NAME: SAYMA AKTER

ID : 191002103

Postmodernism in Aha! movie

The word Post-modernism refers to a reaction or response against Modernism in the late
twentieth century. As a result, postmodernism can only be fully comprehended in the context of
Modernism. Postmodernism, at its core, denies or rejects what Modernism beliefs. While
postmodernism seems very much like modernism in many ways but differs from modernism in
its attitude toward a lot of these trends. Modernism, for example, tends to present a fragmented
view of human subjectivity and history, but presents that fragmentation as something tragic,
something to be lamented and mourned as a loss. Postmodernism, in contrast, doesn't lament the
idea of fragmentation, provisionally, or incoherence, but rather celebrates that. However,
Postmodernism has influenced many fields including literature, architecture, arts, music, films
etc. Hence this assignment focuses on the film Aha! written by Enamul Karim Nirjhar with a
special reference to the post-modernist features in them. Enamul Karim Nirjhar gives
prominence to techniques such as metafiction, late capitalism, fragmentation, intertextuality.
Furthermore, the assignment would venture into exploration of the film so as to understand and
analyze the aspects of postmodern literature in it.

In the film Aha! by Enamul Karim Nirjhar, there are various uses of elements of postmodernism.
One of the elements is intertextuality, where writers and filmmakers acknowledges previous
literary works with another literary work. In other words, it is all about the connections between
texts, including the various ways in which one text refers another text. The film opens with Mr
Mallik listening to a classic sangeet “it’s the freedom, not the food that makes you free for
good…Hindu and Muslim to have equal rights” which is taken from other text and used in the
film for entertainment purpose and also drawing the attention of the audience. In addition, there
were many historical references made in the movie which is also an example of intertextuality.
For instance, when Ruba goes out with Kislu and Kislu tells her about the “Sepoy mutiny in
1857” and about “Lalbag Fort” while they were strolling on the lane of the historic architectures
of Bangladesh. Kislu also used narrated Ruba about the Buriganga River “A river without a
childhood, without adolescence, without a youth” which exemplifies intertextuality.

Another element of Postmodernism is seen in the film Aha! is metafiction. Metafiction is the act
of writing about writing or making readers aware of the fictional nature of the very fiction they
are reading or watching. The film was not only narrated by the characters but also the song
Lukochori Lukochori Golpo. The story itself was playing hide and seek with the spectators. The
song one way was narrating the story and explaining the films underlined meaning.

The next feature that can be seen in the film is fragmentation. This is one of the most important
elements seen in the movie. The story is not complete in itself instead it is fragmented. In the
film you can see a relationship that is not mended (Ruba and her husband), Soleman constant
fights with the local goons is unresolved . The characteristic is important because postmodernism
film do not have a message in particular rather different audience can have their own message or
interpretations by themselves, likewise the Aha! movie has many fragmented segments which is
left upon the audiences to interpret. Moreover, in a Postmodernism film Social hierarchies,
statuses and prestige are represented truthfully to how they are today, for example, Prestige was
very important to Mr Mallik therefore he had Kislu killed when he sees a developing relationship
between her daughter and Kislu , having said that, Mr Mallik even threw a grand party for his
grandson. From this scene we can understand for Mr Mallik status and prestige was very
important. The film was irrational, chaotic, fragmented and unscientific. It didn’t have a meaning
unless that meaning is explored through the individual of which the film is the subject. The film
didn’t attempt to theorize, instead its ideas were concrete, while at the same time, being arcane.

The next element found in the movie was late capitalism which describes that the world has
been so taken over by the values of capitalist acquisition that alternatives no longer exist.
Mr. Mallik lives in a house about a hundred years old, at the old part of Dhaka city. Real estate
companies frequent around his house at Old Dhaka as they construct multiple apartments. Mr.
Malik is also provided with an offer, to have his house demolished and the companies would
construct an apartment in its place. This brings Mr. Malik to a point of dilemma. Eventually he
gives away his bungalow in order to secure the future of his daughter and grandson.

Lastly, unpredictability is the technique seen in the post-modernist film of Aha!. The film ending
was unpredictable, as Mr. Malik comes to know about the relation between Ruba and Kislu, he
plans on breaking them up and rescuing his daughter. Stories entangle when Kislu is found
murdered. The film was so unpredictable that a character so naïve like Mr Malik could plot such
a treacherous plan.

In conclusion, Aha! is a Postmodernism film as it contains the elements or characteristics of

Postmodernism. Postmodern films do not present the ideal world instead they project the real
world and the problems in different ways it is like pushing back and forth inside its own story
with a lot of abstract ideas and senses. Aha! as the title suggests, which loosely translates What
a pity! Life is miserable and full of pity and one can only wonder and live with it with no
possible solution.