,” Runa Khan also said.
Runa Khan spoke about the reality, whose life stories we almost pretend not to hear.
She expressed, “They are professionals like us. But our society paints a picture of invisible inhumanity on them. Even after death the remnants of that neglect remain. Once they did not have the right to bury. Now they have a burial place, but their honour is still elusive.”
Runa Khan’s devotion to her work, along with her sensibility in choosing characters, is commendable.
When asked why she wanted to be a part of this tough story, the actress told this correspondent, “I have never worked with director Towfique Elahi before. An acquaintance Sajal Bhai told me the story. After the story, I felt an urge from my heart. This role is not only for acting, but also a kind of responsibility. It’s an experience of tapping into one’s own spiritual power.”
For this movie, Runa Khan had to go to the prostitute village of Daulatdia. “It was not so easy to shoot in such a place day after day. But after listening to her experience, we understand how human these women’s stories are. I have no pain from there. Rather, they had caught me in illusion. Brought food for me, told stories. That time was a unique experience for me. Those times filled with chat and laughter made me more sensitive. But behind that smile was a different kind of silent pain. Unfinished dreams and untold stories of suffering were hidden in every eye,” Runa Khan shared her emotional feelings in this regard.
Runa Khan’s voice is an unabashed truth. “Being humane as humans is our real job. If the movie makes anyone think even a little, if it makes him/her a little sympathetic, then that will be our biggest achievement,” Runa Khan stated.