When the dream is big, age or time can’t contain it. The career graph of actor Nasir Uddin Khan is a testament to this. Although Nasir became popular with the web series ‘Mohanagar’, he has been acting for more than two decades. Nasir started acting in 1995, through joining the Chattogram-based drama group Teerjok. Soon, acting became his main focus instead of studies or jobs. Read VR installation begins at Drik Studio reimagining future of libraries Meanwhile, Nasir started a family and was soon blessed with two children. However, passion ruled over practicality and Nasir took the bold decision of quitting his job and focus solely on acting. Read: Distributors claim “Hawa” among top 30 US box office hits His massive success justifies that decision. While talking to UNB, Nasir said that when he first came to Dhaka in 2016, he had no idea what would happen next. “People close to me used to say that I should get a job for the sake of paying my bills. But I came to Dhaka to be an actor, nothing else. Most people who knew me thought I was making a big mistake. But I was confident and now I know that my decision was right,” said Nasir. Although the showbiz industry had to go through a tough time during the Covid-19 pandemic, the OTT platforms started to gain popularity at the same time. Bangladesh was no exception. Read When Bollywood actor Padmini Kolhapure kissed King Charles A wind of change has taken over the local entertainment industry since the start of web series production. While these web series have offered the audience the expertise of multiple directors, they have also turned many actors into stars overnight. “The OTT platforms met the needs of the audience at a time when the showbiz industry was going through a crisis. My career also took a turn after acting in a web series, thanks to the OTT platforms,” said Nasir. Nasir has recently become the talk of the town after the release of the film ‘Hawa’. Many are saying that the film is the turning point of Nasir’s acting career. But the actor thinks otherwise. Read Green University English Club stages “Macbeth” “Life doesn’t follow a straight line. We have to live with both the good and bad. I view my career this way. There will be many highs and many lows in my acting career. Hawa will definitely help my career grow, but I don’t think this will be the turning point,” added Nasir. Currently, Nasir Uddin Khan is busy with Hawa’s publicity and shooting for some new films. The actor is working on two new films and some new web series.

After conquering hearts in Bangladesh, Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s film “Hawa” is now thriving in the United States, placing among top 30 films in US box office, the film’s distributors say. On September 2, the film premiered in 73 theaters in US and 13 in Canada. This is the first time a Bangladeshi movie has ranked in the top 30 in US box office, according to Md Waliullah Sajib, President of Swapna Scarecrow Bangladesh, which is the distributor of the film in North America. Read: ‘Aat Ta Baje Deri Korish Na’: hidden gem of ‘Hawa’ soundtrack released According to Swapna Scarecrow Bangladesh, the gross box office collection of "Hawa" is $213,461 till now, a combined collection in Canada and USA. A total of 25,444 people (9,930 in Canada and 15,514 in US) have seen “Hawa”, a record for a Bangladeshi film. “Hawa” is the second Chanchal Chowdhury-starring movie that has been commercially successful in North America. The 2018 film “Debi”, starring Chanchal and Jaya Ahsan, secured a lifetime box office collection of $125,414. With its collection of $127,149 in the US market and $86,312 in Canada, “Hawa” broke the record in just three days. Read:Wind of 'Hawa' blows full “We observed a whirlwind by 'Hawa' in the US box office, thanks to the enthusiasm of the Bangladeshi audience in Canada and the United States. We had no idea the response would be as intense as it was,” according to Sajib. Following a “bede” (gypsy) woman who is rescued and sheltered on a fishing boat that has become stranded in the middle of the sea while narrating a story in the style of magic realism, the film features an ensemble cast including Chanchal Chowdhury, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Islam Raaz, Sumon Anwar, Nasir Uddin Khan, and Sohel Mondal in the lead roles. The screenplay was written by Sukarna Sahed Dhiman, Zahin Faruq Amin, and Sumon, while Sumon wrote the story and dialogue for the movie. Read Environment Ministry to withdraw case against Hawa upon 'agreement' “Hawa” has been produced by Sun Music and Motion Pictures. Jazz Multimedia is the distributor of the film in Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will take the initiative to withdraw a case filed against the movie 'Hawa’ for allegedly violating Wildlife Conservation and Security Act of 2012. Steps will be taken to withdraw the case filed by the Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit under the ministry, upon the appeal made by the Hawa team confessing they were unaware of the provisions of the act, it said in a press release on Sunday. The Director of Hawa Mejbaur Rahman Sumon applied to the Wildlife Crime Control Unit. The wildlife crime control unit submitted it to Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court to withdraw the case on Sunday. Also read: Legal notice seeks complete ban on screening Hawa As the case is compoundable according to section 43 of Wildlife Conservation and Security Act, 2012, and section 248 of CrpC, the appeal was submitted. The court has heard the appeal and fixed the next hearing to pronounce a verdict in this regard. On August 17, four officers of the Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit filed a case after seeing the movie released on July 29. Also read: Wind of 'Hawa' blows full On August 22, a legal notice was served to ban screenings of the film Hawa, for violating the Wildlife Conservation and Security Act. The notice demanded the license of the film be revoked, and to ban its screening worldwide, not just locally. Besides, it said the Censor Board should be reconstituted to include members of the Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit, lawyers and environmentalists. Read Iranian director reveals everything Ananta Jalil has been saying about their film In addition, before giving the Censor Board's clearance to any movie in the future, it must be ensured that a film does not violate any section of the Wildlife Conservation and Safety Act-2012. According to the notice, in the movie, a bird named Shalik is seen kept captive inside a cage on a trawler. At one point the bird is killed and eaten. Besides, there are several scenes in the movie which are clear violations of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, 2012. Read Ananta Jalil responses to 'Din: The Day' director's allegations As a result, people will be encouraged to hunt, cage and kill birds. No permission was taken from the Forest Department to promote this scene, added the notice. The entire episode however drew ridicule from some quarters, and artists in particular. Read 'Golpo Bolar Swadhinata Chai': Artists place five-point demands

The artists have taken a swipe against the recent "attacks" on films such as "Hawa" and "Saturday Afternoon." At the press conference "Golpo Bolar Swadhinata Chai" at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital Thursday, they questioned the lawsuit for allegedly violating wildlife conservation laws by the Forest Department's Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit against “Hawa” Director Mejbaur Rahman Sumon and demanding a proper explanation for why Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s much-anticipated film "Saturday afternoon" is stuck at the Bangladesh Film Censor Board. The artists put forward a five-point demand. A large number of artists joined the press conference, uniquely designed with barbed wire-fenced tables, organized by the country's entertainment industry's producers, artists, and associates. They demanded freedom of expression for Bangladeshi entertainment content, as well as justice for the two films - "Saturday Afternoon" and "Hawa." Popular artists and content makers, including Nasir Uddin Yousuff, Jaya Ahsan, Chanchal Chowdhury, Morshedul Islam, Tariq Anam Khan, Afsana Mimi, Shampa Reza, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Zahid Hasan, Nurul Alam Atique, Masum Reza, Kamar Ahmad Simon, Piplu R Khan, Gias Uddin Selim, Gousul Alam Shaon, Iresh Zaker, Afran Nisho, Azmeri Haque Badhan, Zakia Bari Momo, Nazifa Tushi, and singer Shibu Kumer Shill among others, joined the press conference on Thursday. The five demands are immediate withdrawal of the case against "Hawa" under wildlife conservation laws, a well-justified explanation from the censor board on why "Saturday Afternoon" is not cleared by the censor board and not getting a clearance certificate, the abolishment of the censor board alongside the implementation of an updated and inclusive film certification law with the participation and consultation of all stakeholders, establishment of an updated and inclusive OTT policy with the participation and consultation of all stakeholders and assurance of prior notice before filing any case related to film or content, which must be discussed with the relevant authority. Expressing concerns against the ongoing situations, artists and content makers opined that visual arts, such as film, cannot be created with passion and perfection if such barriers are put forward. “Saturday Afternoon” Director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said, “It’s been three years, yet I did not receive any logical explanation on why “Saturday Afternoon” is not cleared by the censor board. We have appealed against the decision from time to time, yet the situation is not resolved and our film did not get the censor certificate.” “Films are like the headlights of society, and society cannot move forward nor progress if the headlights are forcefully turned off. We sincerely demand the release of our film from the censor board,” Farooki added. Echoing the same, Jaya Ahsan said, “We don’t understand why this film is not cleared for this long. Didn't the Holey Artisan event take place in reality? A novel has been published on the incident, why can't we get the release of “Saturday Afternoon” about the same issue? This film has been unnecessarily put under the fire for no logical reason at all.” Demanding justice against “Hawa,” she added: "Personally, I am known for being an animal advocate. In our surroundings, if we look at the pet market in the capital’s Nilkhet-Kataban area, animals are being treated inhumanely. What is the concerned authority doing in this regard? Films are fiction, should we stop making films?" The artists and content makers expressed their aspiration to see prompt actions from the concerned authorities to resolve the issues and fulfilment of their five-point demands.   Also read: Legal notice seeks complete ban on screening Hawa

A legal notice has been served to ban screenings of the film Hawa, for violating the Wildlife Conservation and Safety Act. Supreme Court lawyer Khandaker Hasan Shahriar sent the notice to the Censor Board on Monday.  It was sent to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Film Censor Board and Information Secretary Mokbul Hossain.   According to the notice, legal action will be taken if a satisfactory response isn't forthcoming within seven days of receiving the notice. Read: Wind of 'Hawa' blows full The notice demanded the license of the film be revoked, and to ban its screening worldwide, not just locally. Besides, it said the Censor Board should be reconstituted to include members of the Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit, lawyers and environmentalists. In addition, before giving the Censor Board's clearance to any movie in the future, it must be ensured that a film does not violate any section of the Wildlife Conservation and Safety Act-2012. Read Rayhan Rafi’s new film ‘Nisshash’ to be released on Chorki According to the notice, in the movie which was released on July 29, a bird named Shalik is seen kept captive inside a cage on a trawler. At one point the bird is killed and eaten. Besides, there are several scenes in the movie which are clear violations of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, 2012.  As a result, people will be encouraged to hunt, cage and kill birds. Read Iranian director reveals everything Ananta Jalil has been saying about their film was untrue. Literally everything. No permission was taken from the Forest Department to promote this scene, added the notice. Earlier on 17 August, four officers of the Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit filed a case after seeing the Hawa movie.

Moviegoers drifted with the wind of "Hawa" as Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's debut film, one of the most-anticipated Bangladeshi cinemas in recent times, hit theatres of the country Friday. Despite not being released during any major festivity, the film garnered an overwhelming response from the audience before and after its release. On the first day of its screening, Hawa hit 23 theatres all over Bangladesh and had 66 houseful shows. In Dhaka, Hawa is being showcased at nine theatres, including all branches of Star Cineplex – Bashundhara City in Panthapath, Shimanto Shambhar in Dhanmondi, Sony Square in Mirpur, SKS Tower, Mohakhali and Bangabandhu Military Museum in Bijoy Sarani – Shyamoli Cinema Hall, Modhumita, Blockbuster Cinemas, and Lion Cinemas. Tickets were sold out in most of these theatres almost two-three days ago. Massive crowds, eager to set sail with Hawa, were seen in front of the ticket counters in almost every theatre. There will be 23 showings of Hawa at Star Cineplex on its opening day. This is the first time that a movie will have this many showings upon its launch at the Cineplex, whose website was down due to the volume of people trying to buy tickets. "After so many days, Bangla movie fans have been to the cinema in such big numbers," Star Cineplex Senior Manager (Media and Marketing) Mesbah Uddin Ahmed told UNB. "Although there is a big audience for foreign films, Bangla films are now thriving as well and we feel really proud to see massive crowds of movie fans. I hope they will keep coming back to watch Bangla movies." "Our film has had houseful shows across the country. I am overwhelmed. I have not seen this kind of hype around a movie in the last two decades," Chanchal Chowdhury, who portrays the role of Chan Majhi, the leader of a group of fishermen stuck on a fishing boat, told the media after the screening of Hawa at Star Cineplex. "Only those who watch Hawa will realise what we had to go through to bring the movie to the theatre. It has never been easy."   "Now many people are coming to the movie theatres to watch the result of our hard work and determination. There cannot be a greater reward than this for us," Chanchal said. Read: 10 Best Upcoming Bengali Movies in Eid-ul-Adha 2022 Outside Dhaka, Hawa is being showcased in Sena Auditorium in Savar, Cinescope in Narayanganj, Silver Screen, Sugondha, Cinema Palace in Chattogram, Shankha Cinema and Liberty Cineplex in Khulna, Rupkotha in Pabna, Roots Cineclub in Sirajganj, Shapla in Rangpur, Modhuban Cinema and Momo in Bogura, Chhayabani in Mymensingh, and Borsha Cinema in Gazipur, and Grand Sylhet Cineplex in Sylhet. Hawa revolves around a water gipsy girl who appears unannounced on a fishing boat that has become trapped in the middle of the ocean while narrating a metaphysical story. The film features Chanchal, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Islam Raaz, Sumon Anwar, Nasir Uddin Khan, and Sohel Mondal in the lead roles. Sukarna Sahed Dhiman, Zahin Faruq Amin, and Sumon wrote the screenplay. Sumon wrote the story and dialogue. Produced by Sun Music and Motion Pictures and distributed by Jazz Multimedia, Hawa's song "Shada Shada Kala Kala," written and tuned by Hashim Mahmud, and "E Hawa," Meghdol's tribute to the film, swayed the nation towards the movie.