The movement and protest to get mass people’s rights have come up in various films. Here are some films that challenge institutions and speak up against injustice.

Jibon Thekey Neya (1970): The film is a political satire of Bangladesh under the rule of Pakistan metaphorically, where an autocratic woman in one family symbolises the political dictatorship of Ayub Khan in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) during the late 1960s.

“Jibon Thekey Neya” portrays the struggles and aspirations of the common people in the face of oppression and injustice. The film addresses themes such as poverty, political corruption, political exploitation, and the power of unity.

Directed by Zahir Raihan, the film stars Anwar Hossain, Rosy Afsari, Rajjak, Shuchanda, Amjad Hossain, Khan Ataur Rahman and Rawshan Jamil.

Bikkhov (1994): Salman Shah, Shabnur, Bulbul Ahmed, Sharmili Ahmed-starrer 1994 film Bikkhov is directed by Mohammad Hannan.

Due to the conspiracy of the political counterpart, a student politician Asad gets killed in a mob. His political counterpart Mahmud and Sharafat get the benefit of this. Sharafat is betrayed by Mahmud and gets arrested. After getting released from jail, Sharafat runs a newspaper and publishes evil influence of Mahmud in student politics. He also supports an elected vice president of a college Anik to uncover the truth about Mahmud that creates uproar in the college campus and ends with several deaths.

Fagun Haway (2019): Fagun Haway is a Bangladeshi historical drama film based on the novel “Bou Kotha Kou” by Tito Rahman. Directed by Tauquir Ahmed, this movie is based on the Bengali language movement during 1952 in East Pakistan. The film stars Siam Ahmed, Nusrat Imrose Tisha and Yashpal Sharma in lead roles.

In the film, a West Pakistani police officer Jamshed Ali Khan arrives at Khulna’s Chandranagar Police Station. The same day a third-year Dhaka University student Nasir and a first-year Dhaka Medical College student Dipti come to their locality to spend their vacation. They join a local theatre group to perform in a stage play. Suddenly crazy officer-in-charge Jamshed announces that all the people of Chandranagar will have to learn Urdu and speak in Urdu. The rest of the film revolves around the story that how spirited Nasir, Dipti and their fellow activists protest Jamshed’s decision and stand for establishing the honour of their mother tongue.

Bikkhov (2022): The film is based on the 2018 student’s protests demanding road safety in Bangladesh that were held from 29 July to 8 August. Starring Amit Hasan, Sadek Bachchu, Shanto Khan, Srabanti Chatterjee, the film is directed by Shamim Ahamed Roni.

Chittagong (2012, Hindi): Based on the real historical event of the Chittagong armoury raid in 1930 British occupied India, it tells the story of the student rebels fighting for the national cause. It stars Manoj Bajpayee as the heroic young revolutionary Surya Sen. Masterdaa, as he was fondly called, leads a group of young freedom fighters to the armed uprising. Chittagong was Bedabrata Pain’s directorial debut, and he won the National Film Award for the same.

Do the Right Thing (1989, English): A comedy drama set in Brooklyn, “Do the Right Thing” is an unapologetic rendition of racial tensions in America. The film delves into the issue of police brutality, an injustice still relevant in the US and all over the world today. With vibrancy, humour, and compassion, director Spike Lee explores the complexities of racism and the ensuing violence from that hatred.

The Strawberry Statement (1970, English): A fictionalised adaptation of the book ‘The Strawberry Statement: Notes of a College Revolutionary’ by James S Kunen, the film is set against the Columbia University protests of 1968. An apolitical student gets involved in campus protests, leading to a series of events which make him question his stance on political issues around him. Directed by Stuart Hagmann, the film won the Cannes Film Festival’s Jury Prize.

Jana Gana Mana (2022, Malayalam): This crime thriller opens with the discovery of the dead body of a professor which spurs student protests and subsequent police brutality. With rising social unrest, ACP Sajjan Kumar is assigned to investigate the barbaric crime and find the perpetrators. ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is an engaging watch, tackling issues like corruption and injustice in the Indian context.  Director Dijo Jose Antony sprinkles obtuse references to real-life incidents like the 2016 Rohit Vemula suicide and the 2019 Hyderabad gang rape case, making it a powerful voice of dissent.