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The Eternal Journey

A theatre artist’s  journey to prepare for a theatre character named “Kute Kahar”. The Bengali word “Kahar” stands for Palanquin-bearer in English.The film follows the journey of Pankaj Chowdhury, a dedicated theatre actor, as he immerses himself in the role of Kute Kahar, blurring the lines between stage and reality. As he embarks on a physical and emotional journey, he seeks the deeper truths of the character’s life and struggle. 

A “Kahar” is never respected in the society because of his low-class origin. From a young age to old age, they carry heavy loads in their palanquin and at the end of the career, they become hunchbacks and thus lose their strength to stand straight.

Through acting, Pankaj believes one can experience the divine essence, and in this realization lies true performance. For that, he does everything that Kute Kahar used to do. He tries to hunch under the weight of a heavy stone on his back. He practices changing his voice, attempting to capture the sorrowful tones of the old Kute Kahar. He has walked mile after mile along hills, seasides, and riverbanks, like a palanquin-bearer. He has spent days meditating deep inside the forest, striving to dissolve himself into nature.

The Eternal Journey into one’s own self. The film ends with Pankaj’s performance on stage with a standing ovation and applause from the audience. But the pain of Kute Kahar remains with Pankaj.

The film explores self-identity, paying tribute to Bengal's cultural roots and history.

  • Fozle Rabby
    Director
  • Fozle Rabby
    Writer
  • Shankha das Gupta
    Producer
  • Pankaj Chowdhury Rony
    Key Cast
    "Pankaj(kute kahar)"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    " তাদাত্ম্য অন্বেষণ"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Bangladesh
  • Country of Filming:
    Bangladesh
  • Language:
    Bengali
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Karditsa International Short Film Festival Opseis
    Kardista
    Greece
    August 28, 2025
    Best Experimental Short Film
  • Karditsa International Short Film Festival Opseis
    Karditsa
    Greece
    August 28, 2025
    Greek Premiere
    Cinematic Achievement Award
  • Karditsa International Short Film Festival Opseis
    Karditsa
    Greece
    Best Short International Actor
Director Biography - Fozle Rabby

Fozle Rabby is a Dhaka-based Bangladeshi filmmaker, writer, and post-production Producer who has been working in the film and media industry for nearly a decade. His body of work spans short films, experimental cinema, TV commercials, and feature film post-production. Rabby’s creations consistently revisit themes of identity, memory, and existence, where realism and surrealism intertwine. In his debut Short film, Tadattwo Onneshan (The Eternal Journey), he takes the audience on an introspective voyage, deeply exploring the human search for the self. As part of Bangladesh’s emerging film movement, Rabby has collaborated with both new and seasoned talents, and his goal is to bring authentic local stories to the international stage.

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Director Statement

‘The Eternal Journey’ is not merely a film; it is a journey of existence, a search for a lost identity. When we attempt to understand our being, it is not just an individual quest—it carries the weight of cultural inheritance. This film is inspired by the character Kute Kahar, who comes to life from Nasrin Sultana’s story and Arindam Natya Goshthi’s stage production. Crafted in an experimental form, this film reinterprets Kute Kahar’s struggles, humanity, and resilience through a new artistic lens. It stands as a tribute to his enduring legacy.

This journey of exploration takes us deep into the past of the Kahars—a laboring community whose voices carry the echoes of oppression yet embody an unyielding spirit of survival. The palanquin bearers, the Kahars, have been an inseparable part of Bengal’s history, their relentless toil and undying humanity forming the vibrant pulse of our cultural heritage.

The central character of our film, Kute Kahar, is one of those silent souls who embarks on a path of self-discovery, only to confront the profound cultural and traditional history that shaped his existence. He realizes that his suffering is not merely personal—it is a shared experience embedded in the collective memory of generations. This film is my eternal tribute and deep reverence for their struggles, dignity, and contributions.

Pankaj Chowdhury (Actor of Film) has played a crucial role in inspiring this film. His vision and perspective have helped me bridge the historical and cultural backdrop of the Kahars with the introspective exploration of identity. I hope that the audience does not see this as just a story but rather confronts their own roots and existential questions.