Two films on Pritilata Waddedar, who embraced martyrdom as first Bengali female revolutionary nationalist in the anti-British movement in 1932, are in the pipeline.

Popular actresses Nusrat Imrose Tisha and Porimoni will respectively portray the character of Pritilata in the films namely 'Bhalobasa Pritilata' and 'Pritilata'.

The formal declaration (mahurat) of Bhalobasa Pritilata, an adaptation of fiction writer Selina Hossain's novel with the same title, was held on September 17 marking the 88th death anniversary of Pritilata Waddedar. The government grant-winning film will be directed by Pradip Ghosh.

The programme was held at the auditorium of department of films and publications where information minister Hasan Mahmud was present as the chief guest. Vice chancellor of Chittagong University Professor Shireen Akhter was present as special guest at the event, which was presided over by Selina Hossain.

Besides, director general of department of mass communication Akhtar Hossain, director general of department of films and publications SM Golam Kibria, Bangladesh Film Censor Board vice chairman Jasim Uddin, producer and director of the film Pradip Ghosh and actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha, among others, were present at the programme.

Born to Jagadbandhu Waddedar and Pratibhamayi Devi in Chittagong (presently, in Bangladesh) on 5th May 1911, one of their six children, from an early age, Pritilata was a meritorious student. Having grown up hearing about Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi and other brave women who had given up their lives for the country, Pritilata passed out from Dr. Khastagir Government Girl's School in Chittagong in 1928 and enrolled in Eden College in Dhaka in 1929.

When she was a student of class VIII, she witnessed Masterda Surya Sen being imprisoned by the British Police on the charge of looting Railway money. On witnessing the oppression unleashed by the British Police on the revolutionary activists, her patriotic spirit rose up. Gradually she started collecting books on revolutionary philosophy and biographies of great revolutionary leaders.

As a student in Eden College, she joined and partook in various social activities after having joined the group, "Stree Sangha" under Leela Nag. She joined the Sangha under the banner of 'Dipali Sangha' which was a secret revolutionary group comprising of women. She also stood first in the intermediate Board exam that year. Arts and literature being her favorite subjects, Pritilata went to Calcutta to pursue higher studies from Bethune College and after two years, graduated in Philosophy with a distinction as well. However, her degree was withheld by the British in the administration of Calcutta University along with fellow revolutionary, Bina Das.

After completing her education, Pritilata returned to Chittagong where she took up the post of a headmistress at a local girls' school called Nandankaran Aparnacharan School.