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Shongram was a film I was really looking forward to seeing. Billed as a British-made Bengali film about the 1971 Bangladesh independence war and featuring an international cast including highly respected Indian actor Anupam Kher in a lead role. The script is fairly decent but could have benefited from tighter edits in a couple of scenes, particularly the final newspaper office and parting scenes in India. The standout performances come from an excellent Amaan Reza as (young) freedom fighter Karim and Shubrodho who turns in a powerful performance as his Hindu friend. Dilruba Yasmeen Ruhee as his love interest is good but at times is too heavily made up-- did young girls really walk around villages in full fashion make-up in 1971? A minor point but very noticeable in a number of scenes. But this is the first of a number of quibbles I have with this film that really detract from the core narrative. The Pakistani army General Iftikhar is played like a caricature and this ruins the scenes he is in; his cruelty at times comes across as comic and even Gabbar Singh-like and which is not at all suited to this kind of film. Whether that was intentional or not is unclear but it doesn't work. I've seen a number of Bangladeshi films on 1971, including Shyamol Chhaya and Guerilla; both of which did a much better job of depicting the harshness of the struggle freedom fighters went through in my opinion. There are other minor irritations: the car with the fleeing villagers that is at least one decade too new a model to have been around at the time and the cigar-smoking editor in London; where smoking in the workplace is illegal. The casting of Asia Argento is also odd; she is supposed to be an English journalist (if you read the promotional material associated with the film) yet doesn't sound English or even British whatsoever. Again another minor criticism but one of many anomalies in this film. Anupam Kher, as (older) Karim, is as always very good but it makes you wonder how a young nicely tanned young man grew up into such a light-skinned older one? Something you just wouldn't see in a Western film; the attraction of having a star actor in the role obviously far outweighed this technicality.

Nevertheless, the film tells an important story through the central character; most of the actors play their parts with emotion and conviction but the various quibbles above make this a lesser film than it should have been. Judging on this finished product, director and writer Mansur Ali shows real promise for the future, where no doubt such kinks will be ironed out over time with bigger budgets and more experience.

There was a point that struck me half way through watching Shongram when I wondered why hasn't this film been made before? The Bangladesh liberation war has affected every single Bangladeshi in the world and continues to impact on people today, yet it's a part of history that outside of Bangladesh is largely unacknowledged.

Debut Film Director Munsur Ali created Shongram as an opportunity to share some of the truths of what happened during the nine-month period proceeding Bangladesh's independence in 1971, which was filled with horrific atrocities that saw millions of people killed, tortured and raped.

I could recount the plot, mention the cameos by established actors, hail it as New Wave British Asian cinema or critique it against other war films, but none of that is as relevant as the fact that this was an ambitious project that is also in every sense of the word a fantastic film, so that's what I'm going to concentrate on.

Shongram combines fact with fiction, engaging the viewer through a plot that is captivating and well-paced. What could have turned into blood- bath with violence overtaking the plot (something I was worried about), is in fact a film that presents us with possibilities. Filmed entirely in Bangladesh, with the exception of some scenes shot in the UK to give the story its present day context, Shongram demonstrates the wealth of talent and expertise that exists in contemporary Bangladesh. Munsur has cast Bangladeshi talent in the roles and his crew required the support of locals throughout the filming process. On that merit alone it's hard to fault the film.

Despite the struggles for Bangladesh's independence being largely an untold story, the viewer remains connected to Shongram through Munsur's clever inclusion of all the ingredients that make a memorable movie. There's a good dose of romance, drama, action and melodrama which makes the subject matter more accessible.

The sweetness and innocence of the love story between Hindu girl Asha and Muslim boy Karim juxtaposed against the brutal rape, torture and shootings reminds us that despite the vastness of the situation, there were real individuals living through this period. Shongram is their insight; not a generalised commentary about everything that happened during the war of Bangladesh.

As well as Asha's flawless village girl styling and the gorgeous landscapes, my favourite aspect of Shongram was watching Karim's character grow. An unlikely hero, at the start of the film he's a happy- go-lucky lad without a care in the world. Boyish, lovable and immature, we see how he deals with the simplicity of his village life turn into a fight for justice. As he develops into a Freedom Fighter he is forced to grow up, become an independent thinker and put his life on the line for his fellow countrymen. Little details like his expressions, the way he addresses people and his passions are captured naturally which gives his characterisation depth and a level of authenticity.

Shongram has a timeless lifespan. Worthy in its content and quality of filmmaking, it fulfills more than just a personal quest of Munsur's to make a film about Bangladesh. It sheds light on an era that will provoke a reaction in all who see it. Whether it inspires the viewer to talk openly about their own experiences of independence or gets them to put their hand up and admit they knew nothing about this part of South Asian history, it is a film with positivity and potential that deserves a place in British, Bangladeshi and Bengali film history.