The much-anticipated police action thriller film ‘Shaan’ was all set to hit the theatres on January 7, marking it as the very first film of the New Year.

However, as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is slowly but surely affecting lives in Bangladesh, 'Shaan's theatrical release got postponed on Wednesday.

Speaking of the film, silver screen’s newest sensation Siam Ahmed told UNB that it showcases a very authentic Bangladeshi story about the saga of real people.

“The title character of the film is a hundred per cent inspired by real human beings. I have been saying this again and again because our team has uniquely developed an authentic Bangladeshi storyline for our moviegoers, who won’t have to think that this is an unrealistic hero and unbelievable story,” Siam said at a press meet on Wednesday night in the capital.

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The press conference was also joined by other major cast members of the film including Puja Cherry, Misha Sawdagor, Nader Khan, director M Raahim, producer M Atiqur Rahman and more, alongside the writer of the story and the Superintendent of Police Azad Khan, who joined the event virtually due to his official duties.

Regarding the high-voltage film, Puja Cherry said, "I think 'Shaan' will remain as one of the best movies of my life. This is the one film for which I have been waiting for almost three years. I urge our audiences to see the movie with family and friends, because it is that kind of a film you would love to see together in the theatres.”

Misha Sawdagor, who turned 56 yesterday, came to the event despite suffering from a ligament injury that he had sustained recently during a shooting.

Praising the couple of Siam-Puja and the effort of director Raahim, he said, "There is no movie in the last 15 years that was supposed to run in the theatres, but did not run. Our audiences love to see a good story, with entertaining elements.

‘Shaan’ is the movie surrounding these talented and versatile young souls, that has everything we all have been waiting for during this pandemic.”

The action-packed trailer of the film was launched at the TSC area on the Dhaka University campus on December 10, which was unique considering the regularities in the film industry in the country. Garnered almost one million views to the date, the trailer depicts a magnificent anti-human trafficking operation, which the story's creator, Azad Khan, was a part of.

“I wanted to greet all of you in person and talk about our film. However, due to my official responsibilities regarding the ongoing nationwide UP elections, I had to join virtually. This film is a combined effort of three long years, and I believe the outcome will satisfy our audiences as we really tried to craft a good Bangla cinema for our moviegoers,” Azad Khan  said at the event.

Regarding the three-year journey behind this project, M Raahim, director of the film, said: “I had to stay about nine months in Kolkata due to the post-production of the film during the lockdown restrictions of the ongoing pandemic. I had been the assistant director of young and acclaimed filmmaker Raihan Rafi, but considering my debut directorial venture I was not sure how we all can cooperate and make the film as good as we wanted. The film has received an uncut certificate from the censor board, and the amazing cast and crew truly created a remarkable film which will satisfy the cravings of our film lovers.”

Siam Ahmed, alongside his ‘Poramon 2’ and ‘Dohon’ co-actress Puja Cherry and ‘Shaan’s director M Raahim, recently took part in a unique postering campaign in the city’s FDC and Moghbazar area where they were seen gluing the posters on the walls. Talking about this rare promotional campaign activity, Siam told UNB that he considers it as a part of their teamwork. “I consider this nothing but absolutely a team effort. The people behind the postering, miking and other promotional activities - I strongly consider that they are my people, and we are no different. I hope this will set an example on how team works should be and could be done in the industry," Siam told UNB. 

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Bollywood's noted action director Abbas Ali Mughal orchestrated the action sequences of ‘Shaan’ whereas the dialogues are co-written by Azad Khan and renowned Bangladeshi thriller writer Nazim Ud Daula.

The ensemble cast of 'Shaan’ also features Champa and Aruna Biswas who are collaborating after 22 years in this film, and high-voltage movie also features popular actor Taskeen Rahman and veteran actor Syed Hasan Imam, among others.

"A man who comes from a middle-class Bangladeshi family, completes his study in the country and joins the forces to serve his nation and takes part in a breathtaking mission - these are perfectly incorporated and presented in our 'Shaan', and I am really excited to welcome you all on January 7th onwards in the theatres, to witness this high-voltage action-packed film, for which we all have really tried our best, together," Siam concluded.