United News of Bangladesh

Raihan Rafi’s horror film “Andhar” will not be released on its previously announced October 16 date, with the director announcing that the film will now hit cinemas on March 26, 2027. Rafi said the delay is necessary to allow more time for visual effects and post-production, as releasing the film on October 16 would have compromised the quality of the work. He announced the new release date in a video message posted on social media on Tuesday night. “‘Andhar’ is the film I have shot for the longest time in my career and made with the most care. I made it with a particular vision, and I want to show the audience something they have never seen before,” the filmmaker said. “We could have released the film on October 16, but the visual effects and post-production work would not have been up to the standard. I do not want to compromise on quality when it comes to the audience,” he said.  

Nani’s much-anticipated film The Paradise has struggled to maintain the strong momentum it showed on its opening day. After a promising start, the film’s earnings have declined over the following days, with its India net collection reaching Rs 97.10 crore after five days. Day 5 box officeAccording to Sacnilk, The Paradise earned an estimated Rs 5 crore net in India on its fifth day from 5,804 shows. With this addition, the film’s total India gross collection stands at Rs 114.85 crore, while its net collection has reached Rs 97.10 crore. The film also earned Rs 0.75 crore from overseas markets on Day 5, taking its total overseas gross collection to Rs 30 crore. As a result, The Paradise has earned Rs 144.85 crore worldwide in gross collections so far. The Paradise reviewReviewing the film for NDTV, critic Saibal Chatterjee described The Paradise as a missed opportunity, particularly for director Srikanth Odela, whose debut film Dasara had received strong attention. Chatterjee noted that Nani delivers highly intense performances in parts of the film and praised the movie for staying connected to its setting. However, he said the film’s different elements feel scattered and uneven. The critic also pointed to the film’s heavy use of graphic violence, saying the action sequences repeatedly attempt to become more extreme than those before them. About The ParadiseThe Paradise reunites Nani and director Srikanth Odela after their 2023 film Dasara. Produced by SLV Cinemas, the movie also stars Mohan Babu, Kayadu Lohar, Sonali Kulkarni and Raghav Juyal. Set in 1980s Secunderabad, the film follows Jadal, played by Nani, as he challenges social discrimination and a system that has denied basic rights to his community. The movie blends period drama with action and explores themes of inequality, resistance and social injustice. Source: NDTV

Nani-starrer The Paradise has continued its theatrical run strongly, earning a worldwide gross of Rs 98.50 crore after two days, according to reported box-office figures. Directed by Srikanth Odela, the action thriller has collected Rs 61.15 crore net in India from 17,681 shows. On Friday, Sept. 25, the film earned Rs 17.60 crore gross in India, while its net collection stood at Rs 14.90 crore. It recorded 7,049 shows on its second day with an overall theatre occupancy of 32.8%. With the Day 2 earnings, The Paradise has reached Rs 72.50 crore in gross collections in India. Its worldwide gross currently stands at Rs 98.50 crore. Nani reacts to audience response Nani has also responded to the reactions to the film, acknowledging both praise and criticism from viewers and reviewers. In a post on X, the actor said he had seen the audience's responses and appreciated both their support and criticism. "I have seen all your reactions and responses. I've received all your love and equally enjoyed your hilarious trolls. I'm heartwarmed by the way the audience have owned the film, and also learnt from the flaws that critics and reviewers have pointed out," Nani wrote. The Paradise stars Nani alongside Mohan Babu, Sonali Kulkarni, Kayadu Lohar, Raghav Juyal, Sampoornesh Babu and Easwari Rao. Keerthy Suresh makes a cameo appearance in the film. The movie marks Nani's latest release following Hit 3. Source: NDTV

Star Cineplex is set to bring two Hollywood releases to Bangladeshi screens on Friday, September 25, with Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ returning to cinemas alongside Jason Statham-starrer action thriller ‘Mutiny’. ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ brings back the 2019 blockbuster in a special version featuring around four minutes of new footage, a new introduction and an additional ending. The extended version has a runtime of 185 minutes. The re-release comes ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, scheduled for release in December, giving Marvel fans an opportunity to revisit the events of ‘Endgame’ while potentially picking up new connections to the MCU’s next chapter. The original film marked the conclusion of a major phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and featured several defining moments, including Tony Stark’s sacrifice, Natasha Romanoff’s death, Steve Rogers’ emotional farewell and Captain America wielding Mjolnir. The additional footage has become a major point of curiosity for fans, particularly because of its possible connection with ‘Doomsday’. The trailer for ‘Endgame Encore’ reportedly crossed 77 million views within its first 24 hours, reflecting strong global interest in the special theatrical release. Marvel has also prepared a list of 15 films and series for audiences looking to revisit key stories before watching ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Meanwhile, ‘Mutiny’ stars Jason Statham as Cole Reed, a former New York police officer and special forces operative who later works as a private security professional. Directed by Jean-François Richet, the action thriller follows Reed after his employer, a wealthy industrialist, is murdered in front of him. Reed is framed for the killing and forced to go on the run in search of the real culprit. His investigation takes him aboard a cargo ship, where he discovers that the murder is part of a wider international conspiracy. Surrounded by mercenaries and criminals and cut off from outside help, Reed must rely on his training and experience to survive. Annabelle Wallis, Roland Møller, Adrian Lester, Jason Wong and Arnas Fedaravičius also star in the film. Set largely aboard the cargo vessel, ‘Mutiny’ combines hand-to-hand combat, gunfights, chases and explosions with a fast-paced thriller narrative. Both films will open at Star Cineplex in Bangladesh on Sep 25.

Actress Keerthy Suresh has reunited with her Dasara co-stars for a special dance number in Nani's upcoming film The Paradise. Keerthy, who shares a close friendship with Nani, posted several behind-the-scenes photos from the song ahead of the film's release. Sharing a glimpse of her chemistry with Nani, she wrote, “Just a few hours to get into the world of The Paradise!” She also congratulated Nani and director Srikanth Odela for their work on the film. “Wishing only the best to my buddies @nameisnani and @srikanthodela__ for all the hard work you guys have put in to bring Jadal's world to the audience,” she wrote. Keerthy said she was happy to work with the Dasara team again. “Super glad to have had the chance to reunite with my Dasara family for this special one,” she added. Keerthy and Nani have previously worked together in the 2017 Telugu film Nenu Local and the 2023 film Dasara. Dasara is a Telugu action drama directed by Odela and produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri. The film features Nani, Dheekshith Shetty, Keerthy Suresh, Shine Tom Chacko, Samuthirakani, P. Sai Kumar and Shamna Kasim in key roles. Source: NDTV

Hanuman Ansh, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, has continued its strong run at the box office, showing little sign of slowing down even 46 days after its release. The film, which opened with a collection of Rs 10 lakh, has earned Rs 276 crore in net collections in India during its first 46 days. Breaking down the numbers According to Sacnilk, Hanuman Ansh earned a net Rs 4.15 crore on Day 46 from 7,629 shows. With this, the film's total gross collection in India has reached Rs 325.95 crore, while its net collection stands at Rs 276.03 crore. The film also earned Rs 0.50 crore overseas on Day 46, taking its total overseas gross collection to Rs 26.50 crore. As a result, Hanuman Ansh has now recorded a worldwide gross collection of Rs 352.45 crore. Box office performance in the initial days Sacnilk data shows that the film earned Rs 1.08 crore during its first week. Its second-week collection was only Rs 40 lakh, leaving the film with a total of Rs 1.48 crore after 14 days. The film's fortunes then changed significantly. It earned Rs 10.4 crore in its third week, with Day 17 alone contributing Rs 2.2 crore and Day 19 adding another Rs 2.35 crore. The fourth week saw an even sharper rise in collections. The film earned Rs 6.25 crore on Day 22, followed by Rs 9.25 crore on Day 23 and Rs 12.75 crore on Day 24. Notably, Hanuman Ansh earned more on Day 24 alone than it had collected during its entire first two weeks combined. #From NDTV

Daisy Edgar-Jones says she identifies strongly with Elinor Dashwood, the sensible elder sister she plays in the latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, particularly when it comes to matters of the heart. “I lead a lot with my head and try and push aside, bury my emotion,” Edgar-Jones told the BBC, describing herself as more like Elinor than her younger and more romantic sister Marianne. However, she said one of the pleasures of the film is watching Elinor discover and embrace a more passionate side of herself. “And I feel like I learnt to do that too,” the 28-year-old actress said. Best known for her breakout role opposite Paul Mescal in the hit series Normal People, Edgar-Jones now leads the latest screen adaptation of Austen’s classic novel. Directed by Georgia Oakley, the film follows the Dashwood sisters as they deal with love, loss and social expectations after their father’s death. Unlike some modern adaptations, the new film remains firmly rooted in the period in which Austen wrote. Edgar-Jones said she admired the film’s traditional setting but felt its filmmaking brought a fresh quality to the story. She stars alongside Esmé Creed-Miles, 26, who plays Marianne. The actresses had previously worked together as teenagers on the 2018 film Pond Life, which helped them develop a natural on-screen sisterly bond. Creed-Miles said they had fun working together on the earlier film, recalling that they often had sleepovers and watched Love Island. Edgar-Jones said the theme of sisterhood has remained particularly meaningful to her, despite being an only child. “I’ve heard a lot of people say that after watching the film, it either makes them want a sister or to ring up their sister and say, ‘Hey, I love you,’ and I think that’s really special,” she said. Sense and Sensibility has been adapted for the screen several times, including the acclaimed 1995 film starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Edgar-Jones said she loves that version but believes Austen’s stories continue to offer new possibilities. “She has an incredible way of articulating the female experience,” she said, pointing to Austen’s writing about love, romance, family relationships and social dynamics. Edgar-Jones also believes Austen’s themes remain relevant to younger audiences. She noted that emotions surrounding love, heartbreak and first relationships have changed little in 200 years. “We still have the same human heart as we did 200 years ago,” she said. Creed-Miles agreed, saying the characters could help viewers feel less alone in experiences they are going through. Edgar-Jones also addressed reports that Mescal could be considered for the role of James Bond. While she did not confirm whether he was in the running, she praised her former co-star. “I don’t know, but I think there’s nothing Paul can’t do,” she said.Check the copy for factual consistencyTighten the story to standard wire length Source: BBC

Director Atlee's upcoming sci-fi action drama Raaka, starring Allu Arjun and featuring Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna, has generated fresh excitement with a cryptic promotional teaser released by the makers. The teaser revealed little about the film but carried the message, "Get ready to witness a global triumph." Another tagline read, "Beyond what seemed possible. We dared to imagine. We dared to achieve. Raaka: A global triumph." The makers have so far kept details about the film's story, shooting locations and scale of production under wraps, adding to the anticipation surrounding the project. About RaakaAllu Arjun is reportedly set to play four different roles in Raaka — a grandfather, a father and two sons, according to reports. There is also speculation that the film may explore the idea of two parallel universes. However, the filmmakers have not officially confirmed these details. The cast also includes Janhvi Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur in key roles, alongside Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna. Produced by Sun Pictures, Raaka is described as a sci-fi action drama. The film marks the first collaboration between Allu Arjun and Atlee. NDTV

Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor says her police character in Meghna Gulzar's upcoming film ‘Daayra’ challenges the usual stereotypes associated with women police officers. Kapoor, who is returning to the big screen after a two-year break with ‘Daayra’, plays DCP Ajooni Kohli in the police procedural drama, which also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran. Women police officers in films are often portrayed through a familiar stereotype — with masculine mannerisms, a tough walk and an image of someone who carries a gun and takes part in action scenes. Kapoor said ‘Daayra’ takes a different approach to the portrayal of a female police officer. "There is this stereotypical format kind of a version that we have that she is butch, she slightly has that particular walk, she's slightly manly, gun uthake action karti hai (she picks up a gun to do action)," Kapoor said in response to an NDTV question about how portrayals of police officers have changed over time. She said Gulzar was clear from the beginning that she wanted a woman police officer to be at the center of the story. Inspired by several real-life incidents from across India, ‘Daayra’ follows two contrasting approaches to justice through Kapoor's DCP Ajooni Kohli and Sukumaran's DCP Raman Kumar. The story revolves around a gang rape and the subsequent murder of the victim. Kapoor said the sensitive nature of the subject influenced Gulzar's decision to make a woman police officer one of the film's central characters. "In this film, because of the sensitivity of the subject, Meghna was clear that she wanted a woman cop. Somebody who is a woman, is feminine, who puts lipstick, but at the same time is quite stern but does everything with a smile," she said. "Ajooni walks the straight rope but she does not pick up a gun and does her action chops. That's not her character as such," Kapoor added. Gulzar, whose previous directorial film was the 2023 biographical drama ‘Sam Bahadur’, has developed a body of work that often examines institutions, accountability and the human impact of difficult events. Her films ‘Talvar’, based on the 2008 Aarushi Talwar case, and ‘Chhapaak’, based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, also dealt with crime, justice and their wider social consequences. Asked whether ‘Daayra’ forms part of a similar trilogy, Gulzar said the connection was coincidental. "It's not by design. The attraction is for the story, what happens with the human quotient in it is more important for me," she said. "The overriding arches of law, justice, crime, and punishment are coincidentally similar in the film. For me, the most crucial part of the story is the human quotient," the filmmaker added. Written by Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Gulzar, ‘Daayra’ is backed by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios. The film is scheduled to hit theaters Friday, where it will compete at the box office with Kunal Kemmu's ‘Vibe’. Source: NDTV

Bangladeshi feature film 'Jaya Aar Sharmin' and documentary 'Mamun: In Praise of Shadows' have won awards at the 5th World Film Festival Kolkata 2026, which concluded Sunday at Nandan in Kolkata, India. Directed by Piplu R Khan, 'Jaya Aar Sharmin' received the Bimal Roy Golden Award for Best Feature Film, while Makbul Chowdhury’s 'Mamun: In Praise of Shadows' received a Jury Mention in the documentary section. Organised by the Eastern Region of the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI), the six-day festival featured 38 films, including 19 feature films in competition from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Spain, Germany, Costa Rica, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela and Uzbekistan. Bangladesh was represented in the feature-film competition by Jaya Aar Sharmin and Nurul Alam Atique’s 'Manusher Bagan'. 'Mamun: In Praise of Shadows' was selected for the documentary section. The competition jury comprised Professor Ujjal Chakraborty, Dr Rita Dutta and Dr Pradeep Kenchanuru. The closing ceremony and awards presentation were held at Nandan-III on Sunday.  Actor Jaya Ahsan, filmmaker Sudeshna Roy and Dr Sisir Sahana, professor at Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, attended the ceremony as guests of honour. Other filmmakers, artists and industry professionals present included director Boban Govindan, producer M Rahman Lenin, actors Orchita Sporshia and Manoj Pramanik, cinematographer Joaher Musavvir Jyoti and music director Debojyoti Mishra. Producer Abu Shahed Emon expressed pride over 'Jaya Aar Sharmin’s international recognition, saying its reception among critics and cinema audiences marked an encouraging moment for Bangladeshi cinema. Directed and co-written by Piplu R Khan, with Nusrat Islam Maati as co-writer, 'Jaya Aar Sharmin' is an 86-minute psychological drama set during the pandemic lockdown. The film explores the changing relationship and shifting power dynamics between an actress, played by Jaya Ahsan, and her domestic aide Sharmin, portrayed by theatre actor Mohsina Akhter. Tanjim Saiyara Totini appears in a guest role. The film was jointly produced by Abu Shahed Emon of Golpo Rajjo Films, Jaya Ahsan of C Te Cinema and Piplu R Khan of Applebox Films. Meanwhile, 'Mamun: In Praise of Shadows' centres on the life and work of renowned Ekushey Padak-winning Bangladeshi photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, who pioneered artistic portrait photography in the country during the 1970s. Festival Director Premendra Majumder said the programme was selected through a competitive curation process involving numerous international submissions.