Audiences will have the opportunity to watch filmmaker Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s two acclaimed films, ‘Hawa’ and ‘Roid’, on the big screen together from Friday, as the films are set to be screened across various branches of Star Cineplex.
Having directed only two feature films, Sumon has already attracted the attention of audiences and critics at home and abroad. News of the simultaneous screening of his two films has generated considerable interest among cinema enthusiasts, with such a showcase of two distinct works by the same filmmaker remaining a rare occurrence in Bangladesh’s film industry.
Released in 2022, ‘Hawa’ played a significant role in revitalising Bangladesh’s film sector at a time when cinemas were struggling to attract audiences in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Blending folklore, mystery, life at sea and human instincts, the film earned widespread acclaim from both viewers and critics following its release. Its direction, cinematography, music and performances were particularly praised. The soundtrack, including songs such as ‘Shada Shada Kala Kala’, ‘Atta Baje Deri Korish Na’ and ‘E Hawa’, also gained widespread popularity.
Beyond Bangladesh, ‘Hawa’ received recognition at several international film festivals and was screened in multiple countries, helping introduce Bangladeshi cinema to wider audiences.
Meanwhile, ‘Roid’, which was released during Eid-ul-Azha this year, has remained a major topic of discussion since its premiere. The film has drawn praise from audiences and critics for presenting a conventional love story through a distinctive cinematic language, visual style and narrative approach.
Its symbolic storytelling, atmosphere, character development and visual language have generated extensive discussion on social media, with film analysts, researchers and audiences offering their own interpretations of the work.
‘Roid’ has also earned recognition internationally. The film has been screened at several prestigious festivals, including the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the International Film Festival Innsbruck in Austria and the Seattle International Film Festival in the US.
Industry observers believe the simultaneous screening of ‘Hawa’ and ‘Roid’ will offer audiences a rare opportunity to experience two different chapters of Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s filmmaking vision and cinematic language on the big screen.
