As ‘Rockstar’, starring Shakib Khan, continues its theatrical run across Bangladesh, screenwriter Nusrat Islam Maati has reflected on the film’s release, the changing dynamics of the country’s film industry and the importance of embracing diverse voices and stories.
Speaking to The TIMES of Bangladesh, Maati described Rockstar as the biggest commercial project of her career to date. While expressing excitement about the film’s release, she admitted to feeling anxious about audience reactions.
“I have worked on films before, but in terms of scale, this is definitely the biggest one. It is also a Shakib Khan film, which makes it very exciting. At the same time, I feel nervous about how audiences will receive it,” she said.
According to Maati, the concept of Shakib Khan portraying a musician had already been established before she joined the project. Director Azman Rusho later expanded the idea into a complete story, with Maati contributing to the screenplay development.
Prior to Rockstar, Maati wrote ‘Jaya Aar Sharmin’, directed by Piplu R Khan, and Kalpana, a segment of Chorki’s anthology Ei Muhurte, also directed by Khan. She also spent several years in Europe pursuing a master’s degree focused on screenwriting and filmmaking.
Asked about collaborating with dialogue writers Ayman Asib Shadhin and Samiul Bhuiyan, who gained recognition for their work on Tanim Noor’s Eid releases Utshob and Bonolota Express, Maati said the project’s tight production schedule limited opportunities for extensive collaboration.
“I worked closely with the director on the screenplay and drafted the initial dialogue structure. Many of the dialogues were later developed further during production,” she said, adding that she was impressed by the duo’s contribution to the finished film.
Reflecting on the broader film industry, Maati acknowledged the significance of the traditional BFDC filmmaking system while arguing that the industry must continue to evolve.
“Many of our greatest films came from that system, but industries need to evolve with time. Even Shakib Khan has changed himself over the years. The kinds of characters, performances and films audiences expect today are different,” she said.
Rather than viewing newer urban filmmaking voices as a challenge to established traditions, Maati believes Bangladesh’s film industry should encourage a wide range of creative perspectives.
“Bangladesh needs all kinds of films. There should be films for urban audiences, rural audiences and mainstream audiences. Not everyone will enjoy the same kind of film. Some people may like Rockstar, while others may prefer a film like ‘Bonolota Express’ or ‘Roid’. Variety is healthy for an industry,” she said.
She also emphasised the importance of authentic representation in storytelling, arguing that creators with direct knowledge of a community or setting should be involved in bringing those stories to the screen.
“If a story belongs to a particular community or place, people from that background should be part of the creative process. The more diverse the voices, the stronger the industry becomes,” she said.
The film also carries personal significance for Maati. Her husband, musician Ahmed Hasan Sunny, contributed to the soundtrack, and she said they regularly exchanged ideas while working on their respective aspects of the project.
“When I was writing the script and he was working on the songs, we constantly discussed emotions, scenes and storytelling. It became a collaborative process in many ways,” she said.
Looking back on the experience, Maati described Rockstar as a memorable project and praised the creative spirit of the team behind the film.
