Private Project

Antareen

"Antareen" is a short documentary film that intimately traces the lost relationship between the filmmaker's father and his closest pen pal. Pen friendship is a lost symphony, and the filmmaker's father was one of those who were part of that orchestra. It was a time lost beneath the facade of digitalization. This documentary is an intimate search for those forgotten relationships and the essence of the forgotten emotions of that bygone era.

  • Shakti Banik
    Director
    Nihantaa, Dear Bangla Channel, Backbone
  • Shakti Banik
    Writer
  • Shakti Banik
    Producer
  • Gouranga Lal Banik
    Key Cast
  • Dipali Deb
    Key Cast
  • Shakti Banik
    Key Cast
  • Shakti Banik
    Cinematography
  • Shakti Banik
    Edit
  • Shakti Banik
    Sound Design
  • Oyshee Chowdhury
    Letter Narrator (Female Voice)
  • Tareq Ahmed
    Special Thanks
  • Farid Ahmed
    Special Thanks
  • Nahid Masud
    Special Thanks
  • Dibakar Banik
    Special Thanks
  • Akib Sadman Tamim
    Special Thanks
  • Rafia Rizwana Mim
    Special Thanks
  • Abrar Fahim Navid
    Special Thanks
  • Zobayer Raihan
    Special Thanks
  • Sree Sree Rabi Shankar
    Music
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    অন্তরীন
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Bangladesh
  • Country of Filming:
    Bangladesh
  • Language:
    Bengali
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
Director Biography - Shakti Banik

Shakti Banik is a Bangladeshi filmmaker, photographer, designer, and engineer based in Dhaka. He is a mechanical engineering graduate from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Shakti has crafted several compelling short fiction and documentaries, with notable works like "Backbone" (2015), "Dear Bangla Channel" (2021), and "Antareen" (2023). He has won the Best Film Award at the 9th International Children's Film Festival, Bangladesh for the film "Backbone" (2015). His ongoing documentary project ‘Echoes Within’ has received the Best Project (Bangladesh) Award from Dhaka DocLab 2023. Currently, he pours his heart and soul into his art as an independent filmmaker at Aparajito Films. He is a distinguished alumnus of the pioneering batch at the Dhaka Doc School. Beyond filmmaking, he's an avid photographer and a former Vice President of BUET Photographic Society (BUETPS). Shakti is also a passionate graphics designer working independently. Shakti aspires to create works that forge profound connections, delving into the essence of identity and persona.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

'Antareen' is born from a personal discovery of my father's forgotten pen-pal letters, dating back 50 years. These precious letters, hidden in an old trunk, revealed a unique facet of my father's life—a passion for pen friendships, a vibrant part of the 1970s generation. Through the "Patra Mitali Sangha" club, he connected with pen pals, yet one bond stood out. After a certain date, she vanished from his letters, leaving behind an intriguing void—a lost connection that inspired 'Antareen.'

This documentary delves into the mysteries of these lost pen friendships, exploring the emotions, connections, and stories woven through handwritten letters. Through intimate conversations, archives, and heartfelt reflections, 'Antareen' resurrects a bygone era when dreams and aspirations were shared through ink and paper.

As the director, I am honored to preserve this unique history—a testament to human connections and the fading art of letter writing. 'Antareen' invites you to join this captivating voyage into the past, where hidden secrets and untold stories lie 'Antareen'—beneath the surface.