#Title
RAKSHANDA RAHMAN MISHA
The 96th Academy Awards have recently announced this year’s nominees for the Best Live Action Short Film. The entire crew of ‘Red, White and Blue’ waited in anticipation to hear their film’s name. When it finally happened, Nazrin Choudhury, the film’s director, was overwhelmed with emotion. She, along with her daughters, burst into tears. She thanked everyone who supported her, and the very next day Bangladeshi newspapers prominently featured headlines about Nazrin Choudhury, the Bangladeshi-origin British-American screenwriter, who secured her first Oscar nomination with her directorial debut film.
Although she was born and raised in London, the curious old me wanted to know whether she felt a strong connection with her Bangladeshi roots and what made her choose Red, White and Blue as her maiden venture. I searched her up on social media and decided to converse with the talented director who exclusively gave us an up-close and personal view of her dreams and aspirations.
“I am so thrilled that we told a story that we care about so passionately and believe in. I have an intersection of identities that encompasses my Bangladeshi, British, and American heritage. Bangladesh holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my parents were born. I spent a significant amount of time in Bangladesh while growing up, even though I was born and brought up in London. I speak the language fluently and I still have many relatives there. Even amidst the joyful shock and tears that came when I learned the news, I knew the Bangladeshi people would be so proud and overjoyed on my behalf. So, when I received an outpouring of congratulations almost immediately, it truly filled my heart with joy to know that this achievement felt like their achievement,” said the director.
Nazrin Choudhury’s short film chronicles the life of Rachel (Brittany Snow), a single parent confronting the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck while dealing with childcare issues. When an unexpected pregnancy jeopardises her already precarious position, Rachel is compelled to hit the road with her young daughter, embarking on both a literal and metaphorical journey.
“I penned the film’s story in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning the landmark decision in the Roe v Wade case, which had protected our reproductive rights in America for almost 50 years. My daughters, Iman and Alyssa, were the first to hear the story and read the script. It’s an important issue that affects all of us, but it will affect them for a much longer period. I felt I owed it to them to use the power of storytelling to examine the repercussions for them and so many Americans who are being denied their bodily autonomy through a very characterful and humane story,” said the screenwriter.
“There are countless memorable moments about the film that I will always cherish. However, most importantly, the cast and crew became a family. I like to think the Bangladeshi spirit of warmth and hospitality that is in our DNA is what I brought to the set that helped foster some of these special bonds that continue to this day.”
Nazrin takes pride in her upbringing within an immigrant family abroad. “When I was five years old, we relocated to Bangladesh for a year, and I even attended school there before returning to the UK. However, I continued to make frequent visits to Bangladesh during the summer holidays. I maintain a strong connection to my Bengali culture, even as I am shaped by my experiences in the UK and the US. This has resulted in a melting pot of cultures, which extends to my daughters.”
Nazrin pursued Biomedical Science at King’s College London, graduating with a BSc (Hon’s) with the intention of becoming a doctor. However, she ultimately chose to embark on a different path and became a writer.
“I was on track to study medicine as my ultimate career goal, but I always knew deep down that I wanted to be an artiste. Interestingly, my Bengali name is Shilpy and my relatives back home refer to me by this name, which means ‘artiste’. I started out as an actress but soon transitioned into writing after winning an award for my first screenplay. It opened the door for me to work on several UK shows before moving to the US to work in films and TV shows in Hollywood.”
As the world eagerly anticipates the unfolding of the 96th Academy Awards, the entire nation of Bangladesh will unite to extend their heartfelt wishes to our own Nazrin Choudhury, hoping she will clinch the Oscar for her film on March 10.
“I believe my most enchanting Hollywood moment is just on the horizon, following our Oscar nomination. Please keep your fingers crossed for us and I hope everyone in Bangladesh will be watching,” concluded the ecstatic Nazrin.