Babna Karim’s Full Creative Return to Film

The celebrated Bangladeshi rock musician Babna Karim is set to make a striking return to the world of cinema, assuming complete creative control over the principal soundtrack of the forthcoming film Dhakay Robi. Directed by Rajib Salehin, the production marks a rare moment in Babna Karim’s career: he is composing, writing lyrics, arranging the music and performing the vocals entirely on his own. Such comprehensive artistic involvement has not been seen from him in recent years, and it has already generated considerable anticipation within the country’s music fraternity.

According to director Rajib Salehin, Karim recently travelled to Bangladesh and shared an early melodic draft of the song. Minor refinements to the lyrics are currently under way, with final recording expected shortly. The director has indicated that the composition will serve as a thematic anchor for the film, reflecting the psychological tensions, emotional oscillations and inner conflicts of its central characters. In particular, the music is intended to capture the uncertainty, aspirations, confusion and self-discovery that shape the experience of the contemporary urban youth.

Babna Karim’s renewed engagement with cinema arrives at a moment of notable recognition. His long-standing band, Warfaze, is being honoured this year with the prestigious Ekushey Padak, one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh. He returned to the country to attend the award ceremony, underscoring his enduring connection with the national cultural landscape despite residing in the United States for nearly three decades. Trained originally as an engineer, Karim’s transition into music has long been regarded as emblematic of artistic conviction triumphing over convention. His distinctive vocal timbre and compositional style have sustained his popularity across generations.

Last year, he reintroduced himself to a younger audience through his appearance on Coke Studio Bangla, where he performed a refreshed rendition of the song “Obak Bhalobasha”. The performance was widely acclaimed and reaffirmed that the passage of time has not diminished his artistic resonance.

The film Dhakay Robi features Imtiaz Barshan in the title role, supported by Ritchie Solaiman, Azad Abul Kalam and Arman Parvez Murad in key parts. Principal photography has been completed, and the project is presently in post-production, with editing in progress. Sources close to the production suggest that a theatrical release is planned for the period between the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha festivals, a commercially significant window in the Bangladeshi film calendar.

Below is a summary of key information regarding the film:

By weaving together the realities of urban life, the intricate psychology of youth and a musically driven narrative core, Dhakay Robi aspires to offer a layered cinematic experience. Karim’s full-spectrum creative involvement not only heightens expectations but also signals a meaningful artistic homecoming for one of the country’s most respected musical figures.