The Eid release ‘NeelChokro’, starring Arifin Shuvoo and Mondera Chakroborty, has resurfaced on YouTube under a different title, raising fresh concerns over piracy and unauthorised digital distribution in the local film industry.
Viewers searching for Bengali films on YouTube recently came across a feature titled ‘Chakravyuh’, carrying the same thumbnail, cast and storyline as NeelChokro. Uploaded on February 6, the film has already crossed 40,000 views, prompting speculation that the lead actors may have quietly released another project.
The uploaded version runs for 1 hour and 51 minutes but differs noticeably from the theatrical cut. Alongside the title change, the dialogue has been altered into a Kolkata-style dialect, despite the story being set in Bangladesh. Several scenes appear trimmed or rearranged, while the colour grading has been modified, giving the film a distinctly different visual tone tailored for online viewing.
The appearance of the film initially led to speculation that its digital rights had been sold to a YouTube channel. Director Mithu Khan, however, has dismissed the claim, stating that no such agreement exists.
Speaking to local media, Mithu Khan said he had no prior knowledge of the upload and did not authorise any platform to stream or distribute the film.
After reviewing the link, he expressed shock and concern, confirming that neither he nor the producers had approved the release.
He added that no official digital master was intended for public circulation at this stage. According to the director, part of the film’s post-production work was completed in Kolkata, where a copy had been shared strictly for technical purposes. He suspects the leak may have occurred during that process.
NeelChokro centres on a cybercrime narrative involving the online circulation of private videos of 16 young women. The story explores the psychological and social consequences that follow, including the deaths of five victims, and traces the investigation into an organised network responsible for spreading the footage.
The film also stars Fazlur Rahman Babu, Shirin Alam, Khaleda Akhtar Kolpona, Shahed Ali, Tiger Robi, Monir Ahmed Shakil and Priyontee Urbee. It marks the big-screen acting debut of popular singer Balam.
The director warned that the unauthorised release could cause significant financial damage, particularly as NeelChokro was only recently made available on the country’s iScreen platform.
The production team is now attempting to identify the source of the leak and take steps to have the pirated version removed.
