The coming year is going to redefine the cinematic experience forever. Marvel and DC are bringing an epic showdown of superhero saga worldwide. And that’s just some of the biggest attractions that include sci-fi and action as well. As the curtain rises on sequels and prequels, classic franchises eagerly await their everlasting hype. Overriding all this is the desire to see dialogues and stunts of favorite actors and sensational stars. Let’s see what the most exciting Hollywood movies of 2024 promise to offer. 10 Most Anticipated Hollywood Movies of 2024 The Fall Guy | 1st March, 2024 Directed by the seasoned David Leitch, This action comedy unfolds as an adaptation of the iconic 1980s TV series by Glen A. Larson. Scripted by Drew Pearce, this cinematic endeavor brings to life the excellence of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. In a collaboration between Universal, 87 North Productions, and Entertainment 360, the film navigates the story of Colt Seavers, a once-retired stuntman. Seavers is reluctantly drawn back into the industry when the lead actor of a mega-budget studio production, mysteriously disappears. However, the production was done under the direction of his former partner. Read more: Netflix Originals Dec 2023 Lineup: List of Movies, Series, and Other Shows Dune: Part Two | 15th March, 2024 Denis Villeneuve's directorial prowess takes center stage in Dune: Part Two, an epic science fiction masterpiece. A seamless continuation from its predecessor in 2021, this film serves as the second chapter in the two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. The stellar cast including Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and Zendaya reprising their roles. The movie is made under the banner of Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The storyline of this installment of Dune centers against the backdrop of Paul Atreides' quest to unite with the Fremen people of Arrakis. As they face the daunting House Harkonnen, they get involved in political intrigue, war, and the vast landscapes of the desert planet. Read more: Something Like An Autobiography: Real Story or Just a Film? Godzilla X Kong The New Empire | 12th April, 2024 Directed by Adam Wingard, this sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong is a monster film that propels audiences back into the awe-inspiring MonsterVerse. This Legendary Pictures production will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film brings together the mighty Kong and fearsome Godzilla to confront a hidden, colossal threat within the human world. Delving into the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, the storyline ventures into the origins of Hollow Earth. Starring Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Fala Chen, this cinematic spectacle is waiting to explore the ancient Titan battles that forever bind man and monster. Read more: Top 10 Highest Earning South Indian Films of All Time Rebel Moon: Part 2 | 19th April, 2024 Zack Snyder's visionary prowess takes shape in Rebel Moon, a space opera co-written by himself, Kurt Johnstad, and Shay Hatten. The movie boasts an ensemble cast including Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Ray Fisher, Cleopatra Coleman, Jena Malone, Ed Skrein, and Anthony Hopkins. Set against the backdrop of a distant moon threatened by a tyrannical force, this fantasy film unfolds as a tale of survival. The mysterious stranger living among the villagers emerges as their beacon of hope. As the first part, A Child of Fire, gears up for release on December 22, 2023, by Netflix, anticipation for the sequel heightens. Read more: Top 10 Highest-Earning Bangladeshi Films Deadpool 3 | 3rd May, 2024 The third installment of the Deadpool film franchise follows the success of Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). This film, rooted in Marvel Comics, is a joint production of Marvel Studios and Maximum Effort. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Deadpool 3 is under the adept direction of Shawn Levy. The script is a joint effort by Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese, Zeb Wells, Levy, and Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds reprises his role as the irreverent Deadpool, joined by the likes of Hugh Jackman, Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, and Jennifer Garner. Wolverine teams up with the "merc with a mouth," amplifying the anticipation for this superhero extravaganza. Read more: 12 Most Awaited South Indian Movies Releasing in November 2023: A Sneak Peek

The Dhallywood film industry has witnessed a compelling journey in the history of Bangladeshi cinema. The cinematic endeavors have resonated with the audiences and left an indelible mark on the Dhallywood box office. This article presents an exploration of the highest-earning Bangladeshi films to date. Let’s get a snapshot of Bangladeshi movies that have etched their names on the hearts of this film-loving nation. Top 10 Dhallywood Box Office Toppers of All Time Priyotoma | Tk 41.23 Crore Priyotoma', produced by Arshad Adnan under the banner of Versatile Media, has carved its name in the domestic romantic action genre. Directed by Himel Ashraf, the film tells a tragic love story that leaves an indelible mark on audiences. The narrative was penned by the late Faruk Hossain, with Himel Ashraf contributing to the screenplay and dialogues. The film features Shakib Khan, the highest-paid leading actor in Bangladesh, and Idhika Paul, a small-screen actress from Kolkata. Upon its release on June 29, 2023, 'Priyotoma' made a resounding impact by collecting BDT 10 crore in its first week, exceeding its budget of BDT 2.5 crore.  Notably, this cinematic masterpiece holds several box office records, standing as the highest-grossing Bangladeshi film of 2023 and all time. The film's excellence is further underscored by its recognition at the 22nd BABISAS (Bangladesh Binodon Sangbadik Samity) Awards. There it received nine awards, including Best Actor and Best Actress in the Special Honors category. Read more: List of English Language Netflix Originals Coming in November 2023 Beder Meye Josna | Tk 20 Crore Directed and written by Tozammel Haque Bokul, this classic remains a shining example of storytelling that transcends generations. 'Beder Meye Josna' draws inspiration from a rural Bangla play of the same name, delving into a love story between a gypsy girl and a prince. Released on June 9, 1989, the film starred Ilias Kanchan and Anju Ghosh. Notably, the movie's budget stood at a humble BDT 20 lakh, a far cry from the blockbuster budgets of today. Nevertheless, 'Beder Meye Josna' emerged as a financial titan, becoming the highest-grossing Bangladeshi film until the year 2023. A survey conducted by the British Film Institute recognized this cinematic gem, ranking it among the top 10 films of Bangladesh. The audio cassette of the film's songs sold one lakh copies within a month of its release. Written by Hasan Motiur Rahman and sung by Mujeeb Pardes, the song 'Ami Bondi Karagare' remained on people's lips for the next few decades. Except for this, the rest of the songs were penned by the director, Tozammel Haque Bokul. The melodious tunes, including the title song 'Beder Meye Josna,' sung by Andrew Kishore and Runa Laila, cemented its immortality in the world of Bangladeshi cinema. Read more: Coke Studio Bangla concert to return with an ensemble line-up on Nov 10 at Army Stadium Shopner Thikana | Tk 19 Crore 'Shopner Thikana,' directed by MA Khalek, offers a window into the legacy of legendary hero Salman Shah. The film, which was scripted by Chatku Ahmed, takes its inspiration from a story by Nurul Islam Parvez. Released on May 11, 1995, 'Shopner Thikana' featured Shabnoor and Sonia as Salman Shah's lead co-artists. 'Shopner Thikana' presented a compelling narrative centered around the dynamics of rich-poor relationships and love triangles. Almost all of the cinema's songs, including 'Ae Din Se Din Koni Din,' acquired top positions of the radio charts. All thanks to the creative genius of renowned composer and music director Late Alam Khan. Hawa | Tk 16 Crore 'Hawa' stands as a unique mystery-drama film that weaves a tale based on a myth. The production company, Sun Music and Motion Pictures Limited released the cinema on July 29, 2022. Read more: ‘In time we will say more’: Friends stars say after Matthew Perry’s death There was an ensemble cast under the direction of Mejbaur Rahman Sumon. Chanchal Chowdhury, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Razz, Sumon Anowar, Shohel Mondol, Nasir Uddin Khan, and Rizvi Rizu were among the main actors. The film portrays the intriguing journey of an all-men team aboard a fishing trawler. Their encounter with a beautiful yet mysterious young girl sets the stage for a series of inexplicable events. The film was selected as Bangladesh's entry for the 'Best International Feature Film' category at the 95th Academy Awards. The film also garnered a place on the shortlist for the 80th Golden Globe Awards. Read more: Shakib Khan set to star Pan-Indian film 'Dard' alongside Sonal Chauhan Priya Amar Priya | Tk 15 Crore This Badiul Alam Khokon-directed romantic action movie marked a turning point in Shakib Khan's career. Produced by Monir Hossain under the banner of Asha Production, this film was released on June 13, 2008. The film's story was crafted by Puri Jagannadh, with the screenplay penned by Sachin Nag. 'Priya Amar Priya' showcases the performances of Sahara along with Shakib in the lead roles. The movie established itself as the top-earning Bangladeshi film of 2008 and earned its place as one of the all-time highest-earners in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the movie stands as the pinnacle of Shakib's cinematic journey up to 2019. His exceptional performance earned him the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards for Best Actor, the Euro-CJFB Performance Awards, and the Channel I Performance Awards. Read more: Chirkutt’s Sumi to join global music conference in Norway

As a new month is approaching, fans of South Indian movies are waiting to watch a variety of films from the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries. Like every month, in November 2023, the action, music, and drama are set to hit the screens. Now, get ready to be entranced, as this sneak peek unveils the 12 most anticipated South Indian movies releasing in November 2023. Top 12 Most Hyped South Indian Films Coming This November  Maa Oori Polimera 2 | Telugu | November 2, 2023 Maa Oori Polimera, the enigmatic thriller that enthralled audiences back in 2021, is set to return with a highly anticipated sequel. The original film was steeped in mysticism, superstitions, and a series of perplexing deaths. This second part promises to venture even deeper into the world of ancient superstitions and sorcery. This time, the story follows a police officer who delves into the connection between a string of gruesome murders in Mahabubnagar and the domain of black magic. Accompanied by an archaeologist, they set out to unravel the mysteries surrounding the village temple. Read more: After death threats, Shah Rukh to get beefed up security Key cast members, including Satyam Rajesh, Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Getup Srinu, Baladitya, Chilam Sheenu, and Ravi Vermal, reprise their roles in this sequel. Dr. Anil Viswanath, who also directed the movie, penned the screenplay and dialogues. Adding an eerie and atmospheric dimension to the storyline, the music is composed by Gnani. Cinematography is handled by Kushedar Ramesh Reddy, while Sree Vara takes on the role of the editor. The film's producer is Gowr Kriesna under Shree Krishna Creations. Aadikeshava | Telugu | November 10, 2023 Directed by debutant director Srikanth N Reddy, Aadikeshava features a musical score by G V Prakash Kumar and cinematography by Dudly. Bankrolled by Sithara Entertainments, the cinema will be brought to life on the edit table by National Award-winning editor Navin Nooli. Aadikeshava will uncover the world of Rudra, portrayed by Panja Vaisshnav Tej, as he fearlessly takes on goons at a Shiva temple. With Sreeleela in the lead female role, Joju George and Aparna Das play supporting roles. Read more: Khufiya: All eyes on Badhon Mangalavaram | Telugu | November 17, 2023 Acclaimed director Ajay Bhupathi, known for hits like 'RX 100' and 'Maha Samudram,' is ready to captivate audiences again with Mangalavaram. This highly anticipated film features the talented Payal Rajput in the lead role. What sets this film apart is its versions in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Described as a rustic action thriller, the cinema offers a unique rural backdrop for the storyline. Mangalavaram boasts an ensemble cast, including Payal Rajput, Shree Tej, Chaitanya Krishna, Ajay Ghosh, and Laxman. The cinematography is done by Dasarathi Shivendra, with music composed by B. Ajanish Loknath. Editing by Madhav Kumar Gullapally ensures a seamless flow of the story. Read more: English Language Netflix Originals Coming in October 2023 Jigarthanda DoubleX | Tamil | November 10, 2023 Also known as Jigarthanda 2, this action comedy film is directed by Karthik Subbaraj. The film is produced by Kaarthekeyen Santhanam, Alankar Pandian, and S. Kathiresan. A seqel to the 2014 hit Jigarthanda, it stars Raghava Lawrence and S. J. Suryah in lead roles. The plot centers around a filmmaker who collaborates with a dreaded gangster to make a western movies. Santhosh Narayanan has contributed for the soundtrack and background score. The cinematography and editing are handled by S. Thirunavukkarasu and Shafique Mohamed Ali respectively. This film will also be released in Telugu and Hindi versions. Read more: Bongo BD to release South Indian comedy movie 'F2: Fun and Frustration' with Bengali version this week Japan | Tamil | November 12, 2023 This crime comedy-thriller film was written and directed by Raju Murugan. Produced by S. R. Prabhu under Dream Warrior Pictures, the cinema stars Karthi and Anu Emmanuel in lead roles. Apart from Tamil, this film’s dubbed versions in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada are also scheduled for release. Japan, a notorious maestro of theft, orchestrates the heist of jewels valued at ₹200 crore from an upscale jewelry store. Thus, it set the stage for a high-stakes cat-and-mouse pursuit by the relentless police force. G. V. Prakash Kumar is the music composer, with Ravi Varman handling the cinematography and Philomin Raj taking on the editing. Read more: Top 12 Most Anticipated South Indian Films Releasing in October 2023 Dhruva Natchathiram | Tamil | November 24, 2023 Dhruva Natchathiram: Chapter One – Yuddha Kaandam is an action spy film made under the direction of Gautham Vasudev Menon. The film features Vikram, Ritu Varma, Vinayakan, R. Parthiban, Simran, and Radhika Sarathkumar in prominent roles. The movie's music is composed by Harris Jayaraj, with editing by Praveen Antony. The cinematography section was jointly looked after by Manoj Paramahamsa, Jomon T. John, and Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran. The story revolves around a New York City-based undercover operative and his team on a secret mission to find their missing team leader. Read more: Bongo BD presents heartwarming love story of two nameless tourists in "Hello Stranger"

The much-anticipated Bollywood film "Jawan" starring Shah Rukh Khan, made its debut in Bangladesh yesterday, marking a historic moment as it became the first Hindi film to simultaneously release in the country alongside its global debut. Directed by South Indian Director Atlee Kumar, the film was released in multiplexes across the country soon after "Jawan" was cleared by the censor board yesterday afternoon. Read : Is Jaya Ahsan making her debut in Hindi cinema? According to Anonno Mamun, the film's distributor in Bangladesh, "Jawan" is set to captivate audiences with a staggering 237 screenings across 48 cinema halls, including all the single-screen theatres across the country today (September 8). The anticipation among Baadshah's fans in Bangladesh surrounding the release of "Jawan" has reached a fever pitch since the initial announcement. The film's release has sparked a festive atmosphere, with many people gathering in theatres to watch it in groups, marking a first-of-its-kind experience in the country. Read : Cinema hall refinance scheme deadline extended to December This level of enthusiasm among the audience is reminiscent of the frenzy often seen among Indian fans following the release of films featuring Bollywood's Khans. Now, it is clear that the audience in Bangladesh is also revelling in the same level of excitement and passion around the release of "Jawan". “Pathan, another Shah Rukh Khan movie which was released earlier this year made history in Indian cinema with its remarkable earnings. However, it did not quite resonate with the audience compared to his previous films. However, there was a palpable sense of anticipation among fans regarding the upcoming film from Bollywood's King Khan. The optimism surrounding "Jawan" was particularly high, thanks in part to the involvement of Atlee Kumar. Read : Telugu Film RRR: Lifetime Record Breaker and the Pride of Indian Cinema Southern Indian directors have recently established a global reputation for their innovative storytelling on the silver screen. Among the already star-studded cast is another southern superstar, Vijay Sethupathi, who was revealed as a surprise cast member in "Jawan". With a budget of Rs 300 crore, this film has managed to not only meet but surpass the lofty expectations it set. In the film, Shah Rukh Khan takes on a double role, portraying both a father and son—Vikram Rathore and Azad Rathore. The star-studded cast of the film also included Nayanthara, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Sunil Grover, and several other actors. Additionally, Deepika Padukone made a special guest appearance, adding to the film's allure.

With demolishing the district town’s last movie theater, Feni now has no cinema hall left. Dulal Cinema Hall, Feni town’s last remaining movie theater, was demolished last Wednesday (February 15, 2023) due to a steep decline in the number of audiences. A multi-storey shopping mall will be built on the site where the cinema hall stood. Safiuddin Belal, owner of Dulal Cinema Hall said, “We had to seek assistance from law enforcement to tackle the crowd during screening of blockbusters such as ‘Beder Meye Josna’ and 'Rupban'." "However, the number of audiences started declining after 2015," Belal told UNB. Read more: Sammilito Chalacchitro Parishad agrees to import Indian films on conditions: Hasan The cinema hall had eight "VIP" seats (tickets for each cost Tk 100). It also had 80 "first-class" seats (Tk 60 each). Belal said that "second" and "third-class" seats had been discontinued for the past three years. There were six cinema halls in the town and the adjacent Dagonbhuiya upazila. One after another, curtains fell on Feni district’s silver screens as the owners were left with no choice but to demolish them. The lack of quality films, coupled with the steep decline in audience, killed the town’s cinema hall business. Read more: Cinema hall refinance scheme deadline extended to December The four cinema halls in Feni town were Dulal Cinema Hall, Surat Mahal, Bilashi Cinema Hall, and Kanan Cinema Hall. There were two other cinema halls — Beauty Cinema Hall in Fulghazi upazila and Jharna Cinema Hall in Dagonbhuiyan. Thousands of movie lovers from the district’s remote areas used to flock to these halls to see films with their families and friends. In 1952, sports organizer Khairul Eshak opened Dulal Cinema Hall on Feni town’s Railway Station Road. Years later, Afzalur Rahman opened the Surat cinema hall in the city’s Zero Point area. However, the hall was demolished and later replaced by Feni Super Market after Afzalur Rahman’s son Bacchu Mia took over the ownership after his father’s death in 2003. Feni's Kanan cinema hall opened in Masterpara Mor around 1978, under the ownership of Azad Peyara and Momtazul Huq Bhuiyan. The hall was in operation until the owners went out of business during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read More: How Covid-19 brought the curtain down on Kushtia's cinema halls Bilashi, one of the four cinema halls in Feni city, was built around 1980 by Nur Mia. The hall was later rented out to the city’s local commissioner, Omar Faruk, after the death of Nur Mia. Faruk left the business due to losses in 2002, and since then, the hall has been closed. Surat and Dulal cinema halls were the top choices of the audience due to their safer and cleaner environment. According to reports, at least 700–800 tickets were sold per show. The other cinema halls used to attract 400–600 viewers per show. At least 10,000-12,000 viewers used to watch films at the four cinema halls in Feni every day on average. Read More: Cinema hall owners to get Tk 1,000 cr low-interest loans

2022 was a memorable year for the silver screen, as some of the highest-grossing films attracted enormous crowds back to theaters throughout the year. It seems that the delight of viewing fascinating tales on the big screen returned with a boom after two years of repression due to the epidemic. Films performed brisk business and gave the cinematic experience a fresh lease of life. Let’s take a look at the top 10 cinemas worldwide that made highest earning in 2022. World’s Top 10 Highest Grossing Films in 2022 Top Gun The picture had a budget of 170 million dollars, but it grossed approximately $1.5 billion worldwide; thus, it was certain to be profitable. Top Gun: Maverick has already moved up to the 10th spot on the list of the highest-grossing films of all time, dislodging Furious 7. It has been speculated that Miles Teller will play the lead role in a new installment of the Top Gun series that will be dubbed Top Gun: Rooster. It would seem that Tom Cruise and Joseph Kosinski, who is a filmmaker, are also participating. It is hoped that this time, Maverick and Rooster will be successful in tracking down the Russians. The movie was released on 27th May, 2022, and collected $126,707,459 in the opening weekend. The movie got an overall score of 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb, and its cast includes Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, and Val Kilmer. Read More: 5 Must-watch Hrithik Roshan Movies Avatar: The Way of Water The second installment in James Cameron's epic Avatar trilogy, The Way of Water premiered on 6th December 2022 in London and later it got the theatrical release in the USA on 16th December. It received an enormous response from the audience and earned $134,100,226 in the opening weekend. It follows Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaa), the protagonists from the previous film, as they explore the waters of the planet Pandora with their family. The sequel, which has been universally praised by reviewers, is predicted to earn between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion by the conclusion of its theatrical run, according to reports. The movie is running with a 7.9 rating on IMDb. Apart from the protagonists, the movie also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang. Read More: Siam in line for first National Award, Nonajoler Kabbo to win big Jurassic World Dominion Dinosaurs and humans are compelled to coexist four years after the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), which leads to multiple encounters that are hazardous to both species. Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) must put their lives in danger to defend everyone they care about, even dinosaurs, as human greed introduces a new threat. Jurassic Park: Dominion, theatrically released on 10th June 2022, made $145,075,625 in the opening weekend. It is praised for reuniting three of the movie's most well-known stars: Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill. It has earned around $1 billion world wide with an IMDb 5.6 rating. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness The 28th movie in the MCU is a follow-up to Doctor Strange and is directed by Sam Raimi. Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and WandaVision (2021). Strange and Chavez seek assistance from other sorcerers, notably Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), to fight an unidentified foe after sensing a greater danger to all worlds. The movie has an overall score of 6.9 out of 10 on IMDb and collected $187,420,998 on the opening weekend after it hit theaters on 6th May, 2022. Read More: ‘I wasn’t necessarily acting’: Chanchal Chowdhury on ‘Karagar-2’ Minions: The Rise of Gru The Rise of Gru is the highest-grossing animated picture released on 1st July 2022, surpassing even the widely anticipated, high-budgeted live-action feature The Batman. It has an opening weekend collection of $107,000,000. It has multiple directors like Kyle Balda, Brad Ableson, and Jonathan del Val. The comedy series is about 12-year-old Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) and his troop of charming yellow critters called Minions (voiced by Pierre Coffin for multiple characters). Gru wants to become a supervillain, but he becomes caught in a plot. It is then up to his subordinates to save their leader. The Rise of Gru ended with a total $939M and a 6.6 IMDb rating.

Roni Bhowmik directed short film ‘Chakrakar’ has recently been released by international smartphone brand Vivo Bangladesh, which has been shot on its latest flagship device Vivo X80 5G. Receiving overwhelming responses on social media, the short film has been released on Vivo Bangladesh Facebook page. Apart from its making, story, and acting; the most jaw-dropping surprise is that this short film has been made with the Vivo X80 5G smartphone, according to Vivo Bangladesh. Filmmaker Roni Bhowmik worked on this short film, as a part of vivo X80 5G campaign. ‘Chakrakar’ has been shot in different locations of Dhaka and Chattogram. The story revolves around a suburban middle-class family. It illustrates mother-son relationship, their mutual love and care and a sudden attack of Alzheimer's disease. Read: Short film 'A Happy Man' shot entirely on vivo X70 Pro 5G Popular actors  Afsana Mimi, Yash Rohan, Nova Firoz and Aryan Mohammad Dihan acted in the short film. Alongside direction  Roni Bhowmik has written the screenplay and Mohammad Towkir Islam did the cinematography.  Regarding this project, Roni Bhowmik said, “The advantage of shooting with a phone is that, since it is very easy to use, one can take multiple dynamic shots. My experience of shooting with a phone is pretty new. It is a bit challenging for people who work professionally."   "New filmmakers who want to tell stories, can resort to a smartphone for visualizing their stories. Young filmmakers can easily present their contents to the audience without bothering about large arrangements," he added.

Portraying the picturesque rural and urban beauty of Bangladesh, popular actor Mir Sabbir’s film ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ is scheduled to be released on New Year’s Eve this Friday across the country, making it the very last release in 2021. A storyteller by passion, the popular actor has been directing television plays and drama serials for a long time in his two-decades-long career in television. He left no stone unturned for his debut film as its director, actor lyricist and producer. Talking to the journos at a press conference arranged at the Dhaka Club on Wednesday evening, Mir Sabbir alongside his cast and crew members described the journey behind the film, which has already created a buzz in the cinema sphere for its subtle, beautiful and promising presentation through its trailer, songs and unique promotional campaigns. “This was certainly a great challenge for me and my team. As it is already known to all that we got Tk 60 lakh from the government as a grant, however, we had to add a lot more to our budget because I wholeheartedly wanted to make this film as enthralling as possible, for our beloved moviegoers,” Sabbir said at the press conference. READ: 'Shaan' gets Censor Board clearance    With an ensemble cast featuring Mir Sabbir as ‘Roiss,’ the main protagonist of the film, alongside new generation actors Rashed Mamun Apu, Miss World Bangladesh 2018 Jannatul Ferdous Oishee, Abu Hurayra Tanvir, Tanin Tanha, Shahid Shahriar with seasoned actors Fazlur Rahman Babu, Dilara Zaman, Sharmilee Ahmed, Joyraj, Dr Ezaz, Naresh Bhuiyan, Ahsanul Haq Minu and more - the film has already created high expectations among the audiences before its release. When UNB asked Sabbir about the idea behind the selection of this ensemble cast, Sabbir said: “I have been moving with the story of ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ with myself for a very long time, and when it came to select the casting, my imagination matched with these popular and versatile actors. We all have truly worked not just as co-workers but a family for the entire period of this beautiful journey.“

After suffering the wrath of the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19 for the majority of the past two years, the film industry in Bangladesh finally made its long-awaited glorious comeback this year with a handful of quality films and queues for tickets outside the cinema halls. The “almost dying industry,” according to many tired and retired moviegoers and industry-experts, observed the return of the cinephiles at the multiplexes and cinema halls across the country, celebrating a few major releases - which set the year on a restarting mode, seeking an even better future. According to the data collected from the producers, distributors and cinema hall authorities across the country, there are less than 60 active cinema halls currently showcasing films in Bangladesh. The number is astonishingly poor, considering the fact that Bangladesh had approximately 250 active cinema halls before the pandemic, and more than a thousand running halls back in the 90’s. It is an undeniable fact that the cinema industry around the world suffered the havoc of the pandemic; however, the situation in Bangladesh had been worsening for such a long time even before the pandemic. The industry drastically drowned during the pandemic lockdown without the presence of in-house audiences, the bloodstream in the vessels of the entertainment industry through the cinema halls. That being said, there was a lack of quality content over the years which did not thrive the moviegoers to the theatres, and thankfully that situation got slightly improved this year with the arrival of a good number of quality movies. Read: Rickshaw Girl: A Movie by Amitabh Reza won Award in International Film Festival Undoubtedly, the trailblazing film for this year has been the much talked about and several accolades conquering film ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’. The second directorial venture of talented filmmaker Abdullah Mohammad Saad earned the glory of becoming the first Bangladeshi film showcased in the prestigious Un Certain Regard category at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival this year. After being screened at the Sal Dubusi Theater in the Cane Pale Do Festival building on July 7, the film finally hit the silver screens across the country on November 12, and till now the Azmeri Haque Badhon starrer film is enthralling the local and international cinephiles and bagging awards all over the world, namely the "Best Actress" award for Badhon at the 14th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) for her stellar performance, while director Saad received the “Jury Grand Prize”. The film has also bagged the "New Talent Award" at the HongKong Asian Film Festival 2021, “Best Actress” award for Badhon at the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival 2021 and more, while also being nominated for the official nomination from Bangladesh for the Oscar 2022. Another film which has similarly created the buzz around the world was young filmmaker Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's maiden film 'Nonajoler Kabbo’ (The Salt in our Waters), released for the moviegoers in Bangladesh on November 26. Regarding the film's unique and heart-warming promotional activities, Sumit told UNB: "We have successfully organised 3 screening sessions on November 23 and 24, as part of our coastal screening in Patuakhali, honouring the fact that the film is made on the life of our coastal fishing community - so they were the first ones to watch it in the country, as per my commitment to the community. The area which we used for the shooting, a remote fishing community in Patuakhali, has lost its existence due to river erosion. They were as emotional to see the land and story of their lives unfold on the silver screen, and it was emotional for me as well, also because of my 7 years long journey behind this dream project.”

Reflective cinema creates political awareness, and for the evolution of such cinemas Bangladesh needs a revolution in films, said Dr Naadir Junaid, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University in a talk on Thursday. “Along with that, the government's interest is also needed”, he said at a seminar titled,” Thoughtfulness and political awareness in Bangladeshi cinema,” arranged by the Higher Social Science Research Center on the campus. Prof Junaid said it is necessary to evaluate Bangladesh’s success in making reflective or thoughtful films after the liberation war. It’s necessary to take up risk for realistic filmmaking, he said. He mentioned how Zahir Raihan had taken risk by making metaphorically political film “Jibon Theke Neya’ in then-East Pakistan and Tareque Masud by making “Matir Moyna” in independent Bangladesh. Read: IAFM plans to produce 13 full-length films in 2022 “Even Satyajit Ray had to hear many times who would go to watch an 80-year-old woman in a song-less, dance-less film. Many times, the production of his masterpiece ‘Pother Panchali’ got hindered due to financial crisis but he didn’t compromise a bit with his film’s high artistic value.” He said a film becomes reflective and political when a filmmaker, aesthetically through new and attractive filmmaking or film language, presents a story that reflects the depth of thoughts. As one can’t make such films following typical formats and methods, reflective cinemas doesn’t prioritize commercial success, said Junaid He questioned the audience whether  any contemporary film in Bangladesh has challenged the ongoing issues of corruption, persecution of minorities, religious bigotry and intolerance, disinterest to learn history in youth, tailgating behind powerful people. He mentioned films like ‘Dhire Bohe Meghna’ ( 1973), Surjo Konna (1975), ‘Rupali Soikot’ (1979) that have addressed issues of dilemma, depression of society of that time, the weak position of women in a patriarchal society, military regime, and political protests and thus created political awareness in the audience. Read: Three Bangladeshi films selected for Busan International Film Festival The seminar was presided over by Dr Zia Rahman, director of the research center and professor of the Criminology department while Dr AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, professor of the department of Television, Film and Photography was another key speaker. Dr Shafiul Alam said film is a powerful mass medium to create political awareness and comedy can be used for that too if done in an unconventional way. “It has become a challenge for the filmmakers nowadays to come out of the trend of following shallow scripts aiming at only earning money and making political cinema,” he said.