With Eid-ul-Azha arriving on May 28 and the football World Cup beginning just two weeks later, local OTT platforms in Bangladesh are keeping their festive programming relatively limited this year.
Industry observers say the overlap with the upcoming World Cup, combined with the monsoon season, has contributed to a quieter Eid slate across domestic OTT services. Instead of major new releases, several platforms are focusing on streaming films that premiered during previous Eid seasons.
Since May 21, viewers have been able to watch ‘Domm’ on Chorki, while ‘Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka’ and ‘Rakkhosh’ are currently streaming on Utsob. Meanwhile, ‘Bonolota Express’ became available on Hoichoi from May 24.
Among entirely new productions, however, only two original web films are scheduled for release.
‘Sarar Shongsar’, adapted from ‘Artonad’ by Kazi Anwar Hossain, has been directed by Aka Reza Ghalib. The director said he was encouraged to pursue the project by Faridur Reza Sagar, who reminded him that the celebrated author was widely recognised for creating Masud Rana, while his identity as a novelist remained comparatively underexplored onscreen.
Ghalib explained that he had first read the novel several years ago and was drawn to its combination of emotional family drama and suspense.
“It is a story that audiences from any period can connect with,” he said. “At its core, it is family-oriented, but it also carries an element of thriller.”
The screenplay was written by Masuma Maimur, daughter-in-law of Kazi Anwar Hossain. According to the director, her personal connection to the writer’s legacy made her the ideal person to adapt the material.
The film’s central role is played by Sadia Islam Mou. Galib said he could not imagine anyone else portraying the character of Sara after reading the story. Although Mou is known for being selective about acting projects and primarily identifies herself as a dancer, she agreed to the role after reading the synopsis.
The story follows a mother driven to extreme lengths to protect her daughter in the face of danger. Galib said the emotional core of the narrative resonated deeply with both him and the actress.
“Mou has a daughter and I also have a daughter, so we both felt the emotional weight of the story very personally,” he said.
The director also praised Gazi Rakayet for supporting younger performers during filming. Newcomer Promi appears in the role of Mou’s daughter.
Another Eid release, ‘Tajmahal’, tells a love story set along the Bangladesh-India border. The web film has been directed by Wahid Anam and will stream on Bongo from Eid day on May 28.
Indian actor Sreeja Dutta plays Mumtaz, while Bangladeshi actor Faizul Yamin stars as Taj. Supporting roles are played by A K M Hasan and Maliha Mahi.
Set in the border regions of Sylhet, the entire production was filmed in the area.
The project marks Srija Dutta’s first appearance in a Bangladeshi OTT production. She made her Tollywood debut opposite Dev in ‘Bagha Jatin’ in 2023 and later appeared in ‘Tekka’. She also gained recognition for her lead role in the Hoichoi series ‘Nishir Daak’.
Faizul Yamin, meanwhile, began his career in modelling around 15 years ago before returning to Bangladesh after studying abroad. He made his acting debut last year in ‘Closeup Kache Ashar Golpo’ and later drew attention for portraying Shakil in Raihan Rafi’s ‘Pressure Cooker’. His performances in ‘Page Turner’ and ‘Nilanjona Express’ were also well received by audiences.
