Earlier, the movie “Nishi,” helmed by Golam Rabbani and Mohammad Zahirul Islam (Kochi), achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi film to secure a nomination in the prestigious Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards after 35 years of the award’s history. Subsequently, it clinched the victory in the IAFM – Eco Film Lab Residency category.
Director Golam Rabbani shared the exciting development by expressing, “We are thrilled to announce that ‘Nishi’ has been honored at the 35th Emma Awards. This marks a historic moment for Bangla cinema as the first Bangladeshi film to receive such recognition.”
He extended his gratitude to the producers Bibesh Roy and Natalia Pośnik for their invaluable contributions to the film’s success. Rabbani also acknowledged the exceptional work of the sound engineer, Thoi Shai Cholen Chil Dhori, expressing deep appreciation. He emphasized that this accomplishment serves as a source of motivation for his future endeavors in filmmaking, aiming to continue sharing poignant stories of life and nature through his cinematic creations.
“Nishi,” supported by the European Union in Bangladesh, Green Film School Alliance, and UNESCO Dhaka, narrates the tale of a tea garden laborer’s daughter whose education faces disruption due to a water crisis. The plot unfolds with Lalchan, a timber trader, attempting to exploit the situation by proposing marriage to the young girl under the guise of installing a tubewell at her residence.
The post-production tasks including final editing, color grading, and sound enhancements were meticulously carried out at the prestigious Łódź Film School in Poland. The cinematography was skillfully executed by Natalia Pośnik, an alumna of the aforementioned film school. The filming took place on-site in a tea garden located in Sylhet and neighboring regions, featuring authentic performances by the tea garden laborers themselves.
Rabbani revealed that “Nishi” is currently being submitted to various international film festivals, with plans for local screenings in Bangladesh in the pipeline. Notably, the director’s earlier short films, “Surot” and “Untongue,” were honored at esteemed platforms such as the Venice Intercultural Film Festival, Budapest Film Festival, and Dhaka International Film Festival.