‘Dear Mother’ screened at the University of Cambridge

The Bangladeshi film Kio Ri Pekra Uo, translated as Dear Mother, was screened at the University of Cambridge.

The screening on March 5, 2025, was organised by the Indigenous Studies Group at Cambridge.

Directed by SK Shuvo Shadique, this 67-minute Mro-language film was released in 2023 and has already been screened at prominent universities in Bangladesh.

It has also reached international audiences at institutions like the University of British Columbia in Canada and Scotland’s University of Edinburgh.

Now, the film has arrived at one of the world’s leading academic institutions, further solidifying its impact.

Beyond screenings, Kio Ri Pekra Uo has also been preserved by the International Centre for Social Science in Amsterdam.

This ensures its availability for researchers and cinephiles, preserving its significance as a cultural document.

Director SK Shuvo Shadique sees the film as more than just a cinematic project.

He said: “This is not just a film; it is a declaration, an act of resistance.”

He emphasised that cinema should not be monopolised by corporations or investors.

Instead, it belongs to those who dare to tell their own stories.

Made on a tight budget, Dear Mother defies the conventional industry notion that financial backing determines success.

Shadique stressed that a film’s true value lies in its power to amplify voices that risk being lost.

He added: “Technology is now in our hands. We no longer need to conform to the traditional framework of cinema.

“It is time to seek new narratives and reclaim cinema as an art form.”

The film’s authenticity is deeply tied to the Mro community of Lama.

Shadique credited the people involved, saying: “They were not just actors; they became storytellers themselves.”

Their presence on screen brings a raw, unfiltered essence to the film, making it a unique cinematic experience.

The screenplay was crafted by Saiyeed Shahjada Al Kareem, while the cinematography was handled by Hasnat Sohan.

Nishat Rafa contributed as the art director and Baizid Khan took charge of editing.

Mashiur Rahman served as the executive producer, and Uttom Marma Uching was the assistant director.

Beyond university screenings, Dear Mother has caught the attention of the international film circuit.

It has been officially selected for the Aporia International Film Festival in Korea, marking another step toward global recognition.

The film’s journey highlights the power of independent storytelling.

With each screening, Dear Mother continues to challenge mainstream narratives and assert the importance of Indigenous voices in cinema.