Dhaka’s cultural calendar is set to open the year with the 24th International Film Festival on January 10 and among its more contemplative offerings is ‘Jhora Patar Chithi’, a short film led by actress Arjumand Ara Bakul and directed by Shaila Rahman.
Rather than positioning itself as a conventional festival spotlight, the film enters the line-up as a quietly resonant character study. Bokul, playing the wife of a writer, anchors the narrative as it moves through themes of love, regret and the emotional bargains people make with themselves.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Bokul described the project as a story of the relationship between people and life, noting that despite the noise of modern living, the film suggests that true self-recognition often emerges from introspection: through love, conscience and the weight of past choices.
For Rahman, the short marks another exploration of human interiority, inviting audiences to reflect on the private moments that shape identity. As viewers prepare to return to festival halls across Dhaka, Jhora Patar Chithi positions itself as a thoughtful counterpoint to the high-gloss fare typically associated with entertainment showcases; a quieter story seeking connection as opposed to spectacle.
