Documenting our legendary artists: Anonna Ruma’s earnest initiative

How does a nation remember its artists? “What Novera is doing now will take us a long time to understand,” said legendary artist Zainul Abedin, decades ago. On Thursday (February 27) evening, as audiences watched the stories of Novera Ahmed and Monirul Islam unfold on the screen at Alliance Française de Dhaka, the weight of those words became clear.

Directed by Anonna Ruma, the documentaries “Novera”, a 22-minute film, and “Monir: Tale of Two Countries”, a 3-minute trailer, capture the artistic legacies of Novera Ahmed, Bangladesh’s first modern sculptor, and Monirul Islam, a master printmaker whose innovative techniques have earned him international acclaim.

The screening was followed by an interactive discussion with notable attendees, including artist Monirul Islam himself and the Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh, HE Gabriel Sistiaga.

When asked what led her to document the lives of these two legendary artists, the director shared, “To have known a person like Monir sir, his philosophy, artistic approach—it has always amazed me.”

“Knowing him personally is one thing, but those who do not know him should also have the freedom to understand his philosophy.  Along with that, I wanted to show people, through a documentary, the story of a Bangladeshi-Spanish artist whose life is dedicated to arts,” said the director. 

She continued, explaining that Novera Ahmed, Bangladesh’s first modern sculptor, spent much of her life in Paris, far away from the country she once sought to transform through art. As a result, her story remained largely unknown—her aspirations, struggles, and groundbreaking contributions in the 1950s and ’60s fading into obscurity.

“I knew I had to bring her story to life,” Ruma said. “Her artistic vision extended beyond borders, and one of her most enduring contributions—the design elements she contributed to the Shaheed Minar—now stand not only in Bangladesh but also in Paris.”

Anonna Ruma has also announced that the documentary on Novera Ahmed will be showcased at several international film festivals this year. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch it in Bengali, English, and French. Additionally, she is planning to produce a comprehensive documentary on Novera Ahmed and will be travelling to Paris again in July to further this project.

Before the screening began, Monirul Islam expressed both gratitude and surprise at having his life documented on film. In a lighthearted moment, he recalled an anecdote, “Once, I was going to buy a fridge worth Tk 85,000. Instead, I painted the cover of the fridge, and then sold that painting—first for Tk 7 lakh, then 12 lakh, and later at an auction. Someone then jokingly told me, ‘You paint me an artwork, and I’ll buy you four fridges.'”

Through the screenings of “Novera” and “Monir: Tale of Two Countries”, the event sought to celebrate and preserve the legacies of two visionary Bangladeshi artists, Novera Ahmed and Monirul Islam. It aimed to showcase their extraordinary talent—so profound that their work continues to be revered in Spain, where Monirul Islam made his mark, and in Paris, where Novera Ahmed’s artistic legacy endures.