Sonia Hossain, Bangladeshi actor, writer, director and producer, is relatable and candid. She is a multitasker just like so many of us, and speaks from the heart. While talking to us about the docu film Bibi Russell: The Dream Weaver that she is making on her “Bibi apu”, Sonia puts on her kajal and bindi too, to be in time for a meeting that would follow our chat. She has been working since 2003 and has studied law in England, only to come back to storytelling, that’s her passion.
Bibi Russell: The Dream Weaver is a pandemic-born project, which has united Sonia with her inspiration, the indefatigable Bibi Russell, the original champion of sustainable fashion, who has made the humble gamchha (cotton towel) an item of fashionable clothing. The Telegraph chat.
How did Bibi Russell come into your life?
The idea of a production company had been there in my mind since 2019. I wanted to tell ekdom aamader ghorer golpo, but then came the pandemic and we all got locked up inside our houses from March 2020. We were all in the same boat. The entertainment and creative fields are anyway full of uncertainties and fragilities. Then came the pandemic, a major jolt. I felt there can be nothing worse than this. Ebar holey bhalo hobe, aar na hole kichhui hobe na. (Laughs)
I have a small team, but I couldn’t access anyone. Everyone was outside Dhaka and a lot of people left for their villages too. From March till almost July, I saw the seasons change from the window of my room. I was creating a lot of content for my YouTube channel in this period, spanning six to eight minutes. And, I would consume a lot of content too. I chanced upon one of Bibi Russell’s interviews she was doing from her home. It took me back 18 years ago when I had started modelling. Model maane hochhe Bibi Russell (whose first work was 14 pages of Harper’s Bazaar. She has modelled from 1978 till 1993. The likes of Jaguar, BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Toyota Corona are on her CV. Her first show was for Valentino.) I was inspired by her to take up modelling and then one thing led to another.
My husband (Ahmed Steve) urged me to get in touch with her. I still thank him for this idea. Sometimes that nudge is the most important. Maybe it would have come to me naturally, but my mind was foggy during that time, that someone had to come and point it out. The push came from him. He is my biggest strength. He said it would be interesting to track her down and touch base with my inspiration who is still raring to go at 70+.
I called her and met her. She got back to me after three months. I planned the entire schedule according to her convenience and comfort. I accompanied her to the villages to meet her weavers.
I was a bit nervous because I didn’t have a directorial venture in my body of work. So, I am grateful that she trusted me and understood my vision. It became easier to work.
How much is left?
Most of the shoot is over.... I am targeting to finish this by the end of this year... Inshallah. I really want her to watch it. This is my baby... my first directorial venture. I just want to make an honest and genuine piece.
Bibi Russell
What can we expect?
We have touched upon her growing up years and the journey, the challenges she’s had to face, working in Europe and then coming back to Bangladesh and starting from zero and drilling the concept (of sustainability) in.... It will speak a lot about knowing yourself and your roots. She has been futuristic. She thought about (sustainability) almost 30 years back and all of it makes sense today. And, she says she is still on the first step of the ladder.
While making this film, I have had a lot of self-realisation. I am half her age and I am thinking my ship is sinking, just like everyone. She inspired me. She’s not given up, is so far ahead of her times and she has contributed to a change in my perspective.
What acting assignments are you currently working on?
I have worked in Hridi Haq’s 1971 Shei Shob Din. I am choosing my projects carefully and want to be a part of stories which will stay and I will enjoy watching. Last year I did a sanitary napkin commercial, which felt like my mother’s and my story. I played a mom to a 10-year-old daughter.
Are these too pandemic realisations?
Yes, yes... there has been a kind of awakening since 2020. Earlier, I have often taken on assignments na bujhe or a certain pressure has worked. Ekhon ektu bujhe korte chai. Nothing happens overnight and everything happens at the right time.
Do you keep a tab on the Bengali film industry?
Bumbada (Prosenjit Chatterjee) is my all-time favourite. I like Parambrata (Chattopadhyay) and of course Kaushik Ganguly, he is such a good director. Goutam Ghose sir is brilliant. The last I saw of him was in Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds, co-starring Ishaan Khatter. Earlier it was all about visiting theatres and watching Bengali, Hindi or English films. Now we have wider vision.
OTT has revolutionised how we consume content...
I watch a lot of Malayalam cinema and Korean now. It’s like a breath of fresh air and a new perspective. We have grown up on Bollywood films. Eta niye onek gaal o khai bashay! (Laughs) Kintu kichhu korar nai... from Raj Kapoor to Alia Bhatt. They play a big role. Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil... Bazaar, Arth.... We have also watched Lamhe, Chandni and Sridevi. Chhotobelay bhabtam nayika maanei Yash Chopra. Bangladesh went to Cannes with Rehana Maryam Noor last year. It was a proud moment. Even though we weren’t part of the film, we felt we were. There are lot of independent makers and young directors making interesting web series. Recently I watched Jalsa and loved it. The kind of projects Shefali Shah works on, man, she is so good!