‘The University of Chankharpul’ to premiere on Chorki
Acclaimed independent film “The University of Chankharpul” is set to premiere on the streaming platform Chorki on August 26 at midnight, making it available to audiences in Bangladesh and abroad from the early hours of August 27.
Directed by Akash Haque, the film draws on the filmmaker’s own experiences, including the bitter realities of life in a university dormitory, as well as observations from his surroundings. Through humour and satire, “The University of Chankharpul” explores the darker side of university politics, power struggles, hall politics and the ways young students become entangled in a culture of influence and control.
At the heart of the film is the question of how power changes hands in student politics — and what methods are used to secure that power. The film also looks at the flow of money, the networks through which it moves, and how students who once become carriers of power can eventually find themselves stripped of it.
Having been screened at different film festivals and theatres, “The University of Chankharpul” has received praise for its bold yet humorous portrayal of university politics. Speaking about the audience response, Akash Haque said he felt viewers had embraced the film’s humour.
“People from different universities have told me, ‘Brother, this character is just like that particular senior from our university.’ Many have also called it a brave effort. But to me, more important than being brave is making audiences feel, ‘Yes, this needs to be said,’” he said.
For Haque, however, the film is not simply about student politics. He sees university politics as a microcosm of the wider power structures of Bangladesh.
“University politics, to me, is not just a story about student politics; it is a smaller version of Bangladesh’s broader power structure. The power games, competition for positions, senior-junior relationships and groupings are not limited to campuses. They are also reflections of our society and state. So, while making a film about university life, avoiding politics would have seemed rather unnatural to me,” he said.
Making a political satire also came with its share of apprehension for the filmmaker. Haque said he did have some concerns before embarking on the project, but felt that the uncertainty was also part of what made the journey interesting.
“I was somewhat afraid. But perhaps the journey would not have been as interesting without that fear. I did not target any particular individual or political party. I wanted to talk about a culture, a system and a mindset. My only objective was to remain as responsible to reality as possible. The censor board did not disappoint us; rather, it seemed genuinely appreciative of the film,” he said.
Despite being screened in theatres and at various other venues, the film has yet to reach many potential viewers. Its release on Chorki will now give “The University of Chankharpul” an opportunity to reach a much wider audience, both at home and abroad.
The film features Devodyuti Aich, Rocky Khan, Boby Biswas, Akhtaruzzaman Azad, Abu Saeed, Ifad Hasan, Chyan Mondal, SA Jibon and Mahedi Hasan Sohan, among others.
Alongside directing the film, Haque also handled its production, screenplay, editing and cinematography.
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