Meherjaan (2011) User Reviews

Please Do Not Waste Your Time And Money!

[tpnath · 2/10 · 28 January 2011]

An awful movie by an inexperienced director. I would recommend you not to waste your time and money for this. The camera work is the only good aspect of the movie though this is not enough to touch the heart and mind of the audience.

Some Observations -

1. The colloquial language and costumes used in the movie are not appropriate. These types of dresses and informal words MAY be used in Bangladesh in 2011 but as the movie takes us back to 1971, they are totally inappropriate. In 1971, Bangladeshi people did not use those types of language and formal/informal dresses.

2. With some exceptions, the acting of the main characters, especially the hero and the young heroine has been frustrating. The reason might be that the performers came from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. So the teamwork necessary to adopt people from different backgrounds was not present.

3. There are some problems with the continuity of the story. In the movie, it is shown that a war child was raised by a German family in Germany for a considerable amount of time. But that child is speaking Bengali fluently. How come? Also people come to the 'leader' of the area for permission to fight. In real life war is not fought in this way. In any war of liberation around the globe, people resist spontaneously when they see foreign armies invade (or try to destroy) their land. In 1971, Bangladesh was no exception. The common Bangladeshi people fought gallantly for nine long months against the brutal Pakistani army to win independence.

4. According to some estimates(a), some 3 million Bangladeshi people were brutally killed and up to 400,000 Bangladeshi women were raped by the Pakistani soldiers in 1971. Yet this movie portraits love between a Pakistani soldier and a Bangladeshi women during 1971! So if someone accuses the movie scriptwriter of distorting history, I would be inclined to support him/her.

So the movie fails to connect to the audience from the very beginning till the end. I hope the director would learn from her mistakes and correct those in future.

Reference:

(a). "Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape", by Susan Brownmiller, Publisher: Fawcett Columbine, USA., 1993

Wrong representation of history

[pagolkobi · 1/10 · 28 January 2011]

Director of the movie Rubaiyat Hossain stated that she did her thesis on "rape of women", particularly the rape victims of 1971 war in Bangladesh. She said, "I felt as a Bangladeshi woman, who has been given a chance to raise her voice, I needed to work more on bringing out women's experiences in 1971, the inception point of this nation." But what she portrayed in her movie is not aligned with her words.

The truth is that during the 9 months war in Bangladesh, more than 3 million people were brutally killed, along with 200,000 to 400,000 women (including girls and teenagers) held captive, brutally raped and tortured by Pakistan military and their local allies. Most of these raped victims never got their positions back in the society after the war, and still suffering a measurable life 40 years after the war. For them, the war never ended. (Reference: "Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape", Susan Brownmiller, 1993: 80-86)

There was not a single family left in Bangladesh who did not lose a close one in that war. Even after the victory, the joy of independence was shaded with tears of millions of people.

While director Rubaiyat Hossain said that she would highlight these abused women in her movie and would portray the 1971 war of Bangladesh from their view, we expected it to be more in touch with the real history. But in the movie we see something totally different from what actually happened in Bangladesh during that time. There are 3 major female roles in this movie; Meherjan, Nila, and Salma. Meherjan, the main character of the movie fell in love with an enemy soldier while living in the same home with her cousin Nila who was group raped by enemy army. Her character was created as a symbol of love, but in the wrong time of history. She was educated, peaceful and against war. But despite being educated, she was totally unaware of the national demand of independence and the reasons behind that. The other character Nila, whose parents were killed during the war and who was group raped by enemy soldiers, was portrayed as a sex symbol in the movie. Her dress was modern and totally unconventional for a girl of Bengali society of that time. When she said in the movie that "This rape was not the first experience in her life, and she got raped before as well", it reduced the impact of mass rape of women during that war which was said to be focused in this movie. Not all of those 200,000 to 400,000 women were raped before this war. Even if there might be one or few of such incidents, that can not be taken as an example to represent these 400,000 women. The other female character Salma (acted by the director Rubaiyat Hossain herself) passed almost all the time asking her father to arrange for her marriage, as if marriage was the only intention a girl could have during the terror of war.

The only two positive male characters in this movie are the grand father of Meherjan, and the Pakistani soldier Wasim. The grand father was a politician of "Muslim League". This political party was totally against the independence of Bangladesh, and aided Pakistan army to kill civilians, burn and loot houses during the war.

40 years after the war, when majority of Bangladeshi people are demanding trials of 1971 war criminals and criminals against humanity of that time, this movie is trying to bring different message to the nation with misinterpretation of the history. Logically it seems to be a conspiracy against the current process of brining the war criminals to trial.

A movie of tampering the legendary History

[guruvai · 1/10 · 28 January 2011]

Meherjaan is a cheap love story. 1971/wartime rape victims are just selling points of it. The heroic tragic history of the liberation war of Bangladesh has been offended by this movie. The director of the controversial movie is told to be studied in war-child and war victims but it seems that she isn't quite acquainted with what happened on ground. In her movie she depicted the fantasy of a Bangladeshi girl for a Pakistani soldier which is quite unusual and has no ground. Knowing the fact that the Pakistani soldiers raped thousands of Bangladeshi women and killed them brutally, its quite offensive for the Bangladeshi people.

Movie that disrespected the history of Bangladesh

[uniresources · 1/10 · 29 January 2011]

Fantasy has no limit. Movies made based on fantasy doesn't need faithfulness. This movie said it is made based on the fantasy by adding up historical flavor. Fantasy was OK, but the movie mess up with the wrong historical flavor. It went against the tragic historical fact of 1971.

Three million people have died 1971 war and two hundred thousands women was raped by the Pakistani Army. A group of local collaborators namely Razakar and Peace Committee were responsible for these rapes and brutality. They helped Pakistan Army to destroy the whole country. But this movie tried to build up a positive image of the collaborators in 1971.

Sometimes Ignorance is a bliss. If you know the bloodshed tragedy of 1971, you cannot do such mockery with the history. The director is not ignorant. Knowing the fact, she ignored the history. This movie has done an unfaithful job that would be misleading for those who don't know the history of Bangladesh and the tragedy of 1971.

This movie disrespected the history of Bangladesh.

A disgrace to the martyrs of Bangladesh

[light_trex · 1/10 · 28 January 2011]

When a movie is based on special theme consisting love, war & history altogether, the director has to be extra careful making such a movie. This movie is an average movie from love perspective but from the point of view of war & history, this really really sucks because in this movie we hardly see any touch of war or the real reality of 1971. Sometimes it is also represented as a time of chaos (which is a word often used by war criminals of Bangladesh to hide their infinite sins). When 3,000,000 people died in the name of freedom, when 200,000 women was raped in the name of Islam, then how can the director make us believe that a Bengali women with normal common sense will fall in love with a Pakistani Soldier especially when Meher's cousin, Nila was gang raped by Pakistani Soldier. Even Nila's character was controversial. Where Nila could be the symbol of all the raped & suffered women of Bangladesh in 1971, the director somehow makes her sex-symbol!!! Now lets come to the characters of freedom fighter. They all seem coward, fat & womanizer. ROFL. When in reality farmer, university student, teacher - all kinds of freedom loving people were fighting only with their courage and light weapons against the severe oppression led by Pakistani Army equipped by superior fire power, then isn't it a degradation of the characters of freedom fighter & resulting the whole movie. Then comes Mr. Khaja. Her own daughter was raped by Pak Army & yet he never protest against it, not even a hint of sadness or revenge. There are lots of other controversies which lead this movie to its ultimate destruction.

Not only the story sucks, also the costume & choice of words were dreadful, They seem all time travel to 2011, then do shopping & flew back to 1971.LOL.

My last words. this movie is a waste of time, an insult to all the war victim women of the whole world & a lie on the face of history.

Lies in a mannered way

[neo_cryn · 1/10 · 28 January 2011]

This movie writer made a complete lie in a dramatic way.She tried to make new history by making lie about the rape of Bangladesh 1971 war victims,the brutality was made simple and she dared to change the history.It is insulting to a whole nation.In 1971 around 0.2 million women were brutally raped against their will by the Pakistani army.Most of these women had terrible life later on.No women wanted to be raped but in this movie the scenario showed in different manner.The makers tried to change the story of real facts and truth.She denied real history.She should learn history first.In Bangladesh war victim women were honored by a title ''Birangona'' means Hero of the war.She tried to show the women as a sex symbol which is the most disgraceful.She also tried to make humiliation to the supreme sacrifice of the men and women died in 1971.

A movie filled with propaganda and hidden agenda

[esha795 · 1/10 · 27 January 2011]

The movie, made by daughter of a minister of the current government of Bangladesh, got through the censor board without any distraction. It goes great length to play with the emotions of the people of Bangladesh. Liberation war of 1971, a sacred event in the history of Bangladesh, has been polluted with the images posted in this film.

Bangladesh is still awaiting the official apology of Pakistan for the war-crimes they had done in 1971, and yet this movie portrays the events like it was the fault of Bangladeshi people and Pakistan was right to defend their country. Calling itself a film against war, this film actually became a propaganda movie against the nationality of Bangladesh.

With the preparations for d trial of the war criminals in Bangladesh going on, this movie is nothing but a silly try to make Bangladeshi people and the international humanity sympathetic to the war criminals of 1971.

The movie has received unanimous negative reactions in Bangladesh and also in neighboring countries. Of course, the movie was welcome in Pakistan. This is not a movie which represents the liberation war and the history of Bangladesh. The only thing good about the movie is its cinematography and music. The movie has horrible acting and unrealistic dialogs. Not even the dresses used in the movie suits the period of 1971, which the director tried to portray in the film. DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE TO KNOW BANGLADESH.

a movie greatly confused between 'an alternate narration of history' and 'a romantic fantasy'

[darrel7756 · 1/10 · 29 January 2011]

This movie has a message "History is not a coherent narrative". Well, that's true. There are always forgotten sub-plots in history. There are also different representations of the same story, depending on which side the narrator belongs to. But I didn't understand whether this movie was a romantic fantasy or a history-movie with a different perspective. If it was a romantic fantasy, then I have much less to complain. A Bangladeshi girl's falling in love with a Pakistani soldier at the time of the mass genocide, though highly unlikely, can still be digested. But that piece of fantasy can't be considered as any part of the history, as there is no single evidence of such love story, neither does it resemble the common Bangladeshi women's mentality.

No Bangladeshi woman in 1971 would likely fall in love with a Pakistani soldiers, where women were all hiding in different places just to save themselves from getting gang-raped by the soldiers. so, Meher fails to represent a Bangladeshi girl from 1971.

Meher's father is supposed to represent the intellectual community of the war-torn nation. The director seems to believe that all the intellects of Bangladesh were Muslim leaguers. But, the fact is that Muslim Leaguers don't represent the Bangladeshi intellects at all! The then university professors, writers, reporters and editors of newspapers, singers, actors, government officials, and all the progressive intellects of Bangladesh were no part of Muslim League. (these educated and progressive people were largely slaughtered in 14th December, 1971- 2 days before Pakistan surrendered, and was the last and most fatal blow on Bangladesh.) When after the war, the war-heroes were surrendering their weapons to the newly-formed Bangladesh government, an 8-years kid came forward with a riffle and surrendered it. The entire nation was shocked to know that this kid fought the war and killed 8 Pakistani soldiers. Another much told story is that of Shafi Imam Rumi. This 19 year old student had just got an admission offer from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, when the war broke out. He decided to go and fight the war and dumped the admission letter. The time when he was captured and then brutally tortured, interrogated and finally shot dead, he had just turned 20. The sexist, motivation-less and coward freedom fighters portrayed in the movie in no way represent the war-heroes of the country.

Historically, there have been some protests in Pakistan against the 1971 genocide. Some soldiers (mostly Beluch soldiers) also occasionally revolted. But, that is also portrayed in one-eyed view in the movie. The few Pakistanis who condemned the killings were concerned that the "Muslims" were being killed. The soldiers occasionally revolted because they thought killing Muslims is a sin. They will go to Heck for that. But, no Pakistani was concerned about roughly 10 million religious minorities of Bangladesh, whereas the Bangladeshi people fought for secularism and equal recognition of all the people of the country. 99% of the Pakistanis hated Bangladeshis (and they still do) because Bangladeshis won't consider their large Hindu community as 'second-class citizens' who don't have social rights or human rights almost at all.

This movie fails to recognize the love between different religious communities in Bangladesh and the fact that the Pakistani soldiers believed that they were on a crusade; they believed that by murder, torture rapes and looting, the Hindus and Muslim-betrayers will all be punished and thus they will convert Bangladesh into a holly place and give birth to a new generation of obedient and 'true' Muslims.

.....it only serves to make Meherjaan seem more plausible.

[rubaiyathossain · 28 June 2012]

"Rubaiyat Hossain's Meherjaan is a film that has generated such an outpouring of hate from IMDb users that it outdoes any similar reaction I've ever seen. These responses come entirely from people giving their location as Bangladesh. The film is called "garbage," "trash," "lies," you name it -- and since the film ended up having to be withdrawn from exhibition in Bangladesh, the responses may well be fairly typical. The irony of all this is that it only serves to make Meherjaan seem more plausible. The fuss seems to be of the same sort of unfocused and unexamined hatred that the film decries. The movie itself strikes me as good-hearted and pretty blameless, despite the fact that there's a forbidden love story between a Bangladeshi woman and a Pakistani soldier. I'd say watch it yourself and see, even though that, of course, is not the way people who want to ban things tend to think. It's a beautiful movie......" --Ken Hanke/ Mountain Express.

MeherJaan should be the eye-opener for all Bengalis globally

[ashraftarique · 10/10 · 25 April 2011]

I had the opportunity to watch MeherJaan on April 25, 2011 at Dhaka, Bangladesh with all kinds or rich, high flying, classy, high society and multi-national audiences. The waiting prior to the watch this cinema was a silent fight to book seats for me and my companion.It was worth it indeed. During looking at the projector screen watching "Meher Jaan" gave me such a soothing feeling with an understanding to be engrossed deeply inside the cinema full of different characters created by this brilliant witty pretty writer and director Ms. Rubaiyat Hossain. This cinema do not deserve any bad review with proper understanding. Helping and aiding the wounded enemy soldier during the war of 1971 by the character of Meher was not a crime at all. Meher was naive then but full of clear conscious of fallen for this same enemy Pakistani soldier. This very Pakistani soldier realized after coming to East Pakistan then that these killings and ravaging did not have any meanings and apparently his defection and escape brought him to Meher by rescuing him from beasts of Pakistan Army killing more than three million people. We as Bengalis witnessed the brutality of Pakistani soldiers toward us and at the same time showed compassion, forgiveness and love to those who refused to harm any Bengalis during the war of 1971 in Bangladesh. Are we not better than Pakistanis then and even after that till now? Meher and Wasim is the perfect example through this remarkable cinema to understand and this cinema should be an eye opener for all Bengalis especially to come out from stereo type hypocritical judgmental mindset that we usually practice and for Meher Jaan we applied the same by banning the showcase around the country. This is absolutely wrong. I personally believe that Pakistan will never have any peace what they are going through now carrying the curses of killing millions of Bengalis in 1971. Why should we behave the same way like them by banning the showcase this cinema. This cinema Meher Jaan is a fascinating tool for us to be an eye opener and be better in judging the right way but not thinking like demons of the past. Bengalis are the movers of the revolutions in this Indian subcontinent and we should be proud to have this cinema and also for the writer/director Rubiayat Hossain and her fellow partners and the entire cast of this cinema as well as the crew.

Many Things are Fair in this Story of Love and War

[amanbd · 6/10 · 27 January 2011]

Meherjaan is more about the war of different ideologies than the actual combats that took place in 1971 Bangladesh. The interactions among Freedom fighters, the communists and the seekers of reconciliation showed this dilemma very well. The story is told from a perspective that was never seen in any previous 1971 movies, the dilemma of social leaders, the fact that people did not cease to be human beings just because a war is happening and they belong to a particular side of the battle. As far as love is concerned, the image of "the Knight and his girl" portrays the teenage emotions which disregards the surrounding realities. There are some memorable scenes in Meherjan, e.g. the scene when Wasim leaves the village in a boat for ever; or when Meher comes to the window to see his imprisoned lover. The cinematography in this film is generally good, and great at some points. The Baul music used in some scenes were helpful to understand the emotions of the characters. Victor Banarjee have done a wonderful acting as the Grandpa. But some conspicuous flaws prevented this film from becoming a great one. The costume of the female characters was not consistent with the time of the story. Very recent styles of dialog and pronunciation were used by the characters of 1971 Bangladesh. The acting of the two romantic leads were not up to the mark. The chemistry between Meher and Wasim were not allowed to be shown before the audience. I have rated this movie 6/10 which is way higher than other contemporary Bangla films. If you are tired of the same typical stories of war, go watch this movie to see something new.

Poor making, a blatant lie

[chormia · 1/10 · 27 January 2011]

For me it was a complete waste of 2 hours watching the movie. The primary reason is it gives a completely wrong idea of the time and context of the movie. During the liberation war of Bangladesh more than 400,000 (Ref. Brown Miller, 1993, pp 80) women were raped by the Pakistani soldiers, while the movie shows the love story between a Pakistani soldier and the heroine along with other female characters' affinities towards the soldiers in general. It provides a completely false information about the freedom fighters as well. Films and history are not the same thing; but when you create a story based on the history in the background, you should respect the history. Otherwise it is a blatant lie and that is what the movie does.

Although they seem to use good cameras compared to most other Bangla movies these days, the making of it lacks commonsense on many issues. The introduction of Muta' marriage makes no sense. In fact such form of marriage was never in practice in Bangladesh and it is evident that the concept is not clear to the makers of Meherjaan. The make up, dress etc. are far from the reality of Bangladesh in 1971.

Distortion of History is NOT Acceptable.

[julha-matin · 1/10 · 29 January 2011]

This movie has been pulled off from theaters by the distributor because of public outcry in Bangladesh. It distorts the history of the country's independence war against Pakistan in 1971. The Guinness Book of Records lists the Bangladesh Genocide (by Pakistan army) as one of the top 5 genocides in the 20th century. In 1981, UN's declaration of Universal Human Rights states; "Among the genocides of human history, the highest number of people killed in lower span of time is in Bangladesh in 1971". But this movie deliberately shows disrespect to a nation's history by showing the Pakistanis' as harmless and lovable from the Bangladeshi point of view! It also humiliates the much respected Bangladeshi freedom fighters and around 400,000 women who were raped by the Pakistani army in 1971. The general conception of Bangladesh is that the gratuitous and wanton killing of astronomical number of unarmed Bangladeshis by marauding soldiers of Pakistan in 1971 should not go unpunished. But the movie gives a signal that Bangladeshi people should 'forget' those dark chapters of the Bangladeshi History.

To the director/producer of the movie, please try to respect a country's history. Distortion of this kind is not at all acceptable in any civilized society. You have lost your creditability in Bangladesh. In future if you want to make a love story, please go ahead. But don't distort history while trying to do so. Please remember the following words- "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana (1863 - 1952), The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905

Poor direction

[tamal96 · 1/10 · 27 January 2011]

The story of the movie has been written to create a noise so that people will go to theatre to watch it. So by mistake if someone watch it, he/she will never watch the movie in his/her life time ever. Not only the movie fails to capture true sufferings of the women in Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War, but also the poor direction mainly because of the inexperienced director made the film nothing but a 'garbage'. I have never rated a movie as awful but it was easy to do so with this one. Bad acting by the cast. Bad scenarios. Bad writing. Bad music score except only one song. The camera work is very slow. The plot has no sense at all. It is just confusion.

Waste of time

[fs_tulip · 1/10 · 29 January 2011]

I read a lot about the movie, so I wanted to see what the fuss is all about. I wish I hadn't. I am not going to add more about the blatant lie and twisted history the director presented. Even putting that aside, the movie is awful. The acting is poor, the story is incoherent. The costume design and dialog is ridiculous, no one in that time used to dress and speak like that. There are some hints about homosexuality which is totally out of the blue. I heard the movie was attracting people (may be because of all the controversiality), but when I went, there were only 20something people in theater. I guess that should have been my clue to leave the theater and save my time. The people present burst out laughing whenever there was an emotional moment, which denotes the quality of acting.

If you want my advice, save your time and money and don't go watch it.

Total distortion of History and confusing movie

[chokirtolabloger · 1/10 · 29 January 2011]

During the liberation war of Bangladesh my entire family ran away from their residence in order to save their life from Pakistani army. They constantly lived in a fearful atmosphere, where ever Pakistani army found young girls they raped them, slaughter them mercilessly , even after finishing their heinous deed, they didn't even consider to do proper burial service for their victims, it was the chilling but cold blooded truth about our liberation war. But this movie what we observe? In such turbulent period Bengali teenage girls are making love with Saki army and Fondling with them requesting their father to bring Saki army for marriage! I have only two things to say for the movie director it is a piece of crap and waste of my 2 hours.

Director slapped the glory of Bangladesh

[chemselim · 1/10 · 30 January 2011]

As the 40th anniversary of the 1971 war approaches, the Bangladeshi government has set up an International Crimes Tribunal to investigate the atrocities of that era. There has been a denial by "certain political groups" of the history of the war, and a failure to account for the crimes of sexual violence against women," said Sara Hossain to NY times, a human rights lawyer based in Dhaka. The director just admitted Mrs. Hossain thoughts. Director successfully failed to show the experiences of women — the independence fighters, the victims of rape, the widows — during the war and more importantly the violence, sexual assault they experienced rarely acknowledged in this movie. "As a young teenager in 1971, I had heard a lot about female university students, young village girls and women being raped and held captive, effectively forced into sexual slavery, in the military cantonment. But after the war, very soon, one heard nothing more," said Irene Khan, former secretary general of Amnesty International in NY times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/world/asia/25iht-letter.html) where as writer intentionally regret this fact. Bangladesh is only now grappling with war crimes — and with great difficulty, given the way the issue is mired in the politics of religious fundamentalist parties. The gender dimension of the atrocities is not fully acknowledged, nor is the huge contribution that women made to the liberation struggle as fighters and supporters in Meherjaan. "Rape in Bangladesh had hardly been restricted to beauty," Brownmiller writes. "Girls of eight and grandmothers of seventy-five had been sexually assaulted ... Pakistani soldiers had not only violated Bengali women on the spot; they abducted tens of hundreds and held them by force in their military barracks for nightly use." Some women may have been raped as many as eighty times in a night (Brownmiller, p. 83). How many died from this atrocious treatment, and how many more women were murdered as part of the generalized campaign of destruction and slaughter, can only be guessed at. These are the facts, history and proud of Bangladesh. By twisting all of these facts the director just slapped us and Bangladesh. Finally, I thanked Bangladesh govt. to ban this movie. I would not recommend to any people to watch it because they will learn the wrong history, facts of Bangladesh of 1971 and the unforgettable contribution what was done by our sister, mother and wife.

Propaganda movie

[h_n_rana · 1/10 · 31 January 2011]

This movie is simply a propaganda movie with good cinematography to promote an idea among the new generation of Bangladesh - that the Pakistani army was very much human towards ladies of Bangladesh during 1971 liberation war. This is important cause this movie got released on the eve of the starting of the trial of collaborators of Pakistani army.

It shows love affair between a "Baluch" soldier and a girl of Bangladesh. Even when the elder sister of that girl got raped brutally by Pakistan armies, the girl (Meher) fantasize about loving that "Baluch" soldier.

The movie shows freedom fighters as retarded, tired of war and just bullshits. The characters were built in a way that people will laugh at them. Muslim League - a political party of that time in Pakistan supported the genocide that time for the sake of religion. But in the movie it is showing that the freedom fighters seeking permission from a Muslim league leader for attacking a Paki base.

Fantasy or Imagination or whatever you call it --- should have a limit, specially while dealing with crucial historical fact. This movie failed to satisfy any of the criteria to be a so called "WAR AND LOVE" movie. It remains as a bullshit propaganda movie to affect the trial of collaborators of Pakistani army.

Director Rubaiyet;s awful attempt to showcase ISI propaganda in disguise

[ea-gle4080 · 1/10 · 5 February 2011]

First of all, this whole movie is a disgrace to the glorious liberation war of Bangladesh. I would kindly suggest all do not watch this movie and do not waste your time and money.

There are 3 major female roles in this movie; Meherjan, Nila, and Salma. Meherjan, the main character of the movie fell in love with an enemy soldier while living in the same home with her cousin Nila who was group raped by enemy army. Her character was created as a symbol of love, but in the wrong time of history. She was educated, peaceful and against war. But despite being educated, she was totally unaware of the national demand of independence and the reasons behind that. The other character Nila, whose parents were killed during the war and who was group raped by enemy soldiers, was portrayed as a sex symbol in the movie. Her dress was modern and totally unconventional for a girl of Bengali society of that time. When she said in the movie that "This rape was not the first experience in her life, and she got raped before as well", it reduced the impact of mass rape of women during that war which was said to be focused in this movie. Not all of those 200,000 to 400,000 women were raped before this war.

The technical side of the movie may be okay, with some glossy shots, but there is no doubt that this is a covert op movie to establish ISI propaganda funded by ISI.

A good decent film for the whole family

[latifbarma · 10/10 · 29 January 2011]

Because of the political issues in the film it has gotten harsh reactions but at least it was the first movie in a long time that I was able to go watch in the theaters with my family. The scenery was so beautiful and the music was also great. It was a difficult subject to show a Pakistani soldier in love with a Bangladeshi girl. I had mixed reactions as well but over all enjoyed the movie very much. I personally like Urdu gazals and enjoyed the gazal in the movie but I am not surprised that some people are finding it difficult to accept the movie. I hope the director of Meherjan will make other films that will be equally beautiful but hopefully free of political subject matter so that it does not cause a debate and we can all enjoy a well made beautiful film. Bangladeshi film industry needs more young educated filmmakers but this type of political debate based on art will only create barriers for future generations to express their voice.

the director should be ashamed for this movie

[tofael483 · 1/10 · 30 January 2011]

when there are only few movies about the historical war in 1971, this kind of movie will confused everyone. The director should be ashamed for it. there are many historical event about 1971, how many of them are focused already? still we cry when we read the true story from freedom fighter. this kind of movie can be made after making 1000 positive movie about our war. then people can accept it as a story. this is a propaganda and a chance to commit their act by a movie. the director tell that she is a daughter of a freedom fighter, then what about her grandfather? people of Bnagladesh know about them very well. rather it is unexpected to get a movie like this in this time when the government is for the freedom fighter. shame on you Ms director and also to your father.

A complete killing of history by the director's ISI connection

[diganta_bahar · 1/10 · 7 February 2011]

This movie fails to connect my mind from the very beginning. I heard from it's advertisement that it is the movie which concerns 1971, the liberation wartime of Bangladesh. And what I've seen? A masterpiece of contradictions regarding history. If you gonna watch this(I would say don't waste your time and money), just forget the history, even make your mind to watch the opposite norms. I believe if a director tags history in his/her story telling then he/she should follow it clearly not making any irresponsible fantasy. Let me say the poor notions of it, 1. The make-up as well as dress-up of this movie shows totally wrong throughout the whole plot. People of that time(1971) was far more conservative than today's. Regarding this the dress-up of Meherjaan is totally wrong when it shows the heroine dresses so many formal/informal pink colored clothes.

2. Bengali language was far more pensive than today's rustic usages. The languages that director used are mainly and arguably the words of now-a-day's youths. Raubaiyat Hossain makes a big mistake to follow the former language.

3. Rubaiyat Hossain tagged liberation war beneath the film, but hugely fails to represent any war symptom. We have seen a very peaceful environment in the village throughout the whole movie. When there was more than 3 million people killed by the Pakistani soldiers, and more than 40,000 women consequently raped, she(Rubaiyat) shows the a very serene atmosphere everywhere.

4. A huge number of freedom fighters(more than 5 million) attended the liberation war, the director shows the three of them and none of them wasn't that patriotic or emotional for their motherland. All of the freedom fighters seen lusty for females, and never interested to make free his motherland.

5. When there was more than 40000 women was raped by the Pakistanis, we've seen in this very movie that a Bangladeshi girl falls in love for a Pakistani soldier, whether her(Meherjaan) cousin was also got raped!! 6. Rubaiyat fails to show the political consequences of the wartime. The grandfather of Meherjaan seems so wise politician and thoughtful, but he fails to show his importance regarding the war. He says he don't like violence whenever it is!! 7. The camera deeds and the sound system was good enough concerning any other Bangladeshi movies. Clear sound and some good camera shoots I've found.

So I would say to a movie viewer that don't waste your time and money watching this movie, and hope the director will learn movie making from her these big mistakes.

Meherjaan a awful movie

[ozman750 · 1/10 · 25 April 2011]

today i saw this movie. and i could not understand for what purpose this movie was made. Its story acting so cheap that when i saw recommendations down i laughed because there was so many good movies like Seven etc. First i will talk about acting awful, story was twisted in many ways from the original history, which shows the mind of director. homosexuality can never be understood via watching this movie. The most funny thing about this movie is during the Pakistani soldiers uniform, which is directors biggest mistake. In those times Pakistan army use to wear a band in the elbow and color of caps.

in the end i will never recommend this movie to watch, this movie only spread hate. Rather than in Pakistan there is still so much love for Bangladeshi people as i personally observed. I request all the directors specially this one please do not change the history by making fake movies. Because our next generations when will see this movie they will make a mind of hate for these two nations. my ratting for this movie is 1/10. and i gave 1 because i want to encourage the director to make an other one with real story

The Movie "MeherJan" Should be Banned

[sajalkroy007 · 1/10 · 1 February 2011]

I am really shocked to listen the movie and expect its completely should be banned not only in Bangladesh but also in the whole world. Its has a love story but the story is full with false and controversial information about the liberation war of the nation Bangladesh. The movie does not say the true story of the liberation of our country. Moreover the movie has no cinematography. It has very bad camera work and sound quality is too very bad. The movie presents actress as a sign of seduction. The story does not match with the name. The movie has a box full with stories but the movie failed to conclude most of the stories. The movie should not be air in the nation, as it contains so sensitive and negative information about the liberation war.

The movie may led our next generation towards a wrong way and provide false information about the reality of our liberation war of 1971. So to save the nation, To save the real and great history of our liberation war of 1971 we should say a big "NO" to the movie.

Please say "NO" to the movie and sought to ban the movie right now.

Absolute Rubbish; this flick deserves to be in the sewers...

[volatileresidue · 1/10 · 25 February 2012]

One of the worst movies in the history of Bangladesh. The movie spreads a blatant LIE of unfathomable magnitude. The director, according to various reports is an ISI-funded activist with the political agenda of confusing a wider new-generation audience. Absolute distortion of historical facts have been depicted, and a heinous effort of misleading the perception of unaware audience is apparent. People from all spheres with slightest knowledge regarding the Liberation War of Bangladesh have condemned this blunder of a movie. Thousands have voiced their frustrations regarding the movie content and how it might be viewed as utterly shameless 'Goebbelsian Propaganda'.

My advice: "Do not even think of wasting time watching this utter rubbish. And if you really do, please do not conceive the LIES the director systematically portrayed"