Prime Minister Sheik Hasina has said that she is happy with the progress in the production of “Mujib: The Making of a Nation”, a biopic based on the life and work of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “I’m impressed with whatever has been done so far,” she said on Wednesday in reply to a question on the biopic during a press conference on her recent India visit at her official residence Ganobhavan. She said the trailer of the film had been launched at the 75th Cannes Festival in France in May this year. “The screening at the prestigious Cannes Festival speaks of the quality of the work so far. Had it not been a work of quality they would not have shown it,” she observed. Read: BFDC reveals primary cast for biopic on Bangabandhu She added: “We have to keep in mind that portrayal of a great leader Bangabandhu is no easy task for any actor. How can you portray bring to live the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu and the high emotion associated with it?” Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, said she remains in touch with the making of the biopic and its production team led by noted Indian film director Shyam Benegal. The Bangladesh part of the shooting of the biopic has been completed, she said hoping that the much-anticipated film, a joint venture of Bangladesh and India, would hit the movie houses soon. Bangladesh and India launched the project to mark “Muijib Borso”, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, in 2020 and it is expected to be released by end of this year. In the biopic Bangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvoo has played the role of Bangabandhu, while it has featured other popular actors like Nusrat Faria Mazhar, Nusrat Imroz Tisha and Sabila Nur.

Srijit Mukherji, a popular and acclaimed filmmaker of India, said he would like to make a biopic on Bangladesh cricket superstar Shakib Al Hasan. Srijit was among the spectators of the second and final Dhaka Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan. On Wednesday afternoon, Srijit had a conversation with UNB at the gallery of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Read: Shakib’s inner child comes out on rain-soaked day “Cricket is something so close to my heart,” Srijit, who recently directed a film based on the life of Indian women cricket superstar Mithali Raj, said. “I would really love to make a movie based on the life of Shakib if an opportunity comes along the way in future. He is really a great cricketer. I saw a few wonderful cover drives of him today— those were amazing.” Srijit came into limelight with his super hit movie ‘Autograph’ which was released back in 2010. After that, he also directed movies like Baishe Srabon, Hemlock Society, Rajkahini, Zulfiqar, Vinci Da— to name a few. Most of these movies drew a huge viewership in Bangladesh, but through a stealthy path— downloading front torrents server or something like this, as those movies were not released in Bangladesh officially. “It would have been great if we could release movies in Bangladesh officially. The authorities from both countries are working on this— as I know. I hope people of Bangladesh can watch our movies directly in the cinema halls,” Srijit said, voicing sadness as many cinema halls are being shut down in Bangladesh.

The shooting of the Bangabandhu Biopic film was scheduled to start on March 18, 2020, the day after the celebration of the first Mujib Centenary. The plan was halted by the pandemic Coronavirus. The filming of Bangabandhu started in Mumbai on January 21, 2021. For the film, the shooting in Bangladesh started on the first of November. The new release date is March 2022. Let's take a look at the details of Bangabandhu’s historical biopic. Story of Bangabandhu throughout the screenplay Apart from the significant political career of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, viewers will discover the beloved leader of millions of Bengalis as a child, a husband, and a father. Screenwriters Shyama Zaidi and Atul Tiwari rely heavily on primary sources for research in writing the biopic. And this primary source was none other than the daughter of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. Zaidi and Tiwari have artistically designed the screenplay with their best to highlight the entire life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Furthermore, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has been cooperating with the screenwriters for a long time to serve every important moment thoroughly. Read 'Decoupled' Trailer: Three Idiots' Farhan and Sacred Games' JoJo coupled in the Netflix web series The making of ‘Bangabandhu’, a historical biopic Eighty-six-year-old Indian director Shyam Benegal has been directing the biopic since its inception. Dedicated to the genre of biography, Shyam Benegal has previously worked on biographies of Subhas Bose, Gandhi, and Nehru. By April 2021, Bangabandhu's personal and family part of the film was shooted in various places including Dadasaheb Film City in Mumbai. The shooting, which started in November, will focus on his political aspects. Dayal Nihalani is co-directing the film, while Nitish Roy is taking care of the art direction. The costume is directed by Pia Benegal, daughter of Shyam Benegal. Akashdeep Pandey is acting as the cinematographer. Music is directed by Shantanu Maitra. Read "Before I Die": The First British Bangladeshi Martial Arts Film to Release Internationally

A biographical film on cricketer Raqibul Hasan has been announced on Sunday.   It will be the first film on any cricketer of Bangladesh.   The script of the film will be written by Debbrata Mukherjee, a sports journalist and writer. Debbrata himself broke the news on his social media handle.   “Bangladesh’s liberation war veteran and the former captain of Bangladesh national cricket team Raqibul Hasan has signed an agreement on a film based on his life. The title of the film will be unveiled later,” Debbrata wrote on his social media handle on Sunday.   The film will be directed by Bunty Afzal, who is known for some small-screen works, and the film will be produced by Rumana Sharmin Swati of half-pant cinema factory.   “It is a matter of pride for me. Rakibul Hasan is not an ordinary cricketer. He appeared in the field for Pakistan with the Joy Bangla sticker on his bat, which helped him to draw the attention of the whole world. An arrest warrant was issued against him, but still, he went to Bangladesh's liberation war with his father's gun. He was a frontline fighter. He is a real hero. It's a big achievement for us to make a film based on the life of such a person,” Debbrata told UNB.   Producer Rumana Sharmin said they wanted to tell a story what comprises Bangladesh’s great liberation war and cricket, and this is why they chose the story of Raqibul Hasan.   “We know many stories of Bangladesh’s liberation war which inspire us along the way. But in this film, we want to tell a different story on our liberation war including cricket, the most popular sports in the country. With this combination, the film might reach millions of people,” Sharmin told UNB. The film will cost at least BDT 4 to 5 crores, confirmed the producer.   Director Bunty Afzal also said it’s a dream project for him as he has been working for a long time to make it possible.   “It’s like a dream comes true for me. I have been working on this for a long time. And at the same time, it’s a big challenge for me since it’s my first full-length film. I believe we all have to take this challenge in our life at a point,” Afzal told UNB.   Afzal directed TV drama called Bishchokh, Kalopodmo and Bumerang. Afzal also said, “It’s our dream project, and we understand it will be a big one. Since the announcement comes to the light, the media is covering it with huge importance. It is also proving how big this work is!"