Stars Tour Cinemas This Eid

A wave of excitement has swept across cinemas in Bangladesh this Eid, as several high-profile films were released simultaneously, drawing large crowds and sparking a festive atmosphere in theatres nationwide. Among the films released are Prince, Bonolota Express, Dom, Rakkhosh, and Pressure Cooker. With audiences scrambling for tickets, actors and filmmakers have taken an increasingly active role in promotion by visiting cinemas in person and engaging directly with viewers.

At the SKS Tower branch of Star Cineplex, a special screening of Bonolota Express saw the  of leading cast members including Chanchal Chowdhury, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Shyamal Mawla, Shariful Raj, and Sabila Nur. Directed by Tanim Noor and based on a novel by Humayun Ahmed, the film has resonated strongly with audiences. After watching the film alongside viewers, the cast shared their reactions with journalists.

Chanchal Chowdhury expressed delight at the overwhelming turnout, noting that the theatre was completely full. He observed that audiences remained deeply engaged throughout the screening, with moments of silence during emotional scenes and audible reactions from viewers. According to him, such responses are the most rewarding aspect of filmmaking.

Another major release, Dom, directed by Redoan Rony, features Afran Nisho in the lead role, alongside Chanchal Chowdhury. Nisho has been actively touring cinemas to promote the film. On Eid day, he visited the Centrepoint branch of Star Cineplex, accompanied by co-star Puja Cherry, producer Shahriar Shakil, and director Rony. Speaking about audience reactions, Nisho said the response had been overwhelmingly positive, adding that experiencing live audience engagement in cinemas remains unmatched.

Meanwhile, Rakkhosh, directed by Mehedi Hasan and starring Siam Ahmed and Sushmita Chatterjee, has also generated strong interest. Siam Ahmed visited multiple theatres on Saturday, interacting with viewers after screenings. He remarked that audiences were connecting well with the story and emphasised that the film aimed to offer more than conventional commercial entertainment.

The promotional campaign extended to Pressure Cooker as well, with Nazifa Tushi, Prantor Dastidar, and director Raihan Rafi visiting the Bashundhara City branch of Star Cineplex to meet audiences and encourage viewership.

In contrast, Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka, directed by Abu Hayat Mahmud and starring Shakib Khan, has taken a different promotional approach. The lead actor has not been seen participating in cinema visits or promotional events, continuing a pattern observed in previous releases. Despite this, the film has secured a wide release across approximately 133 single-screen theatres nationwide.

In terms of screenings, Dom has emerged as the leading film in multiplexes, including Star Cineplex, with an average of around 27 shows per day—significantly higher than other releases. It is followed by Bonolota Express, Rakkhosh, and Pressure Cooker. Due to technical issues, Prince has yet to be screened in multiplexes, although it dominates the single-screen circuit.

The following table summarises the current exhibition landscape:

Cinema hall owners, however, have reported logistical challenges. According to exhibitor Akhtaruzzaman Kajal, distributors were expected to upload films to servers the night before Eid. Yet several cinemas did not receive the films on time, causing missed screenings. He noted that even after receiving the later in the day, technical issues such as sound failure prevented immediate.

Overall, this year’s Eid film season reflects a renewed enthusiasm in the country’s cinema culture. The direct engagement of actors with audiences, combined with a diverse slate of releases, has contributed to a vibrant theatrical experience, signalling positive momentum for the film industry.