“Runway”: Tareque and Catherine’s latest film ready to take off

“Runway”, the latest film directed by Tareque Masud and produced by Catherine Masud, has recently received an uncut certificate from the Bangladesh Film Censor Board, according to a press release. The film, which follows the story of an idealistic youth's drift into militancy, was shot in 2008-2009.

The original story and screenplay by the Masuds was inspired by the events of 2005-2006, when a rise in the violent activities of extremist groups brought the country to the brink of chaos. The film also looks at the wider complexity of religious extremism, impacted by local and international politics and economic realities.

The film zooms in on Ruhul, who lives with his family in a shack next to the runway of the international airport. His mother Rahima struggles to make ends meet by selling milk of a cow bought with a micro credit loan. Ruhul's sister Fatima works long hours at a garments factory. There's been no word from their father for over a month, since he left to work in the Middle East. A madrasa dropout, Ruhul spends his days wandering under the shadows of the planes, aimless and frustrated in his futile efforts to find work. One day at a cyber cafe he meets Arif, a computer savvy young man who exudes confidence and a sense of purpose. The world Arif introduces Ruhul to, seems inspiring and new, but gradually Ruhul's life spirals into a nefarious netherworld of intolerance, violence and ultimately, death...

The cast is primarily made up of newcomers, including Md. Fazlul Haque as Ruhul; Rabeya Akter Moni as Rahima and Ali Ahsan as Arif. Other cast members include Nazmul Huda Bachchu, Nasrin Akter, Rikita Nandini Shimu, Jayanto Chattopadhyay, Moslem Uddin, and a cameo by Nusrat Imroz Tisha.

The screenplay was written jointly by Tareque and Catherine Masud, with the story and dialogues by Tareque. Continuing a longstanding collaboration with the Masuds, the film was shot by Mishuk Munier. Masrur Rahman did the sound recording and Shaheed Ahmed Mithu worked as the art director. Music direction was done jointly by the Masuds, while Tanvir Alam Shawjeeb did the main musical score. The film has been edited by Catherine Masud. Dolby 5.1 mixing was done by New York-based sound designer Alex Noyes.