India and Bangladesh are working on a plan to co-produce a feature film on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a documentary on the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The plan to make a Mujibur Rahman film and a 1971 war documentary comes in the backdrop of improved bilateral and diplomatic relations between the two neighbours.
It is driven by the imperative to further strengthen people-to-people contact through the exchange of audio visual programmes and co-production of films and documentaries.
An official delegation from Bangladesh is likely to meet its counterpart next week and begin discussions on joint production of films and other issues related to exchange of programmes between state-owned radio and television units of the respective countries.
As part of the plan, both governments are looking at the possibility of engaging India’s renowned director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal for the co-production of a feature film on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sources said Benegal was likely to join the first round of delegation-level meetings next week.
Officials from the two countries, besides the Mujibur Rahman film, are also expected to dwell on co-production of a documentary on the Liberation war of Bangladesh. The two countries are also likely to hold discussions on screening of Indian films in Bangladesh.
The two sides are also expected to dwell on MoUs between Doordarshan and Bangladesh Television and All India Radio and Bangladesh Betar besides starting community radio, sources added.
From India, besides Shyam Benegal, officials from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, NFDC, Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan and All India Radio would hold deliberations with the delegation from Bangladesh, the sources added.