The makers of upcoming Bangladeshi film ‘Banalata Sen’ revealed the film’s first-look poster on Friday and confirmed that it will be released in cinemas during Eid.
The poster was shared on social media alongside a cryptic caption that read: “This is not a room of magic or illusion. The room has a key, yet there is no way to unlock it. Who lives inside that room?”
Directed by Masud Hasan Ujjal, the film marks his second feature project following Unoponchash Batash, which was released in 2020.
Speaking about the production process, Ujjal said the film was completed without compromising on the story’s demands.
“I did everything the story demanded. I did not compromise on the narrative, which is why the shooting took nearly eight months to complete,” he said.
The title role is played by Masuma Rahman Nabila, who was previously seen opposite Shakib Khan in ‘Toofan’.
Nabila said she was initially approached for another character in the film before becoming interested in portraying Bonolota Sen after reading the complete screenplay.
“I was first given only a summary of the character, but I requested the full script. After reading it, I was completely captivated. I told the director that if he had offered me the role of Bonolota Sen from the beginning, I would have agreed instantly,” she said.
The actor also praised the director’s filmmaking style and described the project as visually poetic.
“Ujjal bhai works on a grand canvas. His films feel like poetry. Audiences will understand how beautifully it has been made once they watch it,” she added.
Inspired by the iconic poem Banalata Sen by renowned Bengali poet Jibanananda Das, the film received certification board clearance on April 12 under the 2021-22 government grant scheme.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the project, Ujjal said, “Jibanananda Das deserves global recognition. In my opinion, he is no less significant than poets like Wordsworth, Edgar Allan Poe, or T S Eliot. Through this film, I had the opportunity to pay tribute to such an extraordinary poet.”
The cast also includes Khairul Basar, Shohel Mondol, Priyontee Urbee, Rupanty Akid, Maimuna Mom and Sharif Siraj in key roles.
