Alliance Française de Dhaka will arrange screening of the one and half hour documentary film ‘Bhabnagar (Mystic Realm)’ by Monjurul Haque on Thursday, 12 July at 7:00pm at the centre’s Auditorium Nouvelle Vague.

Almost two hundred years ago, Lalon started arranging congregations, known as Shadhu Shongo (in the company of saints), at Chheuria in Kushtia. He invited bauls, minstrels and mystics to this consecrated congregation to share and exchange understandings and views. It grew into a tradition with formal rituals and to this day, Lalon devotees — spanning multiple generations — continue arranging such ‘Shadhu Shongo’.

Directed by Monjurul Haque, the docu-film ‘Bhabnagor (Mystic Realm)’ ethnographically documents the entirety of this practice. Being in the making for more than thirteen years, from 2004 to 2017, the documentary observed numerous ‘Shadhu Shongo’ and brought together live recordings of Baul songs performed during the observances as well as thoughts and views of the devotees. Now an independent film-maker, Haque previously worked as an editor and cinematographer with the renowned film-maker Tareque Masud.

A discussion with the director will follow the film screening.