Semonara Chowdhury & Sashwati Mira Sengupta Britain
The Sword of Swaraj
Of joysticks and freedom fighters...
Exploring the synergies of innovative technologies with the legacy of past and present generations of the Diaspora, the film immerses the viewer into a First-Person-Shooter (FPS) scenario. Originally inspired by events leading to the autonomy of Bangladesh, the narrative of the ‘computer game’ relates to the many accounts of war, border struggles and mass migration throughout the sub-continent since 1947.
- Direction:
- Semonara & Sashwati
- Lights & Camera:
- Andy Benfield at New23
- Edit:
- Mark Watson @Zaskar Films
- Music:
- Sashwati Mira Sengupta
- Animation:
- Shirin Mehrotra & Vishesh Likhitkar at Thoughtbubble Animation Studio, Mumbai
- Performers:
- Abdul Chunara, Theo Datta, Zainab Patel
- Special thanks:
- Shafiqul Islam, for use of the photograph 'Bangladesh Police violence against women'
Semonara Chowdhury & Sashwati Mira Sengupta
Semonara & Sashwati
Semonara Chowdhury is a visual artist working in multi media, ranging from installations, book art and photography to printmaking as well as having done illustration work and writing for various magazines and commissions by Comme de Garçons, Levis and motiroti. Her work explores the inner arenas of our everyday primarily through the interplay of words and images. She has also exhibited extensively around the U.K since 1995 and organised several group exhibitions in London and Manchester.
Sashwati Mira Sengupta is a classically trained musician/composer and instrumental teacher. As a graduate from the School of Oriental & African Studies, she specialised in performance and the music of South Asia & Africa, as well as a recent foray into film under the guidance of the Workers Film Association, Manchester. Her upbringing between Jamaica, Saudi Arabia and the UK has greatly influenced her direction: exploring the politics and issues stemming from migration, borders and personal experiences. Whilst living in London, Sashwati was very active in the UK roots and world music scene, working with The Shrine clubnight in London, including involvement in its launch.