Hasina: A Daughter's Tale wins over hearts in Nigeria

"Hasina: A Daughter's Tale" continues to win over audiences across the world with its true stranger-than-fiction storyline, Nigeria being the latest in line.

The documentary recreating the unique story of tragedy and hope after the murderous 1975 Bangladesh coup was screened at the 12th edition of the International Zuma Festival in Abuja (Nigeria) on Thursday.

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A large crowd including Nigerian dignitaries and foreign diplomats watched and applauded, many visibly moved by how a housewife (Sheikh Hasina) battles arduous challenges following the massacre of almost her entire family to script an amazing turnaround for not only her father's party but also launch the country on the road to economic growth, reads a press release.

In a way, Nigeria has had its share of coups and assassinations, like Bangladesh and many other Third World countries in the post-colonial world.

Hence, "Hasina: A Daughter's Tale" is easy to relate to but what many in the audience found inspiring  was the story of the turnaround and Hasina's continuous struggle to reclaim her space, it read.

It is a story of struggle, sacrifice, and passion for service, said Dr Chidia Maduekwe, CEO/Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been continuing her father's legacy and passing it onto the next generations, he added.

Echoing his tone, Steve Eboh, renowned Nigerian Film Director and Film Producer, maintained that the docudrama was a combination of emotion, picture, sound, perfect production, and a wonderful story.

Earlier, the docudrama, directed by Piplu Khan and produced by CRI Trustees Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Nasrul Hamid, was screened at the 51st International Film Festival of India, organized in Goa. It also touched the audience at the Third Bangladesh Film Festival in Kolkata, said the release.

The Daughter's Tale dramatically starts with an ominous phone call that Hasina, now the prime minister, received in Germany, telling her about the massacre of her entire family including her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by some disgruntled army officers.

Through the first-person narrative of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, who survived because they were away in Europe, the visual documented lesser-known aspects of their struggle, instead of limiting it to the official version of the historic events.