‘Silence of the Looms’ Weaves Forgotten Muslin History at Busan’s Asian Project Market

Busan’s Asian Project Market will showcase “Silence of the Looms,” a period drama from Bangladeshi director Mirza Shabnam Ferdousi. Produced by Rajib Mohajan alongside Sensemakers and Crack Platoon, with Studio Forty-Five Hundred LLC leading the project, the film revisits the erased history of muslin weaving under British colonial rule and honors the resilience of the artisans whose craft once captivated the world.

Ferdousi said her journey with the story began more than a decade ago, when she first encountered writer Aditi Falguni’s short story about muslin weavers. Later, reading researcher Saiful Islam’s book on the fabric’s legacy deepened her commitment. “The myths and memories of muslin have always surrounded me — almost as if they are part of my DNA,” she says. “The story of the finger-cut weavers — whether mutilated by the British or cutting their own thumbs in protest — moves me profoundly. Through ‘Silence of the Looms,…