'Every Good Marriage begins with Tears', Bangladeshi movie screened on Saturday at the National Arts Gallery left many people in deep nostalgia for the former East Pakistan that was full of greenery, flowing rivers, songs, rains and some unique fruits. The movie presented a full package of all those ingredients that many people still cannot forget even after many decades of Bangladesh independence.
The story evolves around a Bengali girl Shahanara, who lives in London and goes out with boys. She is married to Mamun, a boy from Sylhet, Bangladesh and vows to make her marriage work that eventually lasted for only three months.
Because, Mamun tries to force her stop talking over cell phones, or going out. Finally, one day the girl comes to know that Mamun actually is after her passport to get the naturalised citizenship of England. Shahanara felt herself deceived and throw Mamun out of her house.
In another part of the film Hosne Ara is married to Rashed by her mother. The girl though agrees at first, but later realised that she was in love with her neighbour. Fearing an unhappy ending, Hosne Ara goes trough tremendous mental stress and finally marries Rashed and lives happily.
The scriptwriter Chamber dwells on the question whether arranged marriages in which the couples have never seen each other, would last. His film could be a commentary on the cruel marriages that have become a pattern in Muslim society because the parents fail to look at the compatibility of the partners.
The story is narrated and written by a Britisher, Simon Chambers, who also became a part of the story. Chambers inspired with Bengali way of life decides to marry an expatriate Bengali girl in London, believed that the girl will take well care of him and his family.
The film was produced in Britain, could be a pick of the 13 films, now in the process of being screened under the joint auspices of PNCA, and Asia Study Group. However, Chamber, should not be blamed for picking up a theme, which is now the focus of debate in the British press, where a number of stories have been published about daughters unwilling to go through arranged marriages.
However, it should be remembered that Islam insists on the acceptance of the marriage contract from both partners. The acceptance vows have to be pronounced in full view of guests before Nikah is solemnised.